For small businesses and home offices seeking a robust and efficient all-in-one solution, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW Toner Printer With Scanner stands out as a top-tier upgrade. This business-class machine surpasses standard models by delivering enhanced speed, superior print quality, increased durability, and advanced security features, making it an ideal investment for demanding environments.
Our pick for the best upgrade printer with better speed and features, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW, on a green background.
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW toner printer with scanner is showcased as the best upgrade pick for users needing enhanced speed and features.
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is positioned as a more premium option compared to other recommendations, justifying its higher price point with tangible benefits in performance and functionality. While it represents a greater initial investment, its long-term value for businesses and busy home offices is undeniable due to its efficiency and reliability. Among color laser printers that offer similar all-in-one productivity as leading inkjet models, the MFC-L3780CDW remains a competitively priced choice.
Navigating the printer’s settings is generally straightforward, thanks to its user-friendly interface. However, individuals with visual impairments might find the design challenging. Specifically, the black menu bar at the footer of the touchscreen display can blend into the black screen, potentially hindering visibility and ease of use.
The paper handling capabilities of this toner printer with scanner are designed to meet the needs of moderately demanding workflows. It features a standard paper tray with a capacity of 250 sheets, suitable for regular office tasks. Furthermore, its robust duty cycle is rated at a generous 4,000 pages per month. This high capacity ensures the printer can comfortably handle the typical print and scan volumes of small to medium-sized businesses and busy home offices without compromising performance or longevity.
Experience Fast and High-Quality Printing
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW toner printer with scanner excels in print speed and quality. While it performs exceptionally well in text and graphics printing, it’s important to note a slight trade-off in scan reproduction quality. Brother states that this device can achieve print speeds of up to 31 pages per minute (ppm). In comparison, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw, a leading competitor, averaged around 22 ppm in tests.
In practical testing scenarios, the MFC-L3780CDW delivered text documents with comparable sharpness and graphics with similar clarity and freedom from banding as the 3301fdw. Like most laser printers, image prints may appear somewhat flat, which is a common characteristic of laser printing technology. For users who frequently print photographs and require superior photo quality, dedicated photo printers are still the recommended choice.
When comparing its scanning capabilities to top-rated inkjet all-in-one printers, this laser model demonstrated a reduced ability to produce visually appealing prints from scanned documents. Graphics reproduced from scans often appeared less vibrant compared to the original digital files. This is a general limitation observed across laser printers in the market, indicating that while excellent for document and graphics printing, toner printer with scanner combinations may not match inkjet scanners for high-fidelity image reproduction.
Built for Durability and Heavy Use
Durability is a key strength of the MFC-L3780CDW toner printer with scanner. It boots up quickly and is designed for demanding workloads. With a recommended monthly duty cycle of 4,000 pages, nearly double the 2,500 pages of the 3301fdw, it is well-suited for busy home offices and small businesses with multiple users. This higher duty cycle means the printer can reliably handle large print volumes, even during peak periods like audits, without risk of premature wear or failure.
Standalone Operation and Versatile Media Handling
This toner printer with scanner offers convenient standalone operation, eliminating the need for a computer for basic tasks. The inclusion of a USB port allows direct printing of files in JPEG, PDF, and TIFF formats directly from a USB drive. It also supports saving scanned documents directly to USB storage.
The MFC-L3780CDW is also adept at handling diverse paper sizes. The foldout bypass tray accommodates various media sizes including letter, legal, executive, and postcard. The automatic document feeder (ADF) further enhances versatility by supporting legal-size documents for scanning and copying, catering to a range of office needs.
Advanced Security Features
Security is a paramount feature of the Brother MFC-L3780CDW toner printer with scanner. Mirroring other laser printer picks, it incorporates firmware integrity and encryption protocols to minimize the risk of malicious attacks. These measures protect the printer from unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
Further security features include directory authentication, secure fax holding until user authentication, and role-based access control, crucial for multi-user environments. An integrated NFC card reader adds an extra layer of security, enabling badge authentication. Users can simply tap their NFC-compatible badge to release print jobs securely, enhancing document confidentiality and access control.
Economical Long-Term Operation
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW toner printer with scanner is designed for cost-effective operation over its lifespan. When utilizing super-high-yield toner cartridges, the cost per page is approximately 2.5 cents for black prints and 12.9 cents for color prints. These costs are lower than those associated with the 3301fdw and comparable to the black printing costs of Brother’s monochrome models.
While the initial cost of super-high-yield toner cartridges is significant at around $530, users have options to manage upfront expenses. Lower-capacity high-yield and standard-yield cartridges are available at reduced prices of $402 and $290 respectively. However, opting for these lower-yield cartridges will increase the per-print cost, impacting long-term running expenses.
User-Friendly Interface
The color touchscreen interface of this toner printer with scanner is designed for ease of use, proving less cumbersome than many competitor models. Its straightforward menu navigation simplifies operation for various functions. However, a minor design issue exists: the black-background footer on the touchscreen can be problematic for users with limited vision. This design choice can make the menu bar difficult to see against the black display, potentially affecting usability for visually impaired individuals.
Limited Warranty
Brother provides a one-year warranty for the MFC-L3780CDW. While functional, this warranty period is shorter compared to some competitors in the same printer class. For instance, Canon offers a three-year warranty on its home office machines, and HP includes on-site service within one business day as part of its one-year warranty. Brother does offer extended warranty options for purchase, starting at $103, which include repair services at authorized locations or next-business-day shipping of a refurbished replacement unit, providing an avenue to enhance protection and support.
In conclusion, the Brother MFC-L3780CDW toner printer with scanner is a powerful and feature-rich device ideal for small businesses and home offices demanding speed, quality, and robust security. While its scanning capabilities are typical of laser printers and not on par with inkjet models for photo reproduction, its strengths in printing, durability, security, and cost-effectiveness make it a worthwhile upgrade for enhancing office productivity.
