Head-to-head · Best Laser Printers

Brother HL-L2460DW 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 HL-L2460DW comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 3.9). The gap is mostly about wireless black-and-white users — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Laser Printers

Brother HL-L2460DW

4.1

$179.99as of Jul 1

The Brother HL-L2460DW is a compact black-and-white laser printer designed for home and small office use. PCMag's M. David Stone praised its fast printing speed and wireless capabilities, noting it's well-suited for low-volume document needs. RTINGS.com reviewers highlighted its ease of setup and mobile printing support. The printer lacks fax functionality and color printing, which may limit its appeal for users needing those features.

Strengths

— Prints up to 24 pages per minute in black and white
— Includes wireless connectivity options including Wi-Fi and AirPrint
— Features automatic document feeder for scanning multiple pages

Watch-outs

— No built-in fax capability
— Limited color printing options

$179.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #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 HL-L2460DW

The Brother HL-L2460DW matches the Brother DCP-L2640DW in black-and-white speed but offers better wireless connectivity and mobile printing support, unlike the DCP-L2640DW which has limited mobile options. It also lacks the color scanning of the Brother MFC-L2900DW XL and the photo quality of the HP M283fdw.

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 HL-L2460DW	Brother MFC-L2900DW XL
Print Speed	24 ppm	36 ppm
Functions	Printer Only	Print / Scan / Copy / Fax
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, AirPrint	Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB 2.0, Wireless, Wi-Fi Direct
Paper Capacity	250 + 1-sheet bypass	250 sheets
Color	Black and White	Monochrome
Paper Size	Legal	Letter, Legal, Executive, A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Folio (8" x 13")
Dimensions	14.2"D x 14"W x 7.2"H	16.1" (W) x 16.6" (D) x 12.5" (H)

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