Like the Editors' Choice imageClass MF249dw, the Canon imageClass MF236n ($199) is an entry-level monochrome laser all-in-one (AIO) printer designed for low-volume printing, copying, scanning, and faxing in a small or micro home-based office or workgroup.
You sacrifice a few things for the low price, however, such as the ability to copy and scan two-sided multipage documents automatically, as well as wireless networking.
While the MF236n is a capable little AIO, what you give up for a not-so-significant price difference between it and the Canon MF249dw is more than enough to keep the MF236n as a mere contender; however, in the right low-to-medium-print-volume environments, it's a sensible alternative to its costlier sibling.
A Desktop-Size Laser AIO
The all-black imageClass MF236n looks like several other Canon entry-level monochrome laser AIOs.
It measures 14.2 by 15.4 by 14.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 26.7 pounds.
That's identical in size to the MF249dw, as well as the Canon imageClass MF227dw ($399.95 at Amazon) , another top pick.
The similarly priced Brother MFC-L2710DW is a couple of inches shorter in height and depth, but weighs about the same as the MF236n, whereas the Brother MFC-L5700DW, a slightly more expensive, higher-volume monochrome laser AIO, measures several inches bigger than the MF236n and weighs about 10 pounds more.
HP's LaserJet Pro MFP M130fw is priced similarly, and is significantly smaller and weighs 10 pounds less than the MF236n.
The control panel on the MF236n consists of several buttons and a 10-key number pad anchored by a six-line monochrome touch LCD.
While not as slick as machines with the entire control panel located on a large color graphical touch display, having the ability to access configuration options and functions via the monochrome touch screen is much more efficient than navigating with drill-down menus with directional keys and an OK button.
The MF236n comes with a 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) for passing multipage documents to the scanner automatically.
However, unlike the Canon MF249dw ($459.00 at Amazon) , the MF236n's ADF is not auto duplexing, nor is the print engine.
To print, scan, copy, or fax two-sided multipage documents, you'll have to flip the pages manually.
Both the Brother MFC-L2710DW's ($271.99 at Amazon) and MFC-L5700DW's 50-sheet ADFs aren't auto-duplexing either (but their print engines are).
In terms of paper handling, the MF236n's input capacity is 251 sheets, split between a 250-sheet paper drawer and a 1-sheet override slot for printing one-off envelopes, labels, and other documents without having to remove and reconfigure the main paper drawer.
Both the Canon MF249dw and the Canon MF227dw come with the same paper-input configuration as the MF236n, as does the Brother MFC-L2710DW.
The larger Brother MFC-L5700DW's ($498.88 at Amazon) paper-input capacity is 300 sheets, split between a 250-sheet main drawer and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and it's expandable to 900 sheets, while the HP M130fw's sole paper-input source holds 150 sheets.
The MF236n's maximum monthly duty cycle is 15,000 pages (with a recommended monthly print volume of 2,000 pages).
That is the same as the Canon MF249fw and the Brother MFC-L2710DW, but 5,000 pages fewer than the Canon MF227dw and the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M130fw ($149.99 at HP) .
The Brother MFC L5700DW's maximum monthly duty cycle is 35,000 pages higher than that of the MF236n.
There's one feature, or lack thereof, that really sets the MF236n apart from its competitors mentioned here—it has no wireless radio.
In other words, not only does it not support wireless networking, but it also lacks support for Wi-Fi Direct and near-field communication (NFC).
Since its only two connection options are Ethernet and connecting directly to a PC via USB, several mobile options that require Wi-Fi aren't available.
Even so, you still get Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Services, and Canon Print Business for scanning to and printing from various locations via Ethernet.
Fast for the Price
Canon rates the MF236n at 24 pages per minute (ppm).
I tested it over Ethernet from our standard Intel Core i5-equipped testbed PC running Windows 10 Professional.
The MF236n printed our 12-page Microsoft Word text document at a rate of 22.8ppm, just short of its manufacturer's rating.
The Canon MF249dw printed the same document at about 5ppm faster, and the Brother MFC-L2750DW churned at around 12ppm quicker than the MF236n.
The higher-volume Brother MFC-L5700DW beat the MF236n by almost 16ppm, while the HP M130fw managed around 7ppm slower.
(Unfortunately, the Canon MF227dw was tested with an earlier benchmarking regimen, which makes comparing its results data here illogical.)
When I combined the results from printing our colorful Excel, Acrobat, and PowerPoint documents filled with graphics and photos with the results from printing the 12-page Word document in the previous test, the MF236n's score dropped to 16.3ppm, which—given the complexity of these documents and how well other printers typically fare in this part of our tests—isn't bad at all.
That's exactly the same speed as the Canon MF249dw, 2.3ppm faster than the Brother MFC-L2710DW, 5.3ppm slower than the Brother MFC-L5700DW, and about 2ppm faster than the HP M130fw.
Strong Print Quality
In many ways, the MF236n reminded me of the Canon imageClass MF232w ($128.85 at Amazon) , especially in terms of print speed and print quality.
(These two machines' list prices are $10 apart.) Like the Canon MF232w, the MF236n prints very well overall, with near-typesetter-quality text down to the smallest point size we test—4 points.
Our Excel graphics and PowerPoint handouts also came out looking better than average, with solid fills and smoothly flowing gradients.
Hairlines (1 point and below) came out vivid and unbroken from end to end, and colors looked spot on.
See How We Test Printers
I did see a few streaks in some darker backgrounds, but, as I said about the Canon MF232w, these minor toner distribution flaws were barely noticeable.
I had to look for them to find them.
As for photos, the M236dw churned out good-looking grayscale images, with respectable detail and little to no graininess or lack of detail.
Overall, the MF236n's print quality is appropriate for most business scenarios where black-and-white printing is acceptable.
Spend Money to Make Money
The reality of printers like the MF236n, with running costs hovering between 3 to 4 cents per page (this one is 3.5 cents), is that if you plan to print more than a few hundred pages (say, 100 to 300) each month, you're almost always better off spending the money for a higher-volume AIO with a lower cost per page (CPP).
For example, the difference between the MF236n's running costs and those of the Brother MFC-L5700DW is about 2 cents per page.
Printing 200,000 pages over the life of the MF236n (3 to 5 years) will cost you an additional $4,000—enough to buy 20 or more of these entry-level AIOs.
That said, the Canon MF227dw, MF249dw, MF232w (and most other Canon entry-level AIOs), and the Brother MFC-L2710DW also have running costs of 3.5 cents, and the HP M130fw's CPP is 3.9 cents.
That relegates them all to low-volume scenarios, even though they have significantly higher duty cycles.
Using them in high-volume environments is, in my opinion, not a very wise use of your money.
A Low-Volume, Local Printer
Both Brother and Canon have so many lower-end monochrome laser printers that vary up the scale in features and price so gradually that picking the right one requires some research.
The differences between the MF236n and the Canon MF232w, however, are notable—and the list price between them is a mere $10.
The latter has no ADF and no fax, for instance, while the former comes with fax and an ADF, but no wireless functionality.
If you're shopping around in this labyrinth of similar prices and functionality, it's advisable to know what you're giving up for $10 here or $50 there.
The bottom line on the Canon imageClass MF236n is this: If you don't see two-sided printing and copying in your future, don't require wireless connectivity to your printer, and don't need to print or copy more than a few hundred pages each month, the MF236n should serve your small or home-based business or workgroup well.
If fact, it's nearly ideal for a front -desk setting, such as a dentist's office or an automobile shop, where quick, short, one-sided monochrome documents—invoices, quotes, receipts, and so on—are the norm.
On the other hand, the Canon imageClass MF249dw, our Editors' Choice, comes with a larger auto-duplexing ADF for not much more money.
Cons
No auto-duplex printing or scanning.
Running costs are high.
Lacks Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and NFC.
The Bottom Line
Canon's entry-level imageClass MF236n prints good-looking monochrome documents at a respectable clip, but its running costs relegate it to a low-volume laser AIO.
Like the Editors' Choice imageClass MF249dw, the Canon imageClass MF236n ($199) is an entry-level monochrome laser all-in-one (AIO) printer designed for low-volume printing, copying, scanning, and faxing in a small or micro home-based office or workgroup.
You sacrifice a few things for the low price, however, such as the ability to copy and scan two-sided multipage documents automatically, as well as wireless networking.
While the MF236n is a capable little AIO, what you give up for a not-so-significant price difference between it and the Canon MF249dw is more than enough to keep the MF236n as a mere contender; however, in the right low-to-medium-print-volume environments, it's a sensible alternative to its costlier sibling.
A Desktop-Size Laser AIO
The all-black imageClass MF236n looks like several other Canon entry-level monochrome laser AIOs.
It measures 14.2 by 15.4 by 14.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 26.7 pounds.
That's identical in size to the MF249dw, as well as the Canon imageClass MF227dw ($399.95 at Amazon) , another top pick.
The similarly priced Brother MFC-L2710DW is a couple of inches shorter in height and depth, but weighs about the same as the MF236n, whereas the Brother MFC-L5700DW, a slightly more expensive, higher-volume monochrome laser AIO, measures several inches bigger than the MF236n and weighs about 10 pounds more.
HP's LaserJet Pro MFP M130fw is priced similarly, and is significantly smaller and weighs 10 pounds less than the MF236n.
The control panel on the MF236n consists of several buttons and a 10-key number pad anchored by a six-line monochrome touch LCD.
While not as slick as machines with the entire control panel located on a large color graphical touch display, having the ability to access configuration options and functions via the monochrome touch screen is much more efficient than navigating with drill-down menus with directional keys and an OK button.
The MF236n comes with a 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) for passing multipage documents to the scanner automatically.
However, unlike the Canon MF249dw ($459.00 at Amazon) , the MF236n's ADF is not auto duplexing, nor is the print engine.
To print, scan, copy, or fax two-sided multipage documents, you'll have to flip the pages manually.
Both the Brother MFC-L2710DW's ($271.99 at Amazon) and MFC-L5700DW's 50-sheet ADFs aren't auto-duplexing either (but their print engines are).
In terms of paper handling, the MF236n's input capacity is 251 sheets, split between a 250-sheet paper drawer and a 1-sheet override slot for printing one-off envelopes, labels, and other documents without having to remove and reconfigure the main paper drawer.
Both the Canon MF249dw and the Canon MF227dw come with the same paper-input configuration as the MF236n, as does the Brother MFC-L2710DW.
The larger Brother MFC-L5700DW's ($498.88 at Amazon) paper-input capacity is 300 sheets, split between a 250-sheet main drawer and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and it's expandable to 900 sheets, while the HP M130fw's sole paper-input source holds 150 sheets.
The MF236n's maximum monthly duty cycle is 15,000 pages (with a recommended monthly print volume of 2,000 pages).
That is the same as the Canon MF249fw and the Brother MFC-L2710DW, but 5,000 pages fewer than the Canon MF227dw and the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M130fw ($149.99 at HP) .
The Brother MFC L5700DW's maximum monthly duty cycle is 35,000 pages higher than that of the MF236n.
There's one feature, or lack thereof, that really sets the MF236n apart from its competitors mentioned here—it has no wireless radio.
In other words, not only does it not support wireless networking, but it also lacks support for Wi-Fi Direct and near-field communication (NFC).
Since its only two connection options are Ethernet and connecting directly to a PC via USB, several mobile options that require Wi-Fi aren't available.
Even so, you still get Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Services, and Canon Print Business for scanning to and printing from various locations via Ethernet.
Fast for the Price
Canon rates the MF236n at 24 pages per minute (ppm).
I tested it over Ethernet from our standard Intel Core i5-equipped testbed PC running Windows 10 Professional.
The MF236n printed our 12-page Microsoft Word text document at a rate of 22.8ppm, just short of its manufacturer's rating.
The Canon MF249dw printed the same document at about 5ppm faster, and the Brother MFC-L2750DW churned at around 12ppm quicker than the MF236n.
The higher-volume Brother MFC-L5700DW beat the MF236n by almost 16ppm, while the HP M130fw managed around 7ppm slower.
(Unfortunately, the Canon MF227dw was tested with an earlier benchmarking regimen, which makes comparing its results data here illogical.)
When I combined the results from printing our colorful Excel, Acrobat, and PowerPoint documents filled with graphics and photos with the results from printing the 12-page Word document in the previous test, the MF236n's score dropped to 16.3ppm, which—given the complexity of these documents and how well other printers typically fare in this part of our tests—isn't bad at all.
That's exactly the same speed as the Canon MF249dw, 2.3ppm faster than the Brother MFC-L2710DW, 5.3ppm slower than the Brother MFC-L5700DW, and about 2ppm faster than the HP M130fw.
Strong Print Quality
In many ways, the MF236n reminded me of the Canon imageClass MF232w ($128.85 at Amazon) , especially in terms of print speed and print quality.
(These two machines' list prices are $10 apart.) Like the Canon MF232w, the MF236n prints very well overall, with near-typesetter-quality text down to the smallest point size we test—4 points.
Our Excel graphics and PowerPoint handouts also came out looking better than average, with solid fills and smoothly flowing gradients.
Hairlines (1 point and below) came out vivid and unbroken from end to end, and colors looked spot on.
See How We Test Printers
I did see a few streaks in some darker backgrounds, but, as I said about the Canon MF232w, these minor toner distribution flaws were barely noticeable.
I had to look for them to find them.
As for photos, the M236dw churned out good-looking grayscale images, with respectable detail and little to no graininess or lack of detail.
Overall, the MF236n's print quality is appropriate for most business scenarios where black-and-white printing is acceptable.
Spend Money to Make Money
The reality of printers like the MF236n, with running costs hovering between 3 to 4 cents per page (this one is 3.5 cents), is that if you plan to print more than a few hundred pages (say, 100 to 300) each month, you're almost always better off spending the money for a higher-volume AIO with a lower cost per page (CPP).
For example, the difference between the MF236n's running costs and those of the Brother MFC-L5700DW is about 2 cents per page.
Printing 200,000 pages over the life of the MF236n (3 to 5 years) will cost you an additional $4,000—enough to buy 20 or more of these entry-level AIOs.
That said, the Canon MF227dw, MF249dw, MF232w (and most other Canon entry-level AIOs), and the Brother MFC-L2710DW also have running costs of 3.5 cents, and the HP M130fw's CPP is 3.9 cents.
That relegates them all to low-volume scenarios, even though they have significantly higher duty cycles.
Using them in high-volume environments is, in my opinion, not a very wise use of your money.
A Low-Volume, Local Printer
Both Brother and Canon have so many lower-end monochrome laser printers that vary up the scale in features and price so gradually that picking the right one requires some research.
The differences between the MF236n and the Canon MF232w, however, are notable—and the list price between them is a mere $10.
The latter has no ADF and no fax, for instance, while the former comes with fax and an ADF, but no wireless functionality.
If you're shopping around in this labyrinth of similar prices and functionality, it's advisable to know what you're giving up for $10 here or $50 there.
The bottom line on the Canon imageClass MF236n is this: If you don't see two-sided printing and copying in your future, don't require wireless connectivity to your printer, and don't need to print or copy more than a few hundred pages each month, the MF236n should serve your small or home-based business or workgroup well.
If fact, it's nearly ideal for a front -desk setting, such as a dentist's office or an automobile shop, where quick, short, one-sided monochrome documents—invoices, quotes, receipts, and so on—are the norm.
On the other hand, the Canon imageClass MF249dw, our Editors' Choice, comes with a larger auto-duplexing ADF for not much more money.
Cons
No auto-duplex printing or scanning.
Running costs are high.
Lacks Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and NFC.
The Bottom Line
Canon's entry-level imageClass MF236n prints good-looking monochrome documents at a respectable clip, but its running costs relegate it to a low-volume laser AIO.
