Brother MFC-L8730CDW vs HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer

Brother MFC-L8730CDW is both cheaper to buy and cheaper to run — the straightforward pick for most buyers.

Best overall
Brother MFC-L8730CDW

Brother MFC-L8730CDW

Price
$599.99
Cost per page (mono)
2.5¢/pg
Buy — $599.99
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer

HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer

Price
$669.00
Cost per page (mono)
2.9¢/pg
Buy — $669.00

Cost to run

Total cost of ownershipBrother MFC-L8730CDWHP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer
After 1 year$752$844
After 2 years$904$1,019
After 3 years$1,057$1,194

Brother MFC-L8730CDW is cheaper to buy and cheaper to run, so it stays the lower total cost at every volume.

Specs compared

SpecBrother MFC-L8730CDWHP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer
Print technologylaserlaser
Color supportcolorcolor
Device typemultifunctionsingle-function
Functionsprint, scan, copy, faxprint
Print speed (mono)33 ppm35 ppm
Print speed (color)33 ppm35 ppm
Resolution2400 x 600600 x 600
Duty cycle (monthly)60,000 pages50,000 pages
Recommended volume5,000 pages/mo4,000 pages/mo
Automatic duplexYesYes
Automatic document feederYesNo
Display—4-line back lit LCD
Wi-FiYesNo
EthernetYesYes
USBYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
Paper sizesLetter, Legal, A4Letter, Legal, A4
Weight (kg)25.6316.33

Cartridges & running cost

Brother MFC-L8730CDW

Cheapest to run: Brother TN635XLBK High Yield Black Toner Cartridge — $139.49 · 2.5¢/page · 5,500pg yield

HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer

Cheapest to run: HP 210X Black Original LaserJet Toner Cartridge — $218.89 · 2.9¢/page · 7,500pg yield

Which should you buy?

  • High-volume or cost-conscious printing: Brother MFC-L8730CDW — about 13% lower cost per page (2.5¢ vs 2.9¢).
  • A lower upfront budget: Brother MFC-L8730CDW — $69 less to buy.
  • If you need scanning, copying and faxing: Brother MFC-L8730CDW — it adds scanning, copying and faxing, which the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer doesn't do.

Where to buy

Brother MFC-L8730CDWBuy — $599.99
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn PrinterBuy — $669.00

Compare with other models

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to run, the Brother MFC-L8730CDW or the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer?
The Brother MFC-L8730CDW — its cheapest black cartridge works out about 13% cheaper per page (2.5¢ vs 2.9¢ mono).
Which costs less to buy, the Brother MFC-L8730CDW or the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer?
The Brother MFC-L8730CDW is about $69 cheaper upfront based on current prices.
What are the main differences between the Brother MFC-L8730CDW and the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer?
Device type: Brother MFC-L8730CDW multifunction, HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer single-function. Functions: Brother MFC-L8730CDW print, scan, copy, fax, HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer print. Print speed (mono): Brother MFC-L8730CDW 33 ppm, HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer 35 ppm. Print speed (color): Brother MFC-L8730CDW 33 ppm, HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Printer 35 ppm.