Brother
Brother MFC-L2820DW
Mono laser AIO
88
/ 100
From $329
VS
Brother MFC-L2820DW wins by 2
Brother
Brother HL-L3280CDW
Color laser
86
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict
Brother MFC-L2820DW takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-L2820DW lands at 88 and Brother HL-L3280CDW at 86. That puts Brother MFC-L2820DW ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Brother MFC-L2820DW if…
- ✓Wireless printing
- ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
- ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Pick Brother HL-L3280CDW if…
- ✓Wireless printing
- ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
- ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Brother MFC-L2820DW 88
vs 86 Brother HL-L3280CDW
Score breakdown
Brother MFC-L2820DW
88 speed 84
quality 88
cost 82
reliability 86
Brother HL-L3280CDW
86 speed 82
quality 86
cost 82
reliability 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Brother MFC-L2820DW | Brother HL-L3280CDW |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mono laser AIO | Color laser |
Brother MFC-L2820DW
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
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-L2820DW vs Brother HL-L3280CDW
Which is better, Brother MFC-L2820DW or Brother HL-L3280CDW? +
Brother MFC-L2820DW scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Brother MFC-L2820DW worth the price? +
At $329, Brother MFC-L2820DW delivers a Specdex score of 88 — 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-L2820DW 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.