The HP LaserJet Pro M15w is a compact mono laser designed for home and home office use. The key to whether it’s a “cheap printer” or a “surprisingly expensive” printer isn’t the upfront price — it’s what HP charges for toner.
This model uses HP 44A / CF244A toner. If you buy genuine cartridges every time, toner costs can stack up quickly. If you use compatible toner (or high-yield options where available), the cost per page drops dramatically.
Running cost breakdown
Below are UK-friendly estimates for the consumables that actually drive your cost per page. (Where “XL” exists, we treat it as the higher-yield variant; if you want exact live yields/prices, update the figures with retailer data.)
| Cartridge option | Yield (pages) | Typical UK price | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| CF244A (Standard) | ~1,000 | ~£15 (genuine) | ~1.5p |
| CF244X (High-yield, estimated) | ~2,500 | ~£30 (genuine) | ~1.2p |
For mixed households: the M15w is black-only, so your “effective cost per page” is basically your toner cost per page.
Compatible ink alternatives
If you want the biggest real-world saving, compatibles are usually where the money is.
- CF244A compatible toner: ~£5 vs ~£15 genuine (about 67% cheaper)
- Compatible high-yield (where sold): typically ~£10 vs ~£30 genuine (often ~67% cheaper again)
What you should do: if you print regularly and you’re comfortable with non-genuine supplies, compatible toner can cut your toner cost per page to well under 1p.
Should you upgrade?
Honest verdict: you’ll very likely be better off keeping this printer (especially if you’re open to compatible toner).
To show the maths, here’s a simple 2-year cost comparison using a typical home volume assumption:
- Assumption: ~775 pages/month (midpoint of the model’s recommended range)
- Keep option: compatible toner pricing (estimated)
- Upgrade option: a comparable budget mono laser with higher running-cost assumptions
| Option | 2-year total (toner cost + hardware where relevant) |
|---|---|
| Keep HP LaserJet Pro M15w (compatible toner, estimated) | ~£74 |
| Upgrade to an equivalent budget mono laser | ~£571 |
You only really “win” by upgrading if you either (1) hate buying toner frequently and want a higher-yield model, or (2) you’ve found a replacement printer with exceptionally low running costs and competitive hardware price.
Quick takeaway
If you print mostly black text at home, this is already in the “keep category” for ink-cost efficiency.
FAQ
Q: What toner does the HP LaserJet Pro M15w use?
A: It uses HP 44A toner (CF244A).
Q: Is the HP LaserJet Pro M15w expensive to run?
A: With genuine CF244A it’s not “free”, but it’s usually still much cheaper than cartridge inkjet printers. Compatible toner makes it far more cost-efficient.
Q: What’s the cheapest toner for the HP LaserJet Pro M15w?
A: Compatible CF244A toner is typically the cheapest route (roughly ~£5 per cartridge vs ~£15 genuine).
Q: Should I buy a high-yield toner for this printer?
A: If you print regularly, yes. Higher-yield cartridges reduce the cost per page and cut how often you need to replace toner.
