Premium quality and flawless performance. My best purchase, worth every penny!
Winner
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a wireless color inkjet printer designed primarily for basic home use. It stands out with its cartridge-free design, using high-capacity refillable ink tanks that can save you a lot of money on ink—up to 90% compared to traditional cartridges. This is great if you print moderately often and want to avoid the hassle and cost of frequent cartridge replacements. The printer delivers good print quality with sharp black text and decent color photos, thanks to its high maximum resolution (up to 5760 x 1440 dpi). However, its print speed is on the slower side: about 10 pages per minute for black-and-white and 5 for color, so it might not be ideal if you need lots of fast printing.
Connectivity options include both wired USB and wireless, which makes it easy to print from laptops or smartphones. Paper handling is basic with a 100-sheet input capacity and support for various sizes, but it lacks automatic duplex printing, so you must flip pages manually if you want double-sided prints. It also features a built-in flatbed scanner and copier with respectable scanning resolution, useful for everyday document tasks. The printer's included display and app control add to the convenience.
One additional plus is Epson's 2-year limited warranty, giving added peace of mind. The ET-2800 is well suited for home users who value low running costs and decent print quality over speed or advanced features. It is not designed for heavy office use or fast-paced printing needs but shines where ink savings and ease of use are priorities.
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a compact monochrome laser printer designed for small businesses. It combines printing, scanning, and copying functions in a single device, making it a versatile option for office use. One of its standout features is the high print speed of up to 36 pages per minute, which can significantly enhance productivity. The printer also boasts efficient scanning capabilities with speeds up to 23.6/7.9 images per minute for black and color scans, respectively, and a 50-page auto document feeder to facilitate multi-page scanning and copying tasks efficiently.
This printer supports multiple connectivity options, including dual-band wireless, Ethernet, and USB, allowing flexibility in network setup and device connections. The Brother Mobile Connect app further enhances convenience by enabling users to manage printing tasks from their mobile devices. The print quality is reliably high due to its laser technology, making it suitable for producing professional documents. Additionally, the auto-duplex feature and energy-saving certifications like Energy Star and EPEAT help reduce operational costs and environmental impact.
However, being a monochrome printer, it is not suitable for users who require color printing. While the initial cost might be a bit high for some small businesses, the operating costs are kept low with options like the Brother Genuine Toner and the Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service, which can save up to 50% on toner costs. The printer's compact size and lightweight build (25 pounds) make it easy to fit into small office spaces. The Brother DCP-L2640DW is best suited for small businesses that need a reliable and efficient monochrome printer with robust scanning and copying features.
The Brother MFC-J1010DW is a compact and budget-friendly all-in-one inkjet printer, ideal for home offices or small spaces. It offers good print quality, with sharp color prints at up to 6000 x 1200 dpi on Windows, which is quite high for an inkjet. Printing speeds are decent, especially for monochrome documents at 17 pages per minute, while color prints are slower at around 9.5 ppm, making it better suited for moderate rather than heavy printing.
Connectivity is flexible, supporting Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet, and it integrates well with mobile devices via the Brother Mobile Connect app, making printing from smartphones or tablets easy. Paper handling is convenient with a 150-sheet adjustable tray and a 20-page automatic document feeder, plus automatic duplex printing helps save paper. One consideration is that, as an inkjet, operating costs can be higher compared to laser printers, especially if you print often in color.
The printer also includes useful features like borderless printing and voice control compatibility with Alexa, enhancing its user-friendly nature. Although it doesn’t have the fastest color printing speeds, it balances good quality, versatile connectivity, and compact design, making it a solid choice for everyday home or small office use where space and budget matter.