Brother HL-L3280CDW vs HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer

Brother HL-L3280CDW is both cheaper to buy and cheaper to run — the straightforward pick for most buyers.

Best overall
Brother HL-L3280CDW

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Price
$344.98
Cost per page (mono)
3.2¢/pg
Buy — $344.98
HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer

Price
$399.00
Cost per page (mono)
3.6¢/pg
Buy — $399.00

Cost to run

Total cost of ownershipBrother HL-L3280CDWHP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer
After 1 year$536$614
After 2 years$727$830
After 3 years$918$1,045

Brother HL-L3280CDW is cheaper to buy and cheaper to run, so it stays the lower total cost at every volume.

Specs compared

SpecBrother HL-L3280CDWHP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer
Print technologylaserlaser
Color supportcolorcolor
Device typesingle-functionsingle-function
Functionsprintprint
Print speed (mono)27 ppm26 ppm
Print speed (color)27 ppm26 ppm
Resolution2400 x 600600 x 600
Duty cycle (monthly)40,000 pages40,000 pages
Recommended volume3,000 pages/mo2,500 pages/mo
Automatic duplexYesYes
Automatic document feederNoNo
Display—2-inch diagonal DFSTN-backlit (200 x 114)
Wi-FiYesYes
EthernetYesYes
USBYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
Paper sizesLetter, LegalA4
Weight (kg)15.3813.8

Cartridges & running cost

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Cheapest to run: Brother TN229XLBK High Yield Black Toner Cartridge — $95.57 · 3.2¢/page · 3,000pg yield

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer

Cheapest to run: HP 218X High Yield Black Original LaserJet Toner Cartridge — $114.92 · 3.6¢/page · 3,200pg yield

Which should you buy?

  • High-volume or cost-conscious printing: Brother HL-L3280CDW — about 11% lower cost per page (3.2¢ vs 3.6¢).
  • A lower upfront budget: Brother HL-L3280CDW — $54 less to buy.

Where to buy

Brother HL-L3280CDWBuy — $344.98
HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw PrinterBuy — $399.00

Compare with other models

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to run, the Brother HL-L3280CDW or the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer?
The Brother HL-L3280CDW — its cheapest black cartridge works out about 11% cheaper per page (3.2¢ vs 3.6¢ mono).
Which costs less to buy, the Brother HL-L3280CDW or the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer?
The Brother HL-L3280CDW is about $54 cheaper upfront based on current prices.
What are the main differences between the Brother HL-L3280CDW and the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer?
Print speed (mono): Brother HL-L3280CDW 27 ppm, HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer 26 ppm. Print speed (color): Brother HL-L3280CDW 27 ppm, HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer 26 ppm. Resolution: Brother HL-L3280CDW 2400 x 600, HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer 600 x 600. Recommended volume: Brother HL-L3280CDW 3,000 pages/mo, HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw Printer 2,500 pages/mo.