Brother HL-L3290CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer Review Compact Design and High Performance

Description

Compact and Sturdy Design

The Brother HL-L3290CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer manages to strike a balance between functionality and design, making it a suitable choice for both home offices and small businesses. Its compact size (16.1″D x 18.7″W x 14.5″H) ensures it doesn’t dominate your workspace while still offering a robust build. I found the construction to be surprisingly sturdy, even when relocating it between rooms. The LED-backlit display might look basic at first glance, but it’s straightforward to use, with no unnecessary bells and whistles that complicate navigation. While the weight, coming in at 47.8 pounds, does make it less portable, this printer seems built to last.

Performance and Speed That Impress

One standout feature is the 25 pages per minute print speed. This speed saved me significant time during larger print jobs, especially when printing double-sided documents thanks to the automatic duplex printing feature. The laser-quality color prints are vivid and sharp, whether I was producing business reports or personal photo prints. I also appreciated the 250-sheet adjustable paper tray, which allowed for fewer interruptions during long printing sessions. For smaller, more customized tasks, the manual feed slot handled envelopes and card stock without jamming—a major plus for anyone needing versatile paper handling.

Key Benefits

• Fast print speeds of up to 25 ppm make it suitable for high-demand environments.
• Flatbed scanning and copying add versatility, perfect for digitizing documents quickly.
• The mobile device compatibility (AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Brother iPrint & Scan) simplifies wireless printing.
• Toner Save Mode is a helpful feature for reducing costs on less critical print jobs.
• Professional-looking, vivid color prints enhance presentations and documents.

Connectivity Options That Simplify Usage

Setting up this printer was a breeze, thanks to its built-in wireless, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB interfaces. I was able to print directly from my smartphone using Brother’s app, which worked seamlessly without any lag. The voice control compatibility with Alexa is another convenient addition, though I didn’t use it as much. That said, I can see this being an excellent feature for someone more reliant on smart home setups. However, the lack of an Ethernet port might be a dealbreaker for those who prefer wired connections for added stability.

Areas for Improvement

• The LCD display is functional but feels dated compared to touchscreen interfaces available on other printers.
• Initial toner cartridges only yield about 1,000 pages, which may not be ideal for heavy users.
• While the printer supports duplex printing, it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF) for scanning or copying multiple pages at once.

Other Options

There are plenty of competitive options in the market that challenge the Brother HL-L3290CDW. For example, the HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw offers a touchscreen display and ADF, which makes it better for multi-page scanning tasks. However, the Brother printer outshines it in terms of cost efficiency, particularly with its Toner Save Mode and high-yield toner options. Similarly, Canon’s Color imageCLASS MF644Cdw provides excellent print quality but struggles with speed compared to this model’s 25 ppm output. Each has its strengths, but if affordability and speed are priorities, the Brother model delivers.

True Value

Considering its feature set and performance, this printer offers excellent value for its price point. The inclusion of high-yield toner options ensures you don’t overspend on replacements, while the compact design and versatile paper handling add to its appeal. While some competitors may outshine it in terms of advanced features like touchscreen interfaces, this model’s reliability and print quality make it a strong contender in its category. If you’re looking for a printer that balances affordability with functionality, this one is worth serious consideration.

Additional information