Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
Zebra ZD420 — Label thermal · 2018
Zebra

Zebra ZD420

Label thermal · 2018

84
/ 100
From $399
VS
Brother HL-L3280CDW wins by 2
Brother HL-L3280CDW — Color laser
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, Zebra ZD420 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 Zebra ZD420 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)
Zebra ZD420 84
vs
86 Brother HL-L3280CDW

Score breakdown

Zebra ZD420
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

Zebra ZD420 versus Brother HL-L3280CDW — full spec comparison
Spec Zebra ZD420 Brother HL-L3280CDW
Type
Label thermal
Color laser
Release year
2018
—

Zebra ZD420

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: Zebra ZD420 vs Brother HL-L3280CDW

Which is better, Zebra ZD420 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 Zebra ZD420 worth the price? +

At $399, Zebra ZD420 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 Zebra ZD420 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.