Brother
Brother MFC-L3780CDW
Color laser · 27ppm · Duplex · ADF
88
/ 100
From $549
VS
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 wins by 2
Epson
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Photo EcoTank inkjet
90
/ 100
From $699
Specdex verdict
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-L3780CDW lands at 88 and Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 at 90. That puts Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 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 Photo ET-8550 if…
- ✓Wireless printing
- ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
- ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Brother MFC-L3780CDW 88
vs 90 Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Score breakdown
Brother MFC-L3780CDW
88 speed 92
quality 86
cost 96
features 90
value 92
reliability 0
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
90 speed 86
quality 90
cost 82
features 0
value 0
reliability 88
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Color laser MFP | Photo EcoTank inkjet |
| Speed | 27 ppm color + mono | — |
| Resolution | 2400×600 dpi | — |
| Duplex | Auto print + scan | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, USB-C, AirPrint | — |
| 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 Photo ET-8550
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-L3780CDW vs Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Which is better, Brother MFC-L3780CDW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550? +
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 scores 90 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 Photo ET-8550 worth the price? +
At $699, Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in quality.
Does Brother MFC-L3780CDW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 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.