Whether you work from home, manage a small office, or need a compact device for everyday printing, the Brother MFC-L2820DW has you covered. This powerful black and white laser printer combines print, scan, copy and fax functions in a compact, user-friendly design. But how does it perform in real-world use scenarios? Let's take a closer look at this printer to help you decide if it's the right printer for your printing needs.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, the Brother MFC-L2820DW impresses with its compact, minimalist design. It's solidly built, and its professional black exterior blends in perfectly with most home offices or workspaces. Setup is a breeze thanks to the included Quick Start Guide and the intuitive 2.7" color touchscreen. Start printing in minutes.
Key Features of Brother MFC-L2820DW
1. Print Quality & Speed
With print speeds up to 34 pages per minute, the Brother MFC-L2820DW is ideal for high-volume document jobs. Resolutions up to 1200 x 1200 dpi deliver crisp, clear print quality. Even small fonts keep text legible, which is essential for professional documents.
This printer has a monthly print volume of up to 15,000 pages, with a recommended monthly print volume of 250 to 2,000 pages. Whether you're printing invoices, reports or shipping labels, this printer delivers consistent, crisp print quality.
2. Scan and Copy Capabilities
The 50-sheet ADF makes scanning and copying a breeze. Scanning resolution is limited to 600 x 600 dpi (optical), but that's more than enough to digitize documents and send them to email or cloud storage. The scanner doesn't support duplex scanning, which may be a drawback for some users.
Copying is simple and in line with printing speeds, up to 34 copies per minute. This copier also has features like zoom and ID card copying, further enhancing its versatility.
3. Fax Function
Although many people consider faxing to be obsolete, it is still essential in certain industries. The MFC-L2820DW comes with a 33.6 Kbps fax modem and up to 400 pages of memory. Features like PC fax and automatic redial simplify communication and ensure faxing works reliably when you need it.
4. Connectivity and Software
The highlight of the Brother MFC-L2820DW is its strong connectivity. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Ethernet, and high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces. Mobile printing is available through Brother Mobile Connect, Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and Wi-Fi Direct. You can print and scan directly from your smartphone or tablet without connecting to a computer.
Cloud connectivity is another highlight of the MFC-L2820DW. The printer integrates with cloud platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc. This means you can scan documents directly to or print from your cloud account, improving workflow efficiency.
The Brother Mobile Connect app can also remotely monitor toner levels, access settings and troubleshooting guides, and print on the go.
Printer and Toner Cartridge Costs
When evaluating the Brother MFC-L2820DW, it's important to consider both the initial investment and ongoing operating costs, especially the toner cartridges and drum unit.
1. Printer Cost
The Brother MFC-L2820DW is competitively priced, making it an attractive option for home offices and small businesses seeking a reliable black-and-white laser printer. Prices may vary by region and retailer, so it's recommended that you check with your local supplier for the most accurate pricing.
2. Toner Cartridges
This printer uses the Brother TN830 series toner cartridges:
Brother TN830 Standard Yield Toner Cartridge: With a page yield of approximately 1,200 pages, it is suitable for users who print light to moderate amounts.
Brother TN830XL High Yield Toner Cartridge: Delivers up to 3,000 pages, perfect for users with heavy printing needs. If you have a high print volume or frequent use, buying the TN830XL can reduce your cost per page and save you a ton of money in the long run.
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Compatible Brother TN830XL High Yield Black Toner Cartridge
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3. Drum Unit
Brother DR830 Drum Unit: lifespan approximately 15,000 pages. It is a component independent of the toner cartridge and is essential to maintain stable print quality.
Pros and Cons for Brother MFC-L2820DW
| Pros | Cons |
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Fast print speeds (up to 34 ppm) Crisp, professional-quality output Reliable scan, copy, and fax functionality Dual-band Wi-Fi and mobile printing support Automatic duplex printing Compact and user-friendly design |
No duplex scanning Black-and-white printing only Cloud features require app setup |
Brother MFC-L2820DW Frequently Asked Questions
1. Brother MFC-L2820DW XL vs Brother MFC-L2820DW: What is the difference?
The main difference between the Brother MFC-L2820DW and MFC-L2820DW XL is the standard toner capacity. The XL model often comes with an additional high-yield toner cartridge (TN830XL), which allows users to print more pages before the cartridge needs to be replaced.
The standard MFC-L2820DW may come with one TN830 starter cartridge (about 700 pages), while the XL model may come with one or even two TN830XL toner cartridges (about 3,000 pages each). This not only reduces the need to buy toner immediately, but also reduces the cost per page in the long term.
Functionally, the hardware and features of both versions are exactly the same - print speed, resolution, connectivity and build quality remain the same. The XL is ideal for users who print more monthly and want to save on consumables costs in the long term.
2. Brother DCP-L2640DW vs MFC-L2820DW: Which one to choose?
The Brother DCP-L2640DW and Brother MFC-L2820DW are both part of Brother's compact monochrome laser printer series, and they share some common features: fast printing, two-sided printing, wireless connectivity, and a 50-page automatic document feeder. However, they differ in a few key ways:
Fax Capabilities: The MFC-L2820DW has fax capabilities, while the DCP-L2640DW does not. If you need to send or receive faxes, especially in industries such as legal or healthcare, the MFC model is a better choice.
Design Highlights: The DCP series is slightly more expensive and is suitable for users who do not need faxes, while the MFC series is more feature-rich as an all-in-one office device.
If you are sure you do not need faxes and want to save some initial costs, choose the DCP-L2640DW. If you still need faxes, or you prefer a business model, choose the MFC-L2820DW.
3. What is the difference between MFC-I2900DW and MFC-L2820DW?
The Brother MFC-I2900DW and Brother MFC-L2820DW have similar core features (print, scan, copy, fax), but the I2900DW may offer certain business-class upgrades depending on regional availability:
Build and Durability: The I series is sometimes designed for higher duty cycles or enhanced durability, making it better suited for midsize workgroups.
Advanced Features: The MFC-I2900DW may include features such as a faster processor, more onboard memory, or expanded cloud service compatibility.
That said, for most small office and home office users, the MFC-L2820DW is more than adequate. If you're managing a larger workflow or need more robust network management capabilities, the I2900DW may be worth considering.
4. What is the difference between Brother MFC-L2820DW and MFC-L2750DW?
These two printers belong to different tiers of Brother's product line. While both are monochrome all-in-one laser printers, the Brother MFC-L2750DW offers more advanced features.
Duplex Scanning: The L2750DW offers automatic duplex scanning with its dual CIS scanners, which means it can scan both sides of a document in one go. The L2820DW does not support duplex scanning.
Faster Scanning and Better Resolution: The L2750DW also offers higher scan resolution and faster scan speeds.
Touchscreen and User Interface: Both products feature a 2.7-inch color touchscreen, but the L2750DW may offer more advanced workflow shortcuts.
If you need duplex scanning, or need a higher-end model for frequent scanning tasks, choose the MFC-L2750DW. Otherwise, the MFC-L2820DW is a better choice because it is more affordable and ideal for simple tasks.
5. Does the MFC-L2820DW have duplex scanning?
No, the Brother MFC-L2820DW does not support duplex scanning. While it comes with a 50-page ADF for scanning, copying, and faxing multi-page documents, the ADF can only scan one side at a time.
If you need to scan a two-sided document, you must reinsert and turn the pages manually. This is fine for occasional use, but can become a bottleneck in a high-volume scanning environment. Users who frequently need to scan two-sided should consider a model like the MFC-L2750DW that supports automatic two-sided scanning.
Wrapping Up
The Brother MFC-L2820DW is a full-featured, efficient and compact monochrome laser printer that is perfect for home offices and small offices. It has fast, high-quality printing capabilities and offers reliable scanning, copying and faxing capabilities. Although it does not support two-sided scanning and color output, its speed, connectivity and affordable price make it an attractive choice. For users who need a high-performance device with reliable functions, low running costs and simple operation, the Brother MFC-L2820DW is an excellent value for money. Whether you are managing invoices, printing reports or scanning contracts, this printer is your ideal office companion.
