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Epson SureColor F170 — Dye-sub · 2021
Epson

Epson SureColor F170

Dye-sub · 2021

86
/ 100
From $699
VS
Brother MFC-L2820DW wins by 2
Brother MFC-L2820DW — Mono laser AIO
Brother

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Mono laser AIO

88
/ 100
From $329
Specdex verdict

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

In our weighted Specdex score, Epson SureColor F170 lands at 86 and Brother MFC-L2820DW at 88. That puts Brother MFC-L2820DW ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Epson SureColor F170 if…

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

Pick Brother MFC-L2820DW if…

  • ✓Wireless printing
  • ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
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Winner by scenario

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

Quality

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Compared on the quality sub-score

Brother MFC-L2820DW leads on quality (88 vs 86).

Reliability

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Compared on the reliability sub-score

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

Speed

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Compared on the speed sub-score

Brother MFC-L2820DW leads on speed (84 vs 82).

Value for money

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Brother MFC-L2820DW more score per dollar ($329 vs $699).

Epson SureColor F170 86
vs
88 Brother MFC-L2820DW

Score breakdown

Epson SureColor F170
86
speed 82
quality 86
cost 80
reliability 84
Brother MFC-L2820DW
88
speed 84
quality 88
cost 82
reliability 86

Specs side-by-side

Epson SureColor F170 versus Brother MFC-L2820DW — full spec comparison
Spec Epson SureColor F170 Brother MFC-L2820DW
Type
Dye-sub
Mono laser AIO
Release year
2021
—

Epson SureColor F170

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

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

FAQ: Epson SureColor F170 vs Brother MFC-L2820DW

Which is better, Epson SureColor F170 or Brother MFC-L2820DW? +

Brother MFC-L2820DW scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Epson SureColor F170 worth the price? +

At $699, Epson SureColor F170 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in quality.

Is Brother MFC-L2820DW worth the price? +

At $329, Brother MFC-L2820DW delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in quality.

Does Epson SureColor F170 or Brother MFC-L2820DW 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, Epson SureColor F170 or Brother MFC-L2820DW? +

Brother MFC-L2820DW — leads on quality (88 vs 86). Compared on the quality sub-score.

Which is better for reliability, Epson SureColor F170 or Brother MFC-L2820DW? +

Brother MFC-L2820DW — leads on reliability (86 vs 84). Compared on the reliability sub-score.