Brother MFC-L2820DW vs MFC-L8930CDW: Which Printer Is Better? - RTINGS.com

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Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 06, 2026 02:50 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Apr 09, 2026 03:40 PM

Brother MFC-L2820DW Picture

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Picture

Print Technology Laser

TypeAll-In-One

SuperTank No

ColorNo

Print Technology Laser

TypeAll-In-One

SuperTank No

ColorYes

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Our Verdict

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Brother MFC-L8930CDW

The Brother MFC-L2820DW and the Brother MFC-L8930CDW are both laser printers that deliver sharp, detailed documents at fast speeds. However, the MFC-L8930CDW prints in color, while the MFC-L2820DW only prints in monochrome, which can be a significant limitation. The MFC-L8930CDW is also much larger, so you'll likely need a dedicated office space to accommodate it. It scans faster and produces more detailed results as well. Overall, it performs better across the board, but it's bigger and costs quite a bit more.

Variants

MFC-L2820DW (Black)
DCP-L2640DW (Black)

MFC-L8930CDW (White)
MFC-L8730CDW (White)

Review

See Brother MFC-L2820DW Review

See Brother MFC-L8930CDW Review

Check Price

Black

MFC-L2820DW

White

MFC-L8930CDW

Black

DCP-L2640DW

White

MFC-L8730CDW

Black

HL-L2480DW

Black

MFC-L2800DW

Black

MFC-L2820DWXL

Main Differences for

Home

Threshold

0.10

Home

0.0

0.0

JOIN NOW to see main differences

Full Comparison

Home

0.0

0.0

Small Office

0.0

0.0

Set-And-Forget

0.0

0.0

Photo

0.0

0.0

Page Yield

0.0

0.0

Printing Speed

0.0

0.0

Document Quality

0.0

0.0

Scanning

0.0

0.0

Design

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Close Up

Brother MFC-L2820DW Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Dimensions

N/A

N/A

ISO View Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW ISO View Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW ISO View Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

In Use Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW In Use Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW In Use Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Max Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Max Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Max Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Weight

Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Display Screen

N/A

N/A

Display Screen Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Display Screen Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Display Screen Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Display Screen

Locked

Locked

Display Screen Size

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Touchscreen

Locked

Locked

Cartridge

N/A

N/A

Cartridge Picture In The Printer

Brother MFC-L2820DW Cartridge Picture In The Printer Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Cartridge Picture In The Printer Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SuperTank

Locked

Locked

Photo Cartridge

Locked

Locked

Color

Locked

Locked

Number Of Color Cartridges

N/A

Lock

Black Cartridge Model

Locked

Locked

Tested Black Page Yield

Lock prints

Lock prints

Estimated Black Page Yield

Lock prints

Lock prints

Color Cartridge Model

Locked

Locked

Tested Color Page Yield

N/A

Lock prints

Estimated Color Page Yield

N/A

Lock prints

Third-Party Cartridge

Locked

Locked

Ink Type

Locked

Locked

High Yield Cartridge

Locked

Locked

Expected Maintenance

N/A

N/A

Ink Related Maintenance

Locked

Locked

Drum Unit

Locked

Locked

Risk Of Clogging

N/A

N/A

Print Technology

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Unclogging

Printhead Location

Locked

Locked

Printhead Serviceability

Locked

Locked

High Flushing Volume

Locked

Locked

In The Box

In the Box Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW In the Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW In the Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Battery

Advertised Battery Life

N/A

N/A

Tested Charging Time

N/A

N/A

Efficiency

Cost-Per-Print

N/A

N/A

Printer Total Cost

Brother MFC-L2820DW Printer Total Cost Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Printer Total Cost Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Black Cartridge Price

Lock US$

Lock US$

Color Cartridge Price

N/A

Lock US$

Black-Only Printing Cost

Lock US$/print

Lock US$/print

Color Printing Cost

N/A

Lock US$/print

Photo Printing Cost

N/A

Lock US$/print

Ink Subscription

Locked

Locked

Printing Speed

N/A

N/A

Printing Speed Video

Brother MFC-L2820DW Printing Speed Video Sample

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Printing Speed Video Sample

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

Black Only Text Document

Lock PPM

Lock PPM

Color Document

N/A

Lock PPM

Photo Printing Time

Lock s

Lock s

Single Page Out Time (Black Only)

Lock s

Lock s

Duplex Printing

Locked

Locked

Input Tray Capacity

Lock pages

Lock pages

Document

Black & White Documents

N/A

N/A

B&W Document Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW B&W Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW B&W Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color Ink Needed For Black & White

Locked

Locked

Color Documents

N/A

N/A

Color Document Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Color Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Color Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Document Printing Sizes

Letter (8.5" x 11")

Locked

Locked

Legal (8.5" x 14")

Locked

Locked

Tabloid (11" x 17")

Locked

Locked

A6 (105mm x 148mm)

Locked

Locked

A5 (148mm x 210mm)

Locked

Locked

A4 (210mm x 297mm)

Locked

Locked

Max Paper Weight

Lock g/m²

Lock g/m²

Scanner

Scanner Features

N/A

N/A

Scanner Flatbed Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Scanner Flatbed Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Scanner Flatbed Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Scanner

Locked

Locked

ADF Capacity

Lock pages

Lock pages

Scan Speed

Lock PPM

Lock PPM

Duplex Scanning

Locked

Locked

Max Flatbed Scan Size

Locked

Locked

Max ADF Scan Size

Locked

Locked

Flatbed Hinge Adjustability

Lock" (Lock mm)

Lock" (Lock mm)

Fax

Locked

Locked

Copy

Locked

Locked

OCR Included

Locked

Locked

Scan Quality

N/A

N/A

Scan Quality Photo

Brother MFC-L2820DW Scan Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Scan Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Max Scan Resolution

Lock DPI

Lock DPI

Max Scan Color Depth

LockBit

LockBit

Photo

Color Gamut

N/A

N/A

Parrots Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Parrots Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Parrots Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color Range Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Color Range Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Color Range Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Friends Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Friends Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Friends Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color dE Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Color dE Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Color dE Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color dE Graph

Brother MFC-L2820DW Color dE Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Color dE Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Average Color dE

N/A

Lock

Small Details

N/A

N/A

Small Details Photo

Brother MFC-L2820DW Small Details Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Small Details Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Max Print Resolution (DPI)

Locked

Locked

Photo Printing Sizes

N/A

N/A

Glossy Paper (4" x 6")

Locked

Locked

Glossy Paper (5" x 7")

Locked

Locked

Glossy Paper (8" x 10")

Locked

Locked

Glossy Paper (8.5" x 11")

Locked

Locked

Glossy Paper (13" x 19")

Locked

Locked

Borderless Printing

Locked

Locked

Mobile App And Connectivity

Connectivity

N/A

N/A

Inputs Picture

Brother MFC-L2820DW Inputs Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW Inputs Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Wi-Fi via Router

Locked

Locked

Wi-Fi Direct

Locked

Locked

Bluetooth

Locked

Locked

Ethernet

Locked

Locked

USB Input To Computer

Locked

Locked

External Storage Support

Locked

Locked

Apple AirPrint

Locked

Locked

Mopria Print Service

Locked

Locked

Mobile App

N/A

N/A

App Printscreen

Brother MFC-L2820DW App Printscreen Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Brother MFC-L8930CDW App Printscreen Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Mobile App

Locked

Locked

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

Photo (JPEG, PNG)

Locked

Locked

PDF

Locked

Locked

Microsoft Office Files

Locked

Locked

Text Files (TXT)

Locked

Locked

Webpages (HTML)

Locked

Locked

OS Compatibility

Windows

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Chrome OS

Locked

Locked

Check Price

Black

MFC-L2820DW

White

MFC-L8930CDW

Black

DCP-L2640DW

White

MFC-L8730CDW

Black

HL-L2480DW

Black

MFC-L2800DW

Black

MFC-L2820DWXL

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Brother MFC-L8930CDW

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 1 month ago

Brother MFC-L2820DW vs Brother MFC-L8930CDW: Main Discussion

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