The Brother HL-L3280CDW is a low-cost color laser printer that aims to strike a balance between price and performance. As a reputable printer brand, I expected the HL-L3280CDW to be reliable and compatible with all my devices. However, I conducted thorough research to assess its durability, economy, speed, and print quality to determine if it’s the ideal color laser printer for most users. While the HL-L3280CDW has several appealing aspects, I’ve discovered a similar Brother printer that offers better overall value, making it a more suitable choice for most individuals.
Design-wise, the Brother HL-L3280CDW is relatively compact for a color laser printer, occupying 15.7 by 15.7 inches on my printer stand with a height of 10.8 inches. It boasts a visually appealing design and weighs a manageable 33.9 pounds. The 2.7-inch color touchscreen functions well but appears slightly dim unless viewed directly in front of the printer. Its fixed angle of 20 degrees from horizontal necessitates standing to interact with it effectively. The main paper tray accommodates 250 sheets of paper, and a convenient media tray is available for single sheets or envelopes, eliminating the need to remove bulk paper from the main tray. The power cord connects to the right rear of the HL-L3280CDW, while Ethernet and USB cable connections are located on the left rear. I utilize Wi-Fi since my printer stand is in a different room than my computer.
In terms of printing performance, the HL-L3280CDW is fast for an inexpensive printer, producing monochrome and color documents at speeds of up to 27 pages per minute (ppm). The first page completes in approximately 14 seconds after the printer has warmed up. If you require faster speeds and are willing to invest in a significantly more expensive printer, HP’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301dw boasts a first-page print time of just 9 seconds and a sustained speed of 35 ppm. As a duplex printer, the HL-L3280CDW allows you to conserve paper by printing on both sides of a sheet, reducing paper usage by half. This is particularly beneficial for printing multiple copies of lengthy documents. For double-sided printing, the paper is pulled back into the machine, lowering the speed to 10 ppm. While there are a few printers capable of printing on both sides simultaneously, single-pass duplex printers are relatively uncommon.
Photo quality is acceptable but falls short of the capabilities of more expensive, high-performance color laser printers like the Canon imageClass MF753cdw. Like most color laser printers, borderless printing is not an option, resulting in pictures printed with a quarter-inch margin. However, it handles color documents effectively. The media tray reliably accommodates envelopes and labels but can only handle one sheet at a time.
The Brother HL-L3280CDW comes equipped with toner cartridges that are initially housed within the printer. However, these cartridges must be removed, the ends uncapped, and then replaced before use. This process is quick and straightforward. Establishing a Wi-Fi connection was effortless with the Brother Mobile Connect app and the HL-L3280CDW’s dual-band Wi-Fi. Alternatively, the touchscreen could be used to select Wi-Fi and input the network password without a phone, but using an iPhone or Android phone is more convenient. My Windows PC and Mac recognized the printer and connected swiftly. Brother provides drivers for Linux computers as well. All devices functioned as expected, and I encountered only a single issue with the mobile app.
Printing envelopes remains a challenge for many printers, and the HL-L3280CDW unfortunately cut off the return address.
Priced at $300, the Brother HL-L3280CDW is an attractive option. It is fast, reliable, and can handle a monthly duty cycle of up to 40,000 pages. Brother recommends an average print volume of 3,000 pages, indicating the HL-L3280CDW’s durability for business use. In terms of toner cost, Brother’s 3200-series offers super high-yield cartridges that last longer and make color documents more affordable. If you’re operating on a tight budget, consider consulting our guide to the best inexpensive printers for additional options. Color documents can cost an average of 10 cents per page, which is quite low for a color laser printer. Black toner is always inexpensive, but with Brother’s largest cartridges, the cost drops to just 2 cents per page. The super high-yield cartridges also offer extended longevity, providing up to 4,500 black pages and 3,000 color pages. Standard-yield cartridges average 5 cents per monochrome page and 18 cents for color. Brother also sells midsize toner cartridges if you’re not interested in investing in the more expensive extra-high-capacity cartridges. The HL-L3280CDW comes with starter cartridges that Brother estimates will print about 1,000 black pages and 1,000 color pages. While this will suffice for a period, it falls short of the yield provided by standard-capacity cartridges.
The Brother HL-L3280CDW is a durable and affordable color laser printer. At around $300, it’s a compelling choice for a printer that quickly produces color documents. However, the Brother HL-L3295CDW offers better long-term value. While it costs approximately $70 more, it boasts faster printing speeds, extra features, and includes additional toner worth $75 in the accompanying cartridges. For the majority of users, the HL-L3295CDW is a superior option to the HL-L3280CDW. However, if you plan on utilizing Brother’s Refresh EZ Print toner subscription, the Brother HL-L3280CDW offers many of the same features as the more expensive model at a lower upfront cost. If neither Brother color laser printer fulfills your requirements, explore our guide to the best color laser printers, where you’re sure to find a closer match.
