HP LaserJet M209dw and MFP M234dw | Review and opinions (2026)

In short: the HP LaserJet M209dw (and its multifunction sibling, the MFP M234dw) is a mono laser printer for anyone printing between 200 and 2,000 pages a month. It's fast, it has genuine automatic duplex and it takes compatible toner without complaint — as long as you buy the right version. That's the detail almost no review mentions.

Quick verdict

• Buy it if you print black-and-white documents, you want automatic duplex that actually works, and long-term cost per page matters to you.
• Don't buy it if you need colour, you scan a lot (look at the M234dw) or you print more than 2,000 pages a month: HP recommends a monthly volume of 200 to 2,000 pages, and that figure is what determines the machine's real working life.
• ⚠️ Avoid the «e» versions (M209dwe, M234dwe). They are HP+ printers and stay locked to genuine HP toner for life. We explain this below.

The specs that actually matter

Figures taken from HP's official datasheets, not from the box:

	M209dw	MFP M234dw
Speed (A4, normal)	Up to 29 ppm	Up to 30 ppm
Automatic duplex	Yes — up to 18 ipm	Yes — up to 19 ipm
First page out	From 7 s	From 6.9 s
Maximum duty cycle	Up to 20,000 pages/month	Up to 20,000 pages/month
Recommended monthly volume	200–2,000 pages	200–2,000 pages
Display	—	1.27" icon LCD
Trays	—	150-sheet input / 100 output
Wi-Fi	802.11b/g/n dual-band 2.4/5 GHz	802.11a/b/g/n dual-band 2.4/5 GHz

The real difference between the two isn't speed: it's the scanner. If you only print, the M209dw is plenty. If you need to copy and scan, the M234dw does the same job and adds the ADF and the display.

The number worth reading twice

The maximum duty cycle is 20,000 pages a month, but the volume HP recommends is 200 to 2,000. These are different things and they get confused constantly. The first is what the engine survives without breaking; the second is where the printer lasts for years. If your office sustains 3,000 pages a month, this isn't your machine.

⚠️ The warning almost nobody gives you: the «e» version

HP sells two near-identical variants: the M209dw and the M209dwe. One letter. The hardware is the same. The difference is that the «e» version is an HP+ printer, and HP spells it out in its own documentation:

«HP+ requires an HP account, an internet connection and the use of Original HP supplies for the life of the printer. Once activated, HP+ is embedded in the device.»

— HP, HP+ frequently asked questions

In plain English: if you activate HP+, that printer will never accept a compatible toner. It isn't a setting you can switch off later. It is baked into the device.

We have nothing against anyone choosing HP+ with their eyes open: it includes an extended warranty and cloud services. What we object to is the decision being made unknowingly, because of one letter at the end of a name, and the customer discovering the lock only when the starter toner runs out. If you ever plan to use compatible supplies, buy the M209dw, not the M209dwe.

Real cost per page

This is where the money is decided. The yields are those declared by HP under ISO/IEC 19752; the prices are ours.

Cartridge	Price	Yield	Cost per page
HP 135A (W1350A) compatible	€21.98	1,100 pages	2.00 cents
HP 135X (W1350X) compatible	€26.98	2,400 pages	1.12 cents
3-pack HP 135X compatible	€74.98	7,200 pages	1.04 cents

The practical conclusion: the 135X costs €5 more than the 135A and yields more than twice as much. Moving from the 135A to the 135X cuts cost per page by 44%. Unless you print very little and would rather not tie up the money, the 135A is almost never the right buy.

Which toner it needs

Both printers use the same family:

• Compatible HP 135A (W1350A) toner — 1,100 pages
• Compatible HP 135X (W1350X) toner — 2,400 pages

If what you want is the full list of models that take this toner, it's in our guide to which toner the HP LaserJet M209dw needs.

Alternatives we also supply

• Printing fewer than 1,000 pages a month? The HP LaserJet M110w is smaller and cheaper, though it has no duplex.
• Printing a lot, in black and white? The HP LaserJet Tank 2504dw brings cost per page down to 0.14 cents with refills.
• Need colour? The Brother HL-L3240CDW is the equivalent option in colour laser.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use compatible toner in the HP LaserJet M209dw?

Yes. The M209dw (without the trailing «e») accepts chipped compatible toner with no blocks. The one that doesn't is the M209dwe, because it's an HP+ printer.

What's the difference between the HP 135A and the 135X?

Only the yield. The 135A gives 1,100 pages and the 135X 2,400, under HP's ISO/IEC 19752 standard. It's the same physical cartridge with more toner inside. The 135X works out 44% cheaper per page.

Can HP+ be switched off once activated?

No. HP states in its documentation that, once activated, HP+ is embedded in the device and requires genuine supplies for the life of the printer.

Does the M209dw print double-sided automatically?

Yes, automatic duplex at up to 18 ipm. The M234dw reaches 19 ipm.

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Specifications taken from HP's official datasheets for the LaserJet M209dw and the LaserJet MFP M234dw, and from HP's frequently asked questions about HP+. Yields as declared under ISO/IEC 19752. Startoner prices current at the date of publication.