For small business owners and home offices requiring a robust and efficient printing solution, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW stands out as an exceptional colour laser all-in-one printer. While it represents a step up in price compared to some alternatives, this model justifies its cost with enhanced speed, superior print quality, increased durability, and advanced security features. If you’re seeking a printer that can handle frequent printing, scanning, and even faxing demands, the MFC-L3780CDW is a compelling upgrade.
Brother MFC-L3780CDW, our upgrade pick for best all in one colour laser printer, showcasing its speed and features on a green backdrop.
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW excels in delivering both speed and quality. It produces sharper text and more vibrant graphics compared to many printers in its class. Among colour laser printers that offer a comprehensive suite of productivity features comparable to top-tier inkjet models, the MFC-L3780CDW is notably one of the most reasonably priced options available.
Navigating the printer’s menu is generally straightforward, thanks to its user-friendly interface. However, individuals with visual impairments might find the black menu bar at the footer somewhat challenging to see against the black display screen, which is a point to consider.
Equipped with a 250-sheet capacity paper tray, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW is designed to handle substantial print volumes. Its duty cycle is rated at a generous 4,000 pages per month, easily accommodating the demands of most small and home offices.
Impressive Print Speed and Quality
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW lives up to its claims of rapid printing. Brother states that it can achieve print speeds of up to 31 pages per minute (ppm). In practical tests, while the average speed of our top pick, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw, was around 22 ppm, the MFC-L3780CDW consistently demonstrates faster performance.
In terms of output quality, the text produced by the MFC-L3780CDW is remarkably sharp, and graphics are rendered crisply without banding, matching the high standards set by the 3301fdw. As is typical with laser printers, photo prints might appear slightly less vibrant compared to dedicated photo printers. For users who frequently print photographs, a specialized photo printer might be a better choice.
However, when it comes to scanning, the MFC-L3780CDW, like many laser printers, may not perfectly reproduce the subtle nuances and vibrant colours of the original documents. Scanned graphics can sometimes appear duller than the source material. This is a general characteristic of laser printers when compared to inkjet all-in-ones, which typically excel in scan and colour reproduction.
Built for High-Volume and Durability
Durability is a key strength of the MFC-L3780CDW. It boasts a robust design and a recommended duty cycle of 4,000 pages per month. This is nearly double the 2,500-page duty cycle of the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw, making it well-suited for busy home offices and small businesses with multiple users. This higher duty cycle ensures that the printer can withstand heavy use, even during peak periods like audit season, without experiencing undue wear and tear.
Standalone Printing Capabilities
A convenient feature of the Brother MFC-L3780CDW is its ability to print directly from a USB drive. This eliminates the need to always rely on a computer or mobile device for printing tasks. The printer supports printing directly from JPEG, PDF, and TIFF files stored on a USB drive. It can also save scanned documents directly to a USB drive, further enhancing its standalone functionality.
Versatile Paper Handling for Various Media Sizes
The MFC-L3780CDW is designed to handle a variety of paper sizes. Its foldout bypass tray accommodates letter, legal, executive, and postcard-size media. The automatic document feeder (ADF) also supports legal-size documents, making it versatile for different types of print jobs and office needs.
Enhanced Security Features for Sensitive Environments
Security is a paramount concern for many businesses, and the Brother MFC-L3780CDW incorporates several advanced security features. Similar to other laser printers in its class, it includes firmware integrity and encryption protocols to protect against unauthorized access and potential security breaches. It also supports directory authentication, secure fax holding until credentials are entered, and role-based access control for multi-user environments. Additionally, it features an integrated NFC card reader, allowing for badge authentication. Users can simply tap their NFC-compatible badge to release associated print jobs, adding an extra layer of security and access control.
Economical Operation with Competitive Toner Costs
Operating costs are a significant factor when choosing a printer. The Brother MFC-L3780CDW offers competitive per-page costs, especially when using super-high-yield toner cartridges. With these cartridges, black printing costs are approximately 2.5¢ per page, and colour printing costs around 12.9¢ per page. These costs are lower than those of the HP 3301fdw and comparable to the black-printing costs of Brother’s monochrome laser printer models.
While the initial cost of super-high-yield toner cartridges is substantial, around $530 for a set, users can opt for lower-capacity high-yield or standard-yield cartridges to reduce the upfront expense. However, choosing these lower-capacity options will result in higher per-print costs over time.
User-Friendly Interface with Minor Accessibility Consideration
The colour touchscreen interface of the MFC-L3780CDW is generally easy to navigate and operate, proving less cumbersome than some competing models. However, as noted earlier, a potential drawback is the black-background footer on the touchscreen menu. This design element may pose visibility challenges for users with limited vision, as the black menu bar can blend into the black display screen. In contrast, models like the Brother MFC-L2900DW feature a more visually accessible monochrome interface.
Warranty and Support
Brother provides a one-year warranty for the MFC-L3780CDW. While this warranty is standard, some competitors offer longer warranty periods for printers in this class. For instance, Canon provides a three-year warranty on its home-office machines, and HP includes on-site service within one business day with its one-year warranty. However, Brother offers the option to purchase extended warranties, starting at $103, which provide coverage for a longer period and include repair services at authorized locations or next-business-day shipping of a refurbished replacement unit.
Conclusion
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is a top-performing all-in-one colour laser printer that excels in speed, features, and security, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and home offices. While it may have a slightly higher upfront cost and a potentially less visible touchscreen menu for some users, its robust performance, high duty cycle, and economical operation make it a worthwhile investment for those who demand a reliable and efficient colour laser printing solution.
Buying Options:
- $500 from Amazon
- $500 from Walmart
- $500 from Best Buy
