- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is an excellent color laser printer for home or small offices, but can be a good fit for other uses as well. It has an outstanding build quality that should last for years, and its input tray can hold a large amount of paper, making it a great choice for big print jobs. It prints fast and won't take up too much of your time; however, it may not be the best choice for photo printing, as color accuracy is quite poor and its cost-per-print can rise significantly if you print in large numbers. Nonetheless, it should still satisfy those who mostly print in black.
Our Verdict
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is a mediocre family printer. While it can print in color and its cost-per-print is good, the quality of printed photos is rather poor. Photos tend to look muted and the colors are inaccurate. On the bright side, its scanning resolution and color depth are exceptional, so you can use it to enlarge photos or do some light editing.
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Outstanding build quality.
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Fast print speed.
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High-yield cartridges.
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Expensive photo printing.
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Mediocre color accuracy
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No support for external storage devices.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is an excellent printer for home or small offices. It can print a large number of copies at a low cost when printing in black only, but the cost for color printing can rise significantly. Its build quality is outstanding, and it's equipped with an automatic document feeder that can save you a lot of time. Its printing speed is superb, but its wireless connectivity options are somewhat limited, as it doesn't support Bluetooth or external SD cards.
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Outstanding build quality.
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Fast print speed.
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High-yield cartridges.
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Slow to print first page of a document.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is a good printer for students. Printing black-only documents in large numbers won't cost significantly more, and it can print very fast, though the first page tends to be on the slow side. You can connect to the printer via Wi-Fi, and its mobile app supports most common file types, but you won't be able to print from an external drive like an SD card.
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Outstanding build quality.
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Fast print speed.
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High-yield cartridges.
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No support for external storage devices.
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Slow to print first page of a document.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is a great printer for printing black and white documents. Although this printer can print in color, it's much more suited for black only documents, as the cost-per-print remains low even if you print a lot. Printing speed is excellent and it accepts high-yield cartridges, so you won't have to replace the toners as often.
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Outstanding build quality.
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Fast print speed.
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High-yield cartridges.
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Slow to print first page of a document.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is a bad printer for printing photos. Pictures lack detail, the colors are muted, and there's a lot of banding as well. Additionally, its color accuracy is mediocre and it can't print on photo paper.
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Outstanding build quality.
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Fast print speed.
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Expensive photo printing.
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Mediocre color accuracy
- 5.7 Family
- 8.6 Small/Home Office
- 7.4 Student
- 8.1 Black & White
- 4.5 Photo
- Updated May 12, 2022: We updated the Scanner Features box to specify that the ADF scans double-sided sheets in a single pass. Also, we changed the Expected Maintenance score since we experienced an issue with the drum unit model where it stops working much earlier than it's advertised to.
- Updated Feb 15, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jun 16, 2020: We had previously listed an incorrect price for the black toner cartridge. It has been corrected.
- Updated Jun 08, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
- Updated May 11, 2020: Review published.
Test Results
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW has an outstanding design. It's mainly built with hard plastic that feels solid and sturdy. The input and output trays are well-designed, with sliders that adjust to the paper's format, and the toners are easy to access. The scanner's lid has hinges that can extend vertically to accommodate thicker documents or books; however, the display console is horizontal and can't be adjusted, which can be difficult to see if you're seated or if the printer is placed too high.
The printer is fairly large, tall, and very heavy. Since the display console is horizontal, the printer needs to be on a lower table for better visibility.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW uses toner, so you don't need to worry about printheads clogging the way you do with ink. It holds 250 pages in its input tray and another 30 in its multi-purpose tray, so you shouldn't have to refill the trays with paper too often. Sheet rollers are accessible from a few ways, depending where your paper jam is: opening a panel at the back, removing the input tray, or lifting the scanner. The cartridges are also easy to access by lifting up the entire top of the printer and then pulling out them out. The drum units are their own separate units, though, so you'll need to replace those after a certain amount of time. You also need to replace the waste toner box, belt unit, fuser unit, and paper feeding kit, but these last three need to be done by a professional since it requires opening up the printer.
The drum unit for this printer is known to have printing issues well before its advertised end of life of around 18,000 pages. The amount of pages you can actually get out of it varies, but during the retest of the Brother MFC-L3270CDW (which uses the same drum unit model), the drum unit stopped working after only 600 prints. This means you have to replace this unit a lot more often than intended, which quickly gets expensive.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW has an outstanding display. It's easy to read and it's touch-sensitive. However, because the display faces upward and isn't adjustable, it can be hard to see if you're seated.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW has an exceptional cartridge system. The toner is separate from the drum unit, so you won't have to replace the drum when you replace the toner. The printer accepts third-party toner, but using them may void the warranty. If you want a similar laser printer with an even higher black page yield, the Canon imageCLASS MF644Cdw is a good choice too.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW has superb scanning features. The scanning resolution and color depth are good enough for photo scanning, and it has an automatic document feeder, making it easy to scan multiple pages in a row. It can also automatically scan two-sided documents in a single pass. Additionally, the scanner's lid has hinges that can extend to accommodate thicker documents or books. If you don't need a scanner, check out the Brother HL-L3270CDW Laser.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW's input tray has sliders that adjust to the paper's size up to the legal format. However, it can't print large documents such as tabloid size or small photos.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW's cost-per-print is excellent. If you print mainly in black, the cost rises slightly as you print over a certain number of pages, but the cost of printing in color rises significantly the more you print. Do note that the cost of the color cartridge includes all three colors, though they can be purchased separately.
If you prefer a printer with the drum unit built into the cartridge, check out the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw.
Printing speed is great. It takes a long time to print a single page when the printer is inactive for over an hour, but longer documents pages come out much faster. If you want an even faster laser printer, check out the Lexmark CX331adwe.
You can continue printing in black when the color cartridges are empty, as long as you set the print to monochrome. This means you aren't forced to buy new color cartridges when you don't need them.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW has bad photo printing quality, though still decent for a laser printer. While it can bring out small details, the overall image isn't as sharp and colors look muted and inaccurate. Additionally, there's quite a bit of banding when printing with green and blue. Note that the printer can't print on 4" x 6" paper, so glossy 8.5" x 11" paper was used instead. If you need to print off glossy images with a good amount of detail and vibrancy, the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 has significantly better photo printing quality.
These results are based on the actual physical photo, not the scanned image provided for reference above, which may not be representative of the printer's photo print quality.
Printing color accuracy is mediocre. Most colors aren't printed correctly; as such, it's not recommended for photo printing or graphic design. If you need a printer with better color accuracy, check out the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW has great connectivity. It supports wireless printing from mobile devices such as AirPrint for Apple devices and Mopria for Android devices.
The Brother iPrint&Scan app is superb. It supports nearly every file type and you can also scan directly to your mobile device. You can access the printer's settings as well and to check on the printer's ink levels. It also supports NFC, so you can quickly connect your mobile phone to the printer.
Compared To Other Printers
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is an excellent printer for small and home offices. It's among the best laser printers that we've reviewed so far due to its full-feature scanner, high yield, and fast printing speed. For other options, check out our recommendations for the best all-in-one printers, the best home printers, and the best laser printers.
Overall, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is slightly better than the Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser. The HP yields more black and color pages, it prints faster, and its color accuracy is significantly better. The Brother's cost-per-print is lower; however, its drum unit is a separate unit and the cost isn't factored in, while the HP's drum unit is built into the cartridge.
The Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw is a better printer than the Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser. The Canon has a much higher page yield and has external storage support. That said, the Brother's scan resolution is much higher and its black cartridge is much cheaper.
The Canon imageCLASS MF644Cdw and the Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser have near-identical overall performance. The Canon yields more black pages while the Brother yields more color pages. The Brother has a slightly better cost-per-print and it prints black and color documents faster. On the other hand, the Canon has support for external drives, and unlike the Brother, its toner cartridge also contains the drum unit, which means that you won't have to manually replace it.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW and the Brother MFC-L2750DW are all-in-one laser printers with flatbed scanners, automatic document feeders, and faxing capabilities. The L2750DW is a monochrome printer and is much better for black and white printing. The L2750DW has a higher black page yield, a much lower cost-per-print, and prints faster. On the other hand, the L3770CDW can print in color.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is better than the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw for most uses. The MFC-L3770CDW has a scanner with an automatic document feeder, it has a higher page yield, and the display console is much better. However, the M255dw has better color accuracy and it can print off of a USB thumb drive.
The Brother HL-L3270CDW Laser and the Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser are two very similar printers. They both have outstanding build quality, print fast with a low cost-per-print, but neither is the best choice for photo printing. The main difference is that the HL-L3270CDW doesn't come with a scanner, while the MFC-L3770CDW does.
The Brother MFC-J6945DW and Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser are both amazing printers for small or home offices, but the J6945DW is an inkjet that can scan and print 11" x 17" tabloid-format sheets, while the L3770CDW uses laser technology to print. The J6945DW has higher page yields, lower cost-per-print, and it prints far better-looking photos. Also, its flatbed scanner is larger, and it can print directly from USB flash drives. On the other hand, the L3770CDW prints much faster.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is a better printer for office use than the HP OfficeJet 7740 Pro. The Brother yields many more pages before its toner cartridges need replacing and it prints significantly faster. However, like most laser printers, it prints photos that look far worse than most inkjets. On the other hand, the HP's standout features include its support for printing on large, tabloid-format paper, its large flatbed scanner that can accommodate sheets up to 11" x 17" size, and its ADF that can duplex scan in one pass. Additionally, its cost-per-print is cheaper, and it can print directly from USB flash drives.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser and the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 are two very different printers. The Brother is a laser printer capable of printing color, so its print speeds are significantly faster. However, its photo quality has much more banding, and the colors look more inaccurate. On the other hand, the Epson uses a supertank system, so it has significantly higher page yields for both black and color documents. However, it doesn't have an automatic document feeder that can perform duplex scanning like the Brother.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser and the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 are both all-in-one color printers, but the Brother uses laser technology and is better for small or home offices, while the Epson is an inkjet that uses a supertank ink system for far superior page yields, and which is better for families and students. The Brother prints significantly faster and has an automatic document feeder that can duplex scan. On the other hand, the Epson produces better-looking photos, though they still look just okay.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is better for most uses than the Lexmark CX331adwe. The Brother is better-built, it supports duplex scanning, the companion app prints Microsoft Office files, and it has better color accuracy. However, the Lexmark has a higher page yield, so it's more cost-effective over time, it prints pages slightly faster, and it has a USB port.
The Brother MFC-L3770CWD Laser and the Epson EcoTank ET-3760 are two differently designed printers. The Brother is a laser printer and it's better suited for small/home offices as it has an integrated fax feature and duplex scanning. It's also much quicker at printing black and color documents. However, the Epson is more versatile. This supertank printer can yield an outstanding number of pages before its tanks need to be refilled, which helps to keep its cost-per-print low. It has much better photo printing quality, too.
The HP LaserJet MFP M234dw and the Brother MFC-L3370CDW Laser are very different. The Brother is much more versatile because it has color printing and a sheetfed scanner with duplex scanning capability. It also prints faster overall. However, if you only print in black, the HP might be a better choice because it has a higher black page yield and a lower cost-per-print.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is better than the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553dn for most uses, but mainly because the Brother is an all-in-one. It has wireless connectivity, a much better display screen, a mobile companion app, and a scanner with an automatic document feeder and duplex scanning capability. The HP is just a printer, but it has a much higher page yield, lower cost-per-print, and faster printing speed.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser and the Pantum P2502W are both laser printers, but the Brother is an all-in-one that prints in color, whereas the Pantum is a printer-only unit that only prints in black. The Brother is far better for most uses, as it has a high-resolution flatbed and a fast-scanning duplex ADF, it prints significantly faster and supports automatic duplex printing, and it has an Ethernet port. On the other hand, the Pantum printer is a good choice if you're on a budget, don't need to scan, and only need to print lots of black and white sheets in bulk. It produces more black sheets per cartridge, and its cost-per-print is much cheaper, but it has issues handling and printing sheets.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW is a much better printer than the Brother HL-L2390DW. The MFC-L3770CDW has the ability to print in both black and white and color, has an outstanding build quality, and can hold a large amount of paper. Neither is good for photo printing, but the MFC-L3770CDW is still decent for a laser printer.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is an all-in-one color laser printer that's better for small offices that need to print high volumes quickly, while the Brother MFC-J805DW INKvestment Tank is an all-in-one color inkjet printer that's better for families and students. The MFC-L3770CDW prints significantly faster and produces more accurate colors, its automatic document feeder can duplex scan, and it has an Ethernet port. The MFC-J805DW uses a hybrid cartridge–tank system for significantly higher black page yields and a much lower cost-per-print, and it produces much better-looking photos.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is a better printer than the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn except for photo printing. The Brother has a much better touch-sensitive display screen and is equipped with an exceptional scanner. It also has a lot more connectivity options, including wireless printing, and is compatible with an exceptional mobile app. That said, the HP yields a lot more pages in black and color and has a much faster printing speed. It also has much better color accuracy and photo printing quality, though the result might still be disappointing for some users.
The HP PageWide Pro 557dw and the Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser are both office printers. The HP uses a combination of laser and inkjet technologies, while the Brother is a laser printer. The HP has significantly higher page yields at a much lower cost-per-print, has external storage support, and it takes much less time to print out its first page. However, the Brother is a better choice if you want better color accuracy and if you want a mobile app that lets you print HTML, TXT, and PDF files from your mobile device.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is an all-in-one color laser printer that's better for small or home offices than the Brother MFC-J995DW. The L3770CDW's ADF supports duplex scanning, and it prints much more quickly. On the other hand, the J995DW is an all-in-one inkjet printer that's better for casual photos or family use, with a significantly better cost-per-print and page yields, better color accuracy, and much better photo quality. It can also print directly from USB flash drives or SD cards.
The Brother MFC-L3770CDW Laser is a better printer than the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M555dn except for black & white and photo printing. The Brother is equipped with an exceptional scanner and has a lot more connectivity options, including wireless printing. It’s also compatible with an exceptional mobile app. That said, the HP yields a lot more pages in black and color and is one of the fastest printers we’ve tested. It also has much better color accuracy and photo printing quality, though the result might still be disappointing for some users.