HP
HP Smart Tank 7301
Inkjet EcoTank · 2022
84
/ 100
From $399
VS
Brother HL-L3280CDW wins by 2
Brother
Brother HL-L3280CDW
Color laser
86
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict
Brother HL-L3280CDW takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, HP Smart Tank 7301 lands at 84 and Brother HL-L3280CDW at 86. That puts Brother HL-L3280CDW ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick HP Smart Tank 7301 if…
- ✓Wireless printing (most)
- ✓Current-gen firmware
- ✓Mature driver support
Pick Brother HL-L3280CDW if…
- ✓Wireless printing
- ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
- ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
HP Smart Tank 7301 84
vs 86 Brother HL-L3280CDW
Score breakdown
HP Smart Tank 7301
84 speed 80
quality 84
cost 80
reliability 82
Brother HL-L3280CDW
86 speed 82
quality 86
cost 82
reliability 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | HP Smart Tank 7301 | Brother HL-L3280CDW |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Inkjet EcoTank | Color laser |
| Release year | 2022 | — |
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
Brother HL-L3280CDW
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: HP Smart Tank 7301 vs Brother HL-L3280CDW
Which is better, HP Smart Tank 7301 or Brother HL-L3280CDW? +
Brother HL-L3280CDW scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is HP Smart Tank 7301 worth the price? +
At $399, HP Smart Tank 7301 delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in quality.
Is Brother HL-L3280CDW worth the price? +
At $449, Brother HL-L3280CDW delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in quality.
Does HP Smart Tank 7301 or Brother HL-L3280CDW 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.