Brother MFC-L2820DW XL Review: Affordable & Efficient Laser Printer
Comprehensive review of the Brother MFC-L2820DW XL laser printer: features, benefits, performance, pros & cons. Perfect for small business & home office printing.
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced business environment, printing challenges can quickly derail productivity. From exorbitant ink costs to frustratingly slow print speeds and unreliable performance, these issues can impact your bottom line and diminish your team’s efficiency. The Brother MFC-L2820DW XL Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer directly addresses these pain points, offering a cost-effective and dependable solution for small offices and home users alike.
Overview
The Brother MFC-L2820DW XL is a compact, four-in-one laser printer designed for small businesses and busy home offices. This all-in-one powerhouse combines printing, copying, scanning, and faxing capabilities into a single, streamlined device. Featuring a high-yield toner cartridge, it delivers crisp, professional-quality black-and-white prints at speeds of up to 34 pages per minute. Its intuitive 2.7-inch touchscreen and robust wireless connectivity options make it exceptionally user-friendly and adaptable to various workflows. It’s the ideal solution for anyone seeking a reliable, feature-rich printer that won’t break the bank or take up excessive space.
Features
Intuitive 2.7″ Touchscreen: Navigate printer functions and settings with ease using the responsive 2.7-inch touchscreen display. This user-friendly interface provides clear visual feedback and simplifies tasks such as printing from and scanning to popular cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, and OneNote.
Precision Color Printing Engine: While monochrome, the laser engine in the MFC-L2820DW XL ensures exceptional clarity, sharpness, and consistency in every print. Whether you’re creating professional documents, marketing materials, or reports, you’ll achieve impressive results every time. Its 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution delivers crisp detail for a professional finish.
Duplex Auto-Feeder: Say goodbye to manually flipping pages for double-sided printing. The MFC-L2820DW XL’s 50-page automatic document feeder (ADF) handles multi-page copy, scan, and fax jobs with ease, saving you valuable time and effort. This automated feature streamlines your workflow, allowing you to focus on more critical tasks.
Wireless Smart Connectivity: Stay connected and productive wherever you are. The printer supports dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, and USB 2.0 connectivity options. The Brother Mobile Connect app allows printing and scanning from smartphones and tablets, offering unparalleled convenience and mobility. Cloud integration lets you access and share documents seamlessly.
High-Yield Ink Tank System: The MFC-L2820DW XL boasts an impressive toner cartridge that yields up to 4,200 pages, delivering six times more prints than the standard MFC-L2820DW model. This significantly reduces the frequency of toner replacements, lowering your overall printing costs and minimizing downtime. It’s an investment that pays off quickly.
Benefits
Space-Saving Design: The compact footprint of the MFC-L2820DW XL allows it to fit comfortably on any desk or in tight spaces.
Increased Productivity: Automated features like duplex printing and the ADF, coupled with fast print speeds (up to 34 ppm), streamline your workflow and boost productivity. Spend less time managing your printer and more time on what matters.
Enhanced Convenience: Wireless connectivity and the mobile app provide unparalleled flexibility and accessibility. Print and scan from virtually anywhere, anytime.
Reduced Printing Costs: The high-yield toner cartridge dramatically lowers your per-page printing costs compared to traditional ink-based printers. Less frequent replacements and the optional Refresh EZ Print subscription plan maximize savings.
Professional-Quality Output: The laser printing engine delivers crisp, sharp, and professional-looking documents, ensuring a positive impression every time.
Usages
Ideal for Small Businesses: This printer is a cost-effective solution for small businesses with moderate to high-volume printing needs. Its reliability and efficiency will contribute to a more streamlined and productive operation.
Useful for Photo Printing Enthusiasts: While primarily designed for black and white prints, the precision printing engine can be utilized to create crisp and sharp black and white photography prints.
Great for Students and Frequent Document Printing: Students can benefit from the printer’s fast print speeds, duplex printing capabilities, and affordable toner costs. It’s an excellent choice for tackling large assignments and projects.
Perfect for Home Offices: The MFC-L2820DW XL provides the essential printing, copying, scanning, and faxing functionality needed for a productive home office environment. Its compact size and wireless capabilities make it ideal for smaller workspaces.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High-yield toner reduces printing costs
- Fast print speeds up to 34 ppm
- Compact design saves space
- Automatic duplex printing saves paper
- Wireless connectivity and mobile app enhance convenience
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
Cons
- Monochrome printing only (no color capabilities)
- Limited paper tray capacity compared to some models
- Larger fonts may slightly impact print quality
FAQs
How easy is it to set up the wireless connection?: The wireless setup is straightforward using the intuitive touchscreen interface or the Brother Mobile Connect app. Guided instructions make the process easy even for those less experienced with networking.
What is the warranty coverage?: The MFC-L2820DW XL comes with a 1-year limited warranty, providing peace of mind and ensuring access to support when needed.
Are there any compatible toner cartridges?: The printer is designed to work optimally with Brother Genuine toner cartridges, including the TN830 (Standard), TN830XL (High Yield), and TN830XL 2PK (Twin-Pack).
How fast does it print?: The MFC-L2820DW XL prints up to 34 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white, allowing you to quickly complete large print jobs.
What is the estimated cost per page?: The cost per page is significantly lower than inkjet printers due to the high-yield toner cartridge and available subscription plans, typically around 2-5 cents per page.
Product Specifications
| Ink Type | Toner |
| DPI Resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Print Technology | Laser |
| Warranty | 1-Year Limited Warranty |
| Print Speed | Up to 34 ppm |
| Connectivity | Wireless, Ethernet, USB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 15.7″D x 16.1″W x 12.5″H |
| Duty Cycle | Up to 8,000 pages per month |
| Page Yield | Up to 4,200 pages |
| Weight | 22.7 pounds |
Ratings
| Printing Performance | 4.6 |
| Connectivity & Convenience | 4.8 |
| Cost-Effectiveness | 4.5 |
| Overall Value | 4.4 |
| Technical Specifications | 4.2 |
Recommendation
The Brother MFC-L2820DW XL is the ideal printer for small businesses looking for a cost-effective, reliable, and feature-rich all-in-one solution. Its high-yield toner, fast print speeds, and wireless connectivity make it a productivity powerhouse.
For home users who print frequently and are seeking to reduce printing costs, the MFC-L2820DW XL is an excellent choice. Its compact design and user-friendly interface make it easy to integrate into any home office environment.
Conclusion
The Brother MFC-L2820DW XL Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer delivers exceptional value and performance for small businesses and home users alike. Its combination of high-yield toner, fast print speeds, and wireless connectivity addresses common printing challenges, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective workflow.
With its reliable performance, user-friendly features, and competitive price point, the MFC-L2820DW XL is a worthwhile investment for anyone seeking a dependable and versatile printing solution. Its long-term value and sustainability features make it a smart choice for the modern office.
