The Brother MFC-L2900DW is a compact monochrome laser all-in-one printer designed for efficiency and affordability. Ideal for small offices or home workspaces, this multifunctional device combines printing, scanning, copying, and faxing into a single unit. This review explores its design, performance, features, and value to determine if it’s the right choice for your needs.
Brother MFC-L2900DW Monochrome Laser Printer ReviewThe Brother MFC-L2900DW boasts a 250-sheet paper capacity in its main tray.
Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | Brother MFC-L2900DW |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16.1 x 16.6 x 12.5 inches |
| Weight | 25.9 pounds |
| Print Speed | 36 ppm |
| Print Resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Connectivity | Hi-Speed USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 (Dual-Band) |
| Paper Capacity | 250 sheets (main), 1 sheet (media) |
Design and Build
The MFC-L2900DW sports a sleek, all-black exterior with a textured finish that resists fingerprints and dust. Its compact footprint (16 x 16.5 inches) and manageable weight (25.9 pounds) make it easy to fit into most workspaces. The printer includes a removable 250-sheet main paper tray, a single-sheet media tray for envelopes and labels, and a 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF). All trays are clearly marked for paper orientation. A fixed-angle, 3.5-inch color touchscreen simplifies operation and maintenance.
Brother MFC-L2900DW Print QualityWhile text quality is sharp, graphics and photo printing are not this printer’s strengths.
Printing Performance
The MFC-L2900DW is built for speed, boasting a rated print speed of 36 pages per minute (ppm) for text documents, with a first-page-out time of under seven seconds. This makes it a strong contender for high-volume printing tasks. However, while text quality is crisp and dark, graphics quality suffers from some banding. As expected from a monochrome laser printer, photo printing is not its forte, with noticeable lines appearing in images.
Envelope Printing Challenges with Brother MFC-L2900DWPrinting envelopes from mobile devices presented alignment issues.
Printing envelopes directly from a computer works flawlessly, but printing from mobile devices via AirPrint or Brother’s Mobile Connect app resulted in alignment issues, despite selecting the correct media type.
Multifunction Features: Scanning, Copying, and Faxing
Brother MFC-L2900DW Multifunction FeaturesThe single-pass duplex ADF simplifies double-sided copying.
The MFC-L2900DW offers robust scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities. Scanning is fast and efficient, producing clean and detailed results. Scanning resolution is capped at 300 dpi from mobile devices but reaches 1200 dpi when scanning from a computer. Copying is equally swift, especially when using the single-pass duplex ADF, which scans both sides of a page simultaneously. The 50-sheet ADF capacity facilitates efficient multi-page copying. Faxing is straightforward and user-friendly.
Adjusting Copy Darkness on Brother MFC-L2900DWThe touchscreen allows for easy adjustment of copy settings.
Initial copies appeared slightly light, but the touchscreen interface made it easy to adjust density settings for improved contrast and sharpness. However, the banding issue observed in printing also affects copy quality. The flatbed scanner offers a higher resolution of 1200 dpi, suitable for detailed copies and photo scanning.
Software and Compatibility
Brother MFC-L2900DW Setup and TonerSetup is quick and includes a starter toner cartridge.
Setup is simple and quick, aided by a concise quick start guide. Connecting to Wi-Fi is seamless using Brother’s Mobile Connect app. Wired connections via USB or Ethernet are also supported for Windows and Mac computers. Overall, mobile printing functionality is good, aside from the envelope printing issue.
Price and Running Costs
Priced at $300, the MFC-L2900DW offers reasonable value. While more affordable options exist, the MFC-L2900DW strikes a balance between features and cost. Toner costs range from 3 to 4 cents per page, with standard and high-capacity cartridges yielding 1,200 and 3,000 pages, respectively. The included starter cartridge lasts for approximately 700 pages. Brother’s EZ Print subscription service is available for convenient toner replenishment.
Conclusion
The Brother MFC-L2900DW is a solid choice for users prioritizing speed and efficiency in a monochrome laser printer. Its strengths lie in its fast print speeds, excellent ADF performance for double-sided documents, and compact design. While not ideal for graphics or photos, it excels at text-heavy printing tasks, making it suitable for small businesses or home offices. If high-volume printing is a priority, the MFC-L2900DW XL, bundled with a full-capacity toner cartridge, offers a cost-effective solution.
