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Brother MFC-J4540DW — Inkjet AIO · 2023
Brother

Brother MFC-J4540DW

Inkjet AIO · 2023

82
/ 100
From $229
VS
Brother HL-L3280CDW wins by 4
Brother HL-L3280CDW — Color laser
Brother

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Color laser

86
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict

Brother HL-L3280CDW takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-J4540DW lands at 82 and Brother HL-L3280CDW at 86. That puts Brother HL-L3280CDW ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Brother MFC-J4540DW if…

  • ✓Wireless printing (most)
  • ✓Current-gen firmware
  • ✓Mature driver support

Pick Brother HL-L3280CDW if…

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

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Quality

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Compared on the quality sub-score

Brother HL-L3280CDW leads on quality (86 vs 82).

Reliability

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Compared on the reliability sub-score

Brother HL-L3280CDW leads on reliability (84 vs 80).

Cost

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Compared on the cost sub-score

Brother HL-L3280CDW leads on cost (82 vs 80).

Value for money

Brother MFC-J4540DW

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Brother MFC-J4540DW more score per dollar ($229 vs $449).

Brother MFC-J4540DW 82
vs
86 Brother HL-L3280CDW

Score breakdown

Brother MFC-J4540DW
82
speed 78
quality 82
cost 80
reliability 80
Brother HL-L3280CDW
86
speed 82
quality 86
cost 82
reliability 84

Specs side-by-side

Brother MFC-J4540DW versus Brother HL-L3280CDW — full spec comparison
Spec Brother MFC-J4540DW Brother HL-L3280CDW
Type
Inkjet AIO
Color laser
Release year
2023
—

Brother MFC-J4540DW

Pros
  • +Wireless printing (most)
  • +Current-gen firmware
  • +Mature driver support
Cons
  • −Ink/toner subscriptions (HP)
  • −Noisy under heavy loads
  • −Paper path varies

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

FAQ: Brother MFC-J4540DW vs Brother HL-L3280CDW

Which is better, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Brother HL-L3280CDW? +

Brother HL-L3280CDW scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Brother MFC-J4540DW worth the price? +

At $229, Brother MFC-J4540DW delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in quality.

Is Brother HL-L3280CDW worth the price? +

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

Does Brother MFC-J4540DW or Brother HL-L3280CDW 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.

Which is better for quality, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Brother HL-L3280CDW? +

Brother HL-L3280CDW — leads on quality (86 vs 82). Compared on the quality sub-score.

Which is better for reliability, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Brother HL-L3280CDW? +

Brother HL-L3280CDW — leads on reliability (84 vs 80). Compared on the reliability sub-score.