There’s a familiar dread that comes with home printing. It’s not the whirring of the machine or the slow crawl of the print head; it’s the low ink warning. That blinking light feels like a countdown timer on your wallet. For years, we’ve all felt trapped in a cycle: buy a cheap printer, only to spend a fortune on proprietary ink cartridges that seem to run dry after printing a handful of pages. This cycle is not just expensive; it’s infuriatingly wasteful. Whether you’re a student printing study guides, a small business owner creating invoices, or just someone who needs to print a shipping label without a mandatory trip to the store, the recurring cost and hassle of ink is a universal pain point. The promise of a better way—a printer that sips ink instead of guzzling it—is what leads many of us to explore the world of ink tank printers.
- More uninterrupted printing. Up to 1 year of printing with the INKvestment Tank extra-large capacity ink cartridges (approximately 100 pages/month) and 2-year limited warranty.
- More affordability. The most affordable Brother INKvestment Tank printer lets you print vibrant graphics, pictures and more for personal use, home use or side hustle use.
What to Consider Before Buying an Inkjet Printer
An inkjet printer is more than just an item on your desk; it’s a key solution for turning digital ideas into tangible realities, from crisp business reports to vibrant family photos. The primary benefit of modern inkjets, especially tank models, is the dramatic reduction in the long-term cost of printing. They aim to free users from the high price-per-page that has plagued traditional cartridge-based systems for decades. This shift makes printing accessible and affordable for everyday tasks, removing the hesitation to print in color or handle larger projects for fear of emptying a costly cartridge.
The ideal customer for a product like the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer is someone facing the classic home or small office printing dilemma: the need for occasional but reliable color printing, scanning, and copying without a hefty upfront investment or punishing running costs. This includes students, families, and entrepreneurs running side hustles. However, it might not be suitable for those who require high-speed, high-volume output, professional-grade photo printing, or advanced features like an automatic document feeder (ADF) or duplex scanning. For those users, a more robust office-centric laser printer or a higher-end photo inkjet would be a more appropriate investment.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A printer’s footprint is a real consideration in a home office or dorm room. Measure your available space carefully. The MFC-J1205W is designed to be compact, but you still need to account for the space required to open the scanner lid and access the paper tray. Consider its height (6.3 inches) and depth (14.1 inches) to ensure it fits comfortably on your desk or shelf.
- Capacity/Performance: This covers two areas: paper and ink. A 150-sheet input tray is standard for this class and suitable for home use, but may feel limiting in a busier small office. More importantly, evaluate the ink yield. While Brother claims “up to 1 year of printing” in the box, this is based on a modest 100 pages per month. Your actual mileage will vary dramatically based on your usage, especially if you print color-rich documents or photos.
- Materials & Durability: Most consumer-grade printers are constructed from plastic to keep costs down. While the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer feels reasonably solid for its price point, some user reports mention fragile components like the paper tray. Assess the build quality with an eye for longevity, especially if it will be used in a household with children or in a high-traffic area.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: In an era of seamless tech, a printer should be simple to set up and operate. This model relies heavily on a mobile app for its “mobile-first” approach, which can be a pro for the tech-savvy but a con for those who prefer physical buttons and an LCD screen. Maintenance involves periodic print head cleaning cycles, which consume a small amount of ink but are vital for preventing clogs.
Understanding these factors will help you decide if this printer aligns with your specific needs or if you should explore other options.
While the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer is an excellent choice for a certain type of user, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- Print, Copy, Scan: The PIXMA TS3720 is a true colour printer scanner copier all in one that is compact, versatile and easy-to-use with a 60 sheet rear tray that reduces the need to refill paper as...
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- FROM CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The DeskJet 2855e is perfect for homes printing to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes. Print speeds up to 5.5 ppm colour, 7.5 ppm black.
First Impressions: A Study in Modern Minimalism
Unboxing the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer reveals a commitment to clean, minimalist design. Its stark white, compact body is a welcome departure from the bulky, black behemoths that once dominated the home office landscape. It’s clearly designed to blend into a modern home rather than stand out as a piece of office equipment. The most striking feature, or lack thereof, is the absence of a traditional LCD screen. Control is handled by a few simple physical buttons and, primarily, through the Brother Mobile Connect App. This “mobile-first” philosophy is a bold choice that streamlines the hardware but places immense importance on the software experience.
Setting it up was a mixed bag, mirroring the experiences of many users. The physical part is straightforward: plug it in, load the four LC404 INKvestment Tank cartridges into their front-facing slots, and load paper. The software side, which involves connecting to Wi-Fi via the mobile app, can be either blissfully simple or a source of frustration. For us, it connected on the second try. This app-centric approach is the core of the user experience, and its success is paramount to the printer’s overall usability. For those looking for a clean aesthetic and are comfortable managing devices from their phone, the design is a major selling point.
Key Benefits
- Excellent mobile app integration for screenless operation
- Low upfront cost for an ink tank printer
- Compact and modern design fits well in home environments
- Good quality text printing for documents
Drawbacks
- Very slow print speeds, especially for color documents
- In-box ink longevity claims seem optimistic based on real-world use
- Inconsistent build quality and long-term reliability issues reported
- Mediocre photo printing quality consumes a lot of ink
Performance Deep Dive: Promises vs. Reality
A printer’s value is ultimately determined by its performance day in and day out. We put the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer through its paces, focusing on the key areas that matter most to a home or small office user: setup and connectivity, the true cost and longevity of its ink, and the real-world quality of its prints and scans. This is where the marketing claims meet the unforgiving reality of everyday use.
Setup and the “Mobile-First” Experience
Brother positions this printer as a “mobile-first” device, and they aren’t exaggerating. The entire experience is funneled through the Brother Mobile Connect App. For users accustomed to managing everything from their smartphone, this is a brilliant move. The app itself is well-designed, providing a clear interface to print documents and photos, initiate scans and copies, check ink levels, and manage settings. We found it refreshingly straightforward compared to some of the bloatware-heavy software suites from competitors. As one user happily noted, “I can actually print from my phone. No USB connected to my laptop… Easy to use with its app.” Another, who described themselves as “severely inept when it comes to technology,” praised the 5-step, 30-minute setup process.
However, this reliance on the app is a double-edged sword. Our own setup required a second attempt to connect to the Wi-Fi, and other users have reported similar struggles. If the wireless connection falters, the lack of a screen for diagnostics can turn a simple issue into a frustrating ordeal. Furthermore, the desktop software experience feels dated, described by one frustrated user as a “labyrinthine mess of nested windows and confusing links from 2005.” This starkly contrasts with the slick mobile app. The takeaway is clear: if you plan to print exclusively from your phone or tablet, the experience is largely positive. If you are a desktop-primary user or less comfortable with app-based setups, the screenless design could become a significant source of friction.
The “INKvestment” Promise: A Contentious Claim
The number one reason to buy an ink tank printer is the ink. The core promise of the “INKvestment Tank” system is providing a large volume of ink upfront, supposedly lasting up to a year. This is the feature that promises to break the cycle of expensive cartridges. Our testing and an analysis of widespread user feedback reveal a much more complicated picture. While the printer does come with high-yield cartridges, the “one year” claim is based on a very light usage pattern of roughly 100 pages per month, mostly black and white text.
We found, as did many others, that printing color documents or photos depletes the ink at a startling rate. One user printed a single letter-sized photo and noted the ink usage was “much higher than expected.” Another printed just 40 color flyers and saw the yellow and magenta levels plummet. This suggests the printer is best suited for text-based documents, where its performance is more economical. The most troubling feedback concerns the ink level monitoring. A particularly detailed account accuses the printer of not measuring actual ink levels but simply using a page counter to estimate when a cartridge *should* be empty, locking the user out even if ink remains. “This printer’s page counter is a scam,” they state bluntly. When you combine this with the lack of third-party ink options for the LC404 cartridges, users are locked into Brother’s ecosystem. While the ink is still cheaper per page than traditional cartridges, buyers should temper their expectations; the in-box supply may not last anywhere near a year with moderate to heavy color use. Prospective buyers should investigate the cost of replacement LC404 ink packs before committing.
Print, Scan, and Copy Quality in the Real World
When it comes to output, the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer is a competent, if slow, performer for documents. Text is sharp and clear, making it perfectly suitable for printing reports, homework, and forms. The maximum resolution of 1200 x 1200 DPI is adequate for these tasks. However, its speed, or lack thereof, is a major drawback. Brother claims speeds of up to 16 ppm for black and 9 ppm for color, but these are likely ideal “draft” mode scenarios. In our tests with standard quality settings, the pace was far more deliberate. This was confirmed by a user who filmed their experience, stating, “Printing process is super slow. 1 page – 1 minute. I never heard anything like this.” If you often need to print multi-page documents in a hurry, this is not the printer for you.
Photo printing is another area where expectations should be managed. While it supports borderless printing on glossy photo paper, the results are merely acceptable. Colors are reasonably vibrant, but lack the depth and accuracy of more photo-centric printers. It’s fine for a quick snapshot for the fridge, but not for treasured memories you intend to frame. As one user summarized, the “picture quality isn’t the best for printing photos.” The scanning function, via the 8.5″ x 11″ flatbed scanner, is a highlight. Using the mobile app, it was easy to scan documents directly to a smartphone, with clear and legible results. It’s a simple and effective implementation for digitizing receipts, forms, and photos without needing a computer.
Build Quality and Reliability: The Ultimate Gamble
A printer’s most important feature is that it works when you need it to. Unfortunately, this is where the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer appears to falter most significantly. The user reviews are littered with reports of catastrophic failures and poor build quality that go far beyond simple dissatisfaction. While its lightweight, plastic construction feels adequate for the price, it seems to lack durability. One user reported the paper tray breaking with a light touch right after setup. Another complained of a “crazy sound as it loads paper,” fearing the strain would cause premature wear.
More alarming are the numerous reports of the printer simply ceasing to function. We saw complaints of units arriving with dried-up or empty ink cartridges, printing only blank pages out of the box. Multiple users received units that were dead on arrival or failed after just one or two prints, producing only faint, garbled patterns. The most damning report came from a user who experienced a massive ink leak when they tilted the printer, ruining their hands and carpet. Their subsequent interaction with customer support was equally frustrating, focusing on software drivers rather than the physical failure. These accounts paint a picture of inconsistent quality control, turning the purchase into a lottery. While many users have a perfectly fine experience, the sheer volume and severity of these failure reports suggest a significant risk of receiving a defective unit, a risk that cannot be ignored.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing the broad spectrum of user feedback reveals a deeply polarized opinion of the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer. On the positive side, many users celebrate it as a welcome escape from other brands, with one emphatically stating it’s “6 stars when you put it against any HP printer.” These satisfied customers frequently praise the easy, app-driven setup, the convenience of wireless printing from any device, and its overall value proposition for light, document-focused printing. They see it as an affordable, modern solution that “just works.”
However, a substantial and vocal group of users report profoundly negative experiences. The most common complaints center on the printer’s glacial print speed, the much-faster-than-advertised ink consumption, and, most critically, severe reliability issues. Reports of units arriving broken, failing after a few uses, or suffering from major ink leaks are distressingly common. One user summed up their frustration: “Would not recommend, what a waste of money… Printer broke within two prints.” This stark division suggests that while a good unit can provide excellent value, the quality control may be inconsistent, making the purchase a significant gamble.
How Does the Brother MFC-J1205W Compare to Alternatives?
No product exists in a vacuum. To truly understand the value of the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against key competitors, each offering a different set of features and catering to a different user. While the Brother model stakes its claim on budget-friendly ink tank printing, other options prioritize portability, performance, or advanced features.
1. HP OfficeJet 250 Portable Printer
- Main functions of this HP all-in-one portable printer: scan, copy, easy portable printing wherever you need it, wireless print from your laptop or mobile devices, 2.65" color touchscreen, auto...
- Mobile printing: print from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet with the free HP ePrint app, Android users can easily detect and connect to a nearby OfficeJet 250 and print using Wi-Fi Direct
The HP OfficeJet 250 is in a completely different category, focusing on portability above all else. It’s a compact, battery-powered all-in-one printer designed for professionals on the go who need to print, scan, and copy from a hotel room or a client’s office. Its key advantage is its ability to operate anywhere, untethered from a power outlet. However, this portability comes at a price: a higher initial cost and a return to the traditional, expensive ink cartridge model. Compared to the Brother, the HP’s cost-per-page is significantly higher. The HP OfficeJet 250 is the right choice for someone who prioritizes mobility over running costs, whereas the Brother MFC-J1205W is built for a stationary home office where affordability is paramount.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Wireless Supertank Printer
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 color (3)
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is a more direct and formidable competitor to the Brother INKvestment Tank. It represents the next step up in the world of cartridge-free printing. The ET-3850 uses refillable ink bottles, which offer even lower running costs and less plastic waste than Brother’s tank-like cartridges. It also boasts superior features, including faster print speeds, an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning, and Ethernet connectivity. The tradeoff is a significantly higher upfront purchase price. Users who print more frequently, need to scan stacks of documents, or operate in a small office environment would find the ET-3850’s features well worth the extra investment. The Brother MFC-J1205W remains the choice for the more budget-conscious, lower-volume user.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless All-in-One Printer
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (4)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 colour (3)
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is a high-performance machine aimed at creative professionals, small businesses, and prosumers. Its standout feature is the ability to print wide-format documents up to 13 x 19 inches, making it ideal for spreadsheets, posters, and large photos. It includes all the features of the ET-3850—like an ADF and refillable tanks—and adds fax capability. This printer is in a much higher performance and price tier than the Brother MFC-J1205W. It’s overkill for a student or for casual home use. The ET-15000 is for the serious user with specific wide-format needs, while the Brother is an entry-level device for standard document printing and scanning.
Final Verdict: A High-Risk, High-Reward Budget Printer
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Brother INKvestment Tank MFC-J1205W Multifunction Inkjet Printer is one of cautious recommendation for a very specific user. If you are a light-use individual—a student or home user who prints a few text documents a month—and you value a low upfront cost, a compact design, and a slick mobile printing experience above all else, this printer could be a fantastic value. It successfully lowers the barrier to entry for ink tank technology and offers a modern, app-driven interface.
However, this recommendation comes with serious caveats. The printer’s slow speed makes it unsuitable for anyone in a hurry. The ink longevity claims are optimistic at best for color printing, and the numerous, severe reports of reliability issues and quality control lapses are impossible to ignore. It is not the right choice for anyone needing high volume, speed, consistent reliability, or quality photo output. It is a budget option that, for some, will perform admirably, but for others, may become a source of immense frustration. If you understand the risks and your needs align with its strengths, you can check its latest price and see if this budget ink tank is the right gamble for you.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API