Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
Brother HL-L3280CDW — Color laser
Brother

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Color laser

86
/ 100
From $449
VS
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 wins by 2
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 — EcoTank inkjet AIO
Epson

Epson EcoTank ET-4850

EcoTank inkjet AIO

88
/ 100
From $549
Specdex verdict

Epson EcoTank ET-4850 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Brother HL-L3280CDW lands at 86 and Epson EcoTank ET-4850 at 88. That puts Epson EcoTank ET-4850 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Brother HL-L3280CDW if…

  • Wireless printing
  • AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • Good first-page-out time (laser models)

Pick Epson EcoTank ET-4850 if…

  • Wireless printing
  • AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Brother HL-L3280CDW 86
vs
88 Epson EcoTank ET-4850

Score breakdown

Brother HL-L3280CDW
86
speed 82
quality 86
cost 82
reliability 84
Epson EcoTank ET-4850
88
speed 84
quality 88
cost 82
reliability 86

Specs side-by-side

Brother HL-L3280CDW versus Epson EcoTank ET-4850 — full spec comparison
Spec Brother HL-L3280CDW Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Type
Color laser
EcoTank inkjet AIO

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Pros
  • +Wireless printing
  • +AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • +Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Cons
  • Ink subscription lock-in (HP)
  • Drum/toner replacement cost
  • Slow photo print on some inkjets

Epson EcoTank ET-4850

Pros
  • +Wireless printing
  • +AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • +Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Cons
  • Ink subscription lock-in (HP)
  • Drum/toner replacement cost
  • Slow photo print on some inkjets

FAQ: Brother HL-L3280CDW vs Epson EcoTank ET-4850

Which is better, Brother HL-L3280CDW or Epson EcoTank ET-4850? +

Epson EcoTank ET-4850 scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Brother HL-L3280CDW worth the price? +

At $449, Brother HL-L3280CDW delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in quality.

Is Epson EcoTank ET-4850 worth the price? +

At $549, Epson EcoTank ET-4850 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in quality.

Does Brother HL-L3280CDW or Epson EcoTank ET-4850 last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.