Yet another request for Mac printer recommendations... laser, monochrome, no scanner

I'm looking for recommendations on a simple monochrome laser printer like my old HP 1018 which unfortunately isn't supported on my new MB Pro. I'm really bummed that the 1018 won't work with my new Mac... it was a great little printer... simple and cheap to run and absolutely reliable.


The HP M110W looks similar so maybe that would work?


Thanks.


  • Martin

Posted on Aug 15, 2025 12:13 PM

Reply
12 replies

Aug 15, 2025 01:54 PM in response to mdawgsmac

Any device whose specifications indicate that it is compatible with Apple's built-in AirPrint support. Thus, a supported and networkable printer (Ethernet or Wi-FI) is necessary.


No vendor software or drivers would be needed for an AirPrint solution. The HP M110w or M110we are supported by AirPrint, but not the M1018 as it is now only a Windows or Linux device supported device per the HP site.


Others will likely offer their opinion of printers that they use which may or may not suit your budget or purpose. I use an old but reliable monochrome Samsung ML2955ND laser with AirPrint on Sequoia v15.6.


When setting up an AirPrint supported printer, ensure that it is powered and networked. In macOS Settings > Printers & Scanners panel, click Add printer, scanner, or Fax… button and on the add panel watch the animation:


Apple's Bonjour service will detect the AirPrint supported printer on your network. When you click that entry, it will automatically configure it for AirPrint, and you just click Add. Refresh the browser page to see the animation again.


Aug 15, 2025 05:16 PM in response to mdawgsmac

Maybe it's just me, but this wouldn't exactly make me want to buy a HP printer. (Even though I've always bought manufacturer-brand ink cartridges for my own inkjets.)


HP – HP Printers - Dynamic Security enabled printers


"Dynamic security equipped printers are intended to work only with cartridges that have new or reused HP chips or electronic circuitry. The printers use the dynamic security measures to block cartridges using non-HP chips or modified or non-HP electronic circuitry.* Original HP cartridges that retain the original HP chip or electronic circuitry enable the refilling, reuse, or remanufacturing of the cartridge and are unaffected by dynamic security.​ 


Firmware updates delivered periodically over the internet will maintain the effectiveness of the dynamic security measures. Updates can improve, enhance, or extend the printer’s functionality and features, protect against security threats, and serve other purposes, but these updates can also block cartridges using a non-HP chip or modified or non-HP circuitry from working in the printer, including cartridges that work today."


Firmware updates delivered over the Internet to block third-party cartridges that work today?!?

Aug 15, 2025 05:33 PM in response to mdawgsmac

I will never buy another HP printer again. I used to recommend them for years until HP started playing games & moved manufacturing to China where quality dropped tremendously.


I have been using Brother laser printers for some years and really like them. They are the last of the old school style companies & printers. One thing I do like is they tend to use the same toner cartridge between different models (Brother still has multiple toner cartridges as well) unlike HP which seems to have a different toner cartridge for each & every model these days.

Aug 16, 2025 08:54 AM in response to mdawgsmac

Brother.


We've used their monochrome lasers for at least two decades. I won't buy anything else.


Brother also tends to support a wider range of macOS versions than some makers. Our current one, an HL-2370DW, is servicing macOS versions for High Sierra through Sequoia on our wired home network. No issues wirelessly printing from our iPads and iPhones either.



Aug 16, 2025 02:58 PM in response to mdawgsmac

If you wish to keep the HP LaserJet 1018 (for example, because of an existing supply of toner), there may be some kind of workaround if you do not mind carrying out a few experiments.


HP 5.1.1 Printer Software Update - Apple Support

Earlier reports indicate that an HP LaserJet 1022 driver from this package can be used with an HP LaserJet 1018 printer as well, thus making the latter model compatible with Mac. Unfortunately, it says that the package in question is Not compatible with macOS v12 and newer. The problem seems to be that the installation is prevented under newer macOS versions, while the underlying driver as such may be OK. You could perhaps have a look at some package modifications suggested (try a community search for LaserJet 1020 or P1005 with a Last year filter), but the success rate is somewhat unclear.


Alternatively, you may want to investigate whether a small and relatively inexpensive Linux-based Raspberry Pi print server and CUPS could make a USB-connected HP LaserJet 1018 act as if it were an AirPrint printer, in order to allow network printing from a modern Mac or iPhone/iPad (an AirPrint printer can be used without additional Mac drivers or special iOS/iPadOS apps).


Some details about how to set up a Raspberry Pi print server can be found in the posts by Techguyuk in Can’t print with iPadOS17 - Apple Community. See also the information by Tesserax in Can I connect my laser printer to my netw… - Apple Community.


Linux drivers are available for the HP LaserJet 1018.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-laserjet-1018-printer/1814092

https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/supported_devices/index

Aug 17, 2025 03:32 PM in response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX wrote:

…Others will likely offer their opinion of printers that they use which may or may not suit your budget or purpose. I use an old but reliable monochrome Samsung ML2955ND laser with AirPrint on Sequoia v15.6…


The Samsung printer business is owned by HP.


As for third-party printer cartridge lockouts, those might not always work as planned. HP bricked their own printer cartridges not long ago:


https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/firmware-update-bricks-hp-printers-makes-them-unable-to-use-hp-cartridges/


See my user tip previously linked by GBA here for further details.


For a replacement printer, local printer preference is Brother.


Whatever replacement printer is chosen, it absolutely needs to support AirPrint, and probably also IPP/IPPS if potentially also being used with other operating systems.

Aug 17, 2025 04:22 PM in response to mdawgsmac

Hewlett Packard has used a lot of Printer Engines from third-parties, and contracted out the software, sometimes to Different third-party developers.


When MacOS said, at Catalina, "no more software that is only 32-bit" Hewlett Packard found that they were unwilling or unable or did not have a good enough grasp on the components of their products to do the "less than a day" re-compile and minor adjustment that most sensible developers did at that point.


Instead, there was a 'Mass Extinction Event' in simpler older HP Printers at that point.


That alone should have been enough to have them hounded out of the low-end Printers for Mac marketplace, but they are simply too big for that. They have demonstrated they can abandon and abuse their customers and keep selling cheap-to-buy printers.

Yet another request for Mac printer recommendations... laser, monochrome, no scanner

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