Head-to-head · Best Laser Printers

Brother DCP-L2640DW vs Brother MFC-L2900DW XL

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Brother MFC-L2900DW XL comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.5 vs 3.9). The gap is mostly about quiet black-and-white document users — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Laser Printers

Brother DCP-L2640DW

3.5

$209.99as of Jul 1

The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a compact all-in-one printer designed for home and small office use. Reviewers noted its fast black-and-white printing speed of up to 20 ppm and wireless connectivity as key strengths. The inclusion of an automatic document feeder enhances its scanning capabilities. However, some users may find the lack of fax functionality and limited mobile printing options to be drawbacks. This printer is best suited for users seeking reliable, budget-friendly printing with wireless convenience.

Strengths

— Prints up to 20 pages per minute in black and white
— Includes wireless connectivity for convenient printing
— Features automatic document feeder for scanning multiple pages

Watch-outs

— No built-in fax functionality
— Limited mobile printing options compared to competitors

$209.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Laser Printers

Brother MFC-L2900DW XL

3.9

$379.99as of Jul 1

The Brother MFC-L2900DW XL is a black-and-white laser all-in-one printer designed for small businesses and home offices. PCMag's M. David Stone praised its fast printing speed and duplex capabilities, while Lifewire's Jerri Ledford noted its effectiveness for scanning and faxing, though she found it louder than expected. The printer supports wireless and Ethernet connections, and works with major cloud services. It's ideal for users needing reliable black-and-white printing and scanning but may not suit those requiring color output or quiet operation.

Strengths

— Fast print speed up to 36 pages per minute
— Includes duplex printing for saving paper
— Good-quality color scanning up to 1200 DPI

Watch-outs

— Loud operation, including audible beeps during use
— Setup can be fiddly, especially on Mac systems

$379.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Brother DCP-L2640DW

The Brother DCP-L2640DW is more affordable and offers better ink yield than the HL-L2460DW, but it lacks mobile printing support and fax functionality, unlike the HL-L2460DW. It also doesn't match the speed of the Brother MFC-L3780CDW or the scanning capabilities of the MFC-L2900DW XL.

Brother MFC-L2900DW XL

The Brother MFC-L2900DW XL stands out with its impressive 36 pages per minute speed, surpassing the HP M283fdw and Brother DCP-L2640DW, but it's louder and more difficult to set up on Mac systems than the Brother MFC-L3780CDW. It also lacks color scanning, unlike the HP M283fdw, which offers better photo quality.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Brother DCP-L2640DW	Brother MFC-L2900DW XL
Print Speed	20 ppm	36 ppm
Functions	Print, Scan, Copy	Print / Scan / Copy / Fax
Connectivity	Wireless	Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Wireless, Wi-Fi Direct
Paper Capacity	250 sheets	250 sheets
Color	Black and White	Monochrome
Paper Size	Letter, Legal, Executive, A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Folio	Letter, Legal, Executive, A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Folio (8" x 13")
Dimensions	15.7"D x 16.1"W x 12.5"H	16.1" (W) x 16.6" (D) x 12.5" (H)

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