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Brother MFC-L2820DW — Mono laser AIO
Brother

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Mono laser AIO

88
/ 100
From $329
VS
Brother MFC-L2820DW wins by 2
Epson EcoTank ET-2850 — Inkjet · Refillable tanks · AIO
Epson

Epson EcoTank ET-2850

Inkjet · Refillable tanks · AIO

86
/ 100
From $299
Specdex verdict

Brother MFC-L2820DW takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-L2820DW lands at 88 and Epson EcoTank ET-2850 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 Epson EcoTank ET-2850 if…

  • ✓Ink tanks last ~2 years
  • ✓Low per-page cost
  • ✓Wi-Fi and duplex
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Winner by scenario

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

Quality

Epson EcoTank ET-2850

Compared on the quality sub-score

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 leads on quality (90 vs 88).

Cost

Epson EcoTank ET-2850

Compared on the cost sub-score

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 leads on cost (96 vs 82).

Reliability

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Compared on the reliability sub-score

Brother MFC-L2820DW leads on reliability (86 vs 84).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Brother MFC-L2820DW 88
vs
86 Epson EcoTank ET-2850

Score breakdown

Brother MFC-L2820DW
88
speed 84
quality 88
cost 82
reliability 86
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
86
speed 76
quality 90
cost 96
reliability 84

Specs side-by-side

Brother MFC-L2820DW versus Epson EcoTank ET-2850 — full spec comparison
Spec Brother MFC-L2820DW Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Type
Mono laser AIO
EcoTank inkjet
Speed
—
10.5 ipm mono / 5 ipm color
Connectivity
—
Wi-Fi, USB

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

Epson EcoTank ET-2850

Pros
  • +Ink tanks last ~2 years
  • +Low per-page cost
  • +Wi-Fi and duplex
Cons
  • −Initial ink setup messy
  • −Slower than laser
  • −Auto duplex in color only

FAQ: Brother MFC-L2820DW vs Epson EcoTank ET-2850

Which is better, Brother MFC-L2820DW or Epson EcoTank ET-2850? +

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 Epson EcoTank ET-2850 worth the price? +

At $299, Epson EcoTank ET-2850 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in cost.

Does Brother MFC-L2820DW or Epson EcoTank ET-2850 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-L2820DW or Epson EcoTank ET-2850? +

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 — leads on quality (90 vs 88). Compared on the quality sub-score.

Which is better for cost, Brother MFC-L2820DW or Epson EcoTank ET-2850? +

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 — leads on cost (96 vs 82). Compared on the cost sub-score.