For small businesses and home offices demanding speed, features, and reliability, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW Laser Color Printer stands out as a superior choice. This business-class machine elevates your printing, scanning, and faxing capabilities, offering enhanced performance and robust security compared to standard models.
Our pick for the best upgrade printer with better speed and features, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW, on a green background.
Small business owners and individuals with high-volume printing needs, frequent scanning tasks, or even occasional fax requirements will find the Brother MFC-L3780CDW an invaluable asset. While it represents a larger investment than entry-level options, this laser color printer justifies its price with faster print speeds and exceptional output quality for both text and graphics. Among color laser printers in its class that provide comprehensive productivity features comparable to leading inkjet models, the MFC-L3780CDW remains a competitively priced solution.
Navigating the printer’s settings is generally straightforward, thanks to its user-friendly interface. However, the dark menu bar at the bottom of the touchscreen might pose a visibility challenge for users with impaired vision, as it can blend into the black display screen.
Equipped with a 250-sheet capacity paper tray, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW is designed for substantial workloads. Its monthly duty cycle is rated at a generous 4,000 pages, easily accommodating the demands of most home and small office environments.
Experience Fast and High-Quality Printing
While excelling in speed and print quality, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW laser color printer delivers impressive performance, although scan reproduction might not always match the original documents perfectly. Brother claims a print speed of up to 31 pages per minute (ppm) for this model, significantly faster than the 22 ppm average observed in tests with the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw.
In direct comparisons, text documents printed on the MFC-L3780CDW exhibited similar sharpness to the 3301fdw, and graphics were rendered with comparable crispness and freedom from banding. However, like many laser color printers, image prints can sometimes appear slightly flat. For users who prioritize photo printing, a dedicated photo printer is still recommended.
Compared to leading inkjet all-in-one printers, this laser color printer may not reproduce scans with the same vibrancy and detail. Graphics in scanned documents can sometimes appear duller than the original source, a characteristic commonly observed across the spectrum of laser printers.
Built for Durability and Heavy Use
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW laser color printer is engineered for long-term reliability and minimal wear and tear. It boasts a quick warm-up time and a robust recommended duty cycle of 4,000 pages per month – nearly double the 2,500-page duty cycle of the 3301fdw. This higher duty cycle makes it well-suited for handling demanding print volumes, even during peak periods like audit season, without risking machine burnout.
Standalone Functionality for Enhanced Convenience
For situations where speed is critical and accessing a computer is inconvenient, this laser color printer offers a practical solution. The integrated USB port enables direct printing of files without needing a computer or mobile device. It supports printing directly from USB drives in JPEG, PDF, and TIFF formats, and also allows saving scanned documents directly to USB storage.
Versatile Paper Handling for Diverse Needs
Handling various paper sizes is effortless with the MFC-L3780CDW. The foldout bypass tray accommodates letter, legal, executive, and postcard-size media. Furthermore, the automatic document feeder (ADF) also supports legal-size documents, enhancing its versatility for different office tasks.
Advanced Security Features for Data Protection
Security is a paramount concern in modern offices, and the MFC-L3780CDW laser color printer excels in this area. Mirroring other secure laser printers, it incorporates firmware integrity and encryption protocols to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. Features like directory authentication, secure fax holding until credential entry, and role-based access control for multi-user environments provide comprehensive protection. The integrated NFC card reader adds an extra layer of security, enabling badge authentication for print job release upon tapping an NFC-compatible badge.
Economical Operation Over the Long Term
Long-term operating costs are a significant factor when choosing a printer. When utilizing super-high-yield toner cartridges, the MFC-L3780CDW offers competitive per-page costs. Black printing costs are approximately 2.5¢ per page, and color printing averages 12.9¢ per page. These figures are lower than the per-page costs of the 3301fdw and align with the black printing costs of Brother’s monochrome models.
While the initial investment for super-high-yield toner cartridges is substantial, alternative lower-capacity high-yield or standard-yield cartridges are available. However, opting for these lower-capacity cartridges will increase the per-print costs accordingly.
Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface
The color touchscreen interface of this laser color printer is designed for ease of use, proving less cumbersome than interfaces found on some competing models. However, the previously mentioned black-background footer on the touchscreen can be problematic for users with visual impairments. Unlike the Brother MFC-L2900DW monochrome model, this design choice can make the menu bar difficult to see for some users.
Warranty Considerations
Brother provides a one-year warranty for the MFC-L3780CDW. While adequate, it is shorter compared to some competitors in this class. Canon, for instance, offers a three-year warranty on its home office machines, and HP includes on-site service within one business day with its one-year warranty. Brother does offer extended warranty options for purchase, providing coverage for repairs or expedited replacement if needed.
In conclusion, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW laser color printer is a robust and feature-rich upgrade for small businesses and home offices. Its speed, print quality, security features, and economical operation make it a worthwhile investment for users seeking a reliable and high-performing laser color printer.
