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Brother MFC-L3780CDW — Color laser · 27ppm · Duplex · ADF
Brother

Brother MFC-L3780CDW

Color laser · 27ppm · Duplex · ADF

88
/ 100
From $549
VS
Brother MFC-L3780CDW wins by 4
HP Smart Tank 7301 — Inkjet EcoTank · 2022
HP

HP Smart Tank 7301

Inkjet EcoTank · 2022

84
/ 100
From $399
Specdex verdict

Brother MFC-L3780CDW takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-L3780CDW lands at 88 and HP Smart Tank 7301 at 84. That puts Brother MFC-L3780CDW ahead by 4 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 HP Smart Tank 7301 if…

  • ✓Wireless printing (most)
  • ✓Current-gen firmware
  • ✓Mature driver support
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Winner by scenario

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

Cost

Brother MFC-L3780CDW

Compared on the cost sub-score

Brother MFC-L3780CDW leads on cost (96 vs 80).

Speed

Brother MFC-L3780CDW

Compared on the speed sub-score

Brother MFC-L3780CDW leads on speed (92 vs 80).

Quality

Brother MFC-L3780CDW

Compared on the quality sub-score

Brother MFC-L3780CDW leads on quality (86 vs 84).

Value for money

HP Smart Tank 7301

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

HP Smart Tank 7301 more score per dollar ($399 vs $549).

Brother MFC-L3780CDW 88
vs
84 HP Smart Tank 7301

Score breakdown

Brother MFC-L3780CDW
88
speed 92
quality 86
cost 96
features 90
value 92
reliability 0
HP Smart Tank 7301
84
speed 80
quality 84
cost 80
features 0
value 0
reliability 82

Specs side-by-side

Brother MFC-L3780CDW versus HP Smart Tank 7301 — full spec comparison
Spec Brother MFC-L3780CDW HP Smart Tank 7301
Type
Color laser MFP
Inkjet EcoTank
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
—
Release year
—
2022

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

HP Smart Tank 7301

Pros
  • +Wireless printing (most)
  • +Current-gen firmware
  • +Mature driver support
Cons
  • −Ink/toner subscriptions (HP)
  • −Noisy under heavy loads
  • −Paper path varies

FAQ: Brother MFC-L3780CDW vs HP Smart Tank 7301

Which is better, Brother MFC-L3780CDW or HP Smart Tank 7301? +

Brother MFC-L3780CDW scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. 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 HP Smart Tank 7301 worth the price? +

At $399, HP Smart Tank 7301 delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in quality.

Does Brother MFC-L3780CDW or HP Smart Tank 7301 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 cost, Brother MFC-L3780CDW or HP Smart Tank 7301? +

Brother MFC-L3780CDW — leads on cost (96 vs 80). Compared on the cost sub-score.

Which is better for speed, Brother MFC-L3780CDW or HP Smart Tank 7301? +

Brother MFC-L3780CDW — leads on speed (92 vs 80). Compared on the speed sub-score.