Brother
Brother HL-L3290CDW
Color laser AIO · 2022
84
/ 100
From $499
VS
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 wins by 6
Epson
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Photo EcoTank inkjet
90
/ 100
From $699
Specdex verdict
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Brother HL-L3290CDW lands at 84 and Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 at 90. That puts Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Brother HL-L3290CDW if…
- ✓Wireless printing (most)
- ✓Current-gen firmware
- ✓Mature driver support
Pick Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 if…
- ✓Wireless printing
- ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
- ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Brother HL-L3290CDW 84
vs 90 Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Score breakdown
Brother HL-L3290CDW
84 speed 80
quality 84
cost 80
reliability 82
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
90 speed 86
quality 90
cost 82
reliability 88
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Brother HL-L3290CDW | Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Color laser AIO | Photo EcoTank inkjet |
| Release year | 2022 | — |
Brother HL-L3290CDW
Pros
- +Wireless printing (most)
- +Current-gen firmware
- +Mature driver support
Cons
- −Ink/toner subscriptions (HP)
- −Noisy under heavy loads
- −Paper path varies
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
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-L3290CDW vs Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Which is better, Brother HL-L3290CDW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550? +
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Brother HL-L3290CDW worth the price? +
At $499, Brother HL-L3290CDW delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in quality.
Is Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 worth the price? +
At $699, Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in quality.
Does Brother HL-L3290CDW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 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.