Brother
Brother MFC-J4540DW
Inkjet AIO · 2023
82
/ 100
From $229
VS
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw wins by 2
HP
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw
Color laser AIO
84
/ 100
From $649
Specdex verdict
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-J4540DW lands at 82 and HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw at 84. That puts HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw ahead by 2 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 HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw if…
- ✓Wireless printing
- ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
- ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Brother MFC-J4540DW 82
vs 84 HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw
Score breakdown
Brother MFC-J4540DW
82 speed 78
quality 82
cost 80
reliability 80
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw
84 speed 80
quality 84
cost 82
reliability 82
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Brother MFC-J4540DW | HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Inkjet AIO | Color laser AIO |
| 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
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw
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 HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw
Which is better, Brother MFC-J4540DW or HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw? +
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw scores 84 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. 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 HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw worth the price? +
At $649, HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in quality.
Does Brother MFC-J4540DW or HP Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw 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.