Brother
Brother MFC-L3780CDW
Color laser · 27ppm · Duplex · ADF
88
/ 100
From $549
VS
Brother MFC-L3780CDW wins by 2
Epson
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Inkjet · Refillable tanks · AIO
86
/ 100
From $299
Specdex verdict
Brother MFC-L3780CDW takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-L3780CDW lands at 88 and Epson EcoTank ET-2850 at 86. That puts Brother MFC-L3780CDW ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Brother MFC-L3780CDW if…
- ✓Toner-cheap color laser
- ✓Auto-duplex with single-pass scanning
- ✓No first-party ink subscription
Pick Epson EcoTank ET-2850 if…
- ✓Ink tanks last ~2 years
- ✓Low per-page cost
- ✓Wi-Fi and duplex
Brother MFC-L3780CDW 88
vs 86 Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Score breakdown
Brother MFC-L3780CDW
88 speed 92
quality 86
cost 96
features 90
value 92
reliability 0
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
86 speed 76
quality 90
cost 96
features 0
value 0
reliability 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Epson EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Color laser MFP | EcoTank inkjet |
| Speed | 27 ppm color + mono | 10.5 ipm mono / 5 ipm color |
| Resolution | 2400×600 dpi | — |
| Duplex | Auto print + scan | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, USB-C, AirPrint | Wi-Fi, USB |
| ADF | 50-sheet single-pass duplex | — |
| Weight | 24.5 kg | — |
Brother MFC-L3780CDW
Pros
- +Toner-cheap color laser
- +Auto-duplex with single-pass scanning
- +No first-party ink subscription
Cons
- −Glossy paper not supported
- −Color photos quality below inkjet
- −Loud at 50 dB
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-L3780CDW vs Epson EcoTank ET-2850
Which is better, Brother MFC-L3780CDW or Epson EcoTank ET-2850? +
Brother MFC-L3780CDW scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Brother MFC-L3780CDW worth the price? +
At $549, Brother MFC-L3780CDW delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in cost.
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-L3780CDW 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.