Brother HL-L3240CDW and MFC-L3760CDW | Review and opinions (2026)
Actualizado 18 julio 2026Share
In short: the Brother HL-L3240CDW and the MFC-L3760CDW all-in-one are colour LED lasers for a small office. They are quiet, they have gigabit Ethernet and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and their consumables are cheap. But there are two costs nobody tells you about until they show up: the belt unit and the waste toner box. Here are the real numbers.
The short verdict
- Buy it if you need colour in an office printing up to around 3,000 pages a month and you want proper wired networking (gigabit) as well as Wi-Fi.
- Choose the MFC-L3760CDW if you scan or copy: it adds an ADF, scanning at 21 images per minute and an 8.8 cm colour touchscreen.
- Choose the HL-L3240CDW if you only print: same engine, 5 kg lighter and cheaper.
- Don't buy it if you print mostly in black and white: a mono laser will work out considerably cheaper per page.
The specs that actually matter
Figures from Brother's official datasheets:
| HL-L3240CDW | MFC-L3760CDW | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed (A4) | 26 ppm mono and colour | 26 ppm mono and colour |
| Duplex | 10 sides/min | 10 sides/min |
| First page | Up to 13.5 s | Up to 13.5 s |
| Resolution | Up to 600 x 2400 dpi | Up to 600 x 2400 dpi |
| Display | 1-line LCD | 8.8 cm colour touchscreen |
| Scanner | — | ADF, 21 img/min |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5 GHz + USB 2.0 | |
| Tray | 250 sheets | 250 sheets |
| Recommended monthly volume | Up to 3,000 pages | Up to 3,000 pages |
| Weight | 15,20 kg | 20,20 kg |
The two are the same printer in a different shell. Speed, resolution, consumables and recommended volume are identical. The only things that change are the scanner and the weight.
Two things in their favour
5 GHz Wi-Fi and gigabit. At this price point that is not common. Many office colour lasers are still on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and 100 Mb Ethernet. If you move large documents or scan in colour, you notice it.
It is LED technology, not traditional laser. Fewer moving parts and quieter operation: 47 dB(A) while printing, and 43 dB(A) in quiet mode.
The two costs nobody mentions
Almost every review of this printer talks about the toner and the drum. But a Brother colour laser has four consumables, not two:
| Consumable | Reference | Declared life |
|---|---|---|
| High-capacity toner | TN-248XL | 3,000 pages (black) / 2,300 (colour) |
| Drum | DR-248CL | ~20,000 pages (at 1 page/job) |
| Belt unit | BU-229CL | ~50,000 pages |
| Waste toner box | WT-229CL | ~50,000 pages |
The belt and the waste box last a long time, but they exist and they get paid for. At 3,000 pages a month you will reach them in a little over a year. If you are comparing total cost against an inkjet, bear it in mind: it is not just toner.
An honest note: today we supply the compatible TN-248XL toner and the DR-248 drum, but not the belt or the waste toner box. When the time comes to change them you will have to go to Brother or another supplier. We would rather say so here than let you find out in a year's time.
Real cost per page
Yields declared by Brother according to the ISO/IEC 19798 standard (the yield standard for colour toner). Prices are ours.
| Cartridge | Price | Yield | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| TN-248XL black compatible | €13.98 | 3,000 pages | 0.47 cents |
| TN-248XL colour (each) | €13.98 | 2,300 pages | 0.61 cents |
| Pack of 4 colours | €53.12 | — | — |
| Compatible DR-248 drum | €17.98 | 15,000 pages | 0.12 cents |
A detail worth understanding
The TN-248XL does not yield the same in black as in colour: Brother declares 3,000 pages for black and 2,300 for each colour. Same reference and same price, but 23% less yield in cyan, magenta and yellow. It is normal on colour lasers and almost never explained.
And watch out for the toner in the box: the printer ships with 1,000-page cartridges (black and each colour). They are starters. The TN-248XL triples that figure in black.
Which toner and drum it needs
- Compatible Brother TN-248XL toner — black, cyan, magenta and yellow
- Compatible Brother DR-248 drum
These same consumables fit ten models in the range: HL-L3220CW, HL-L3240CDW, HL-L8230CDW, HL-L8240CDW, DCP-L3520CDW, DCP-L3560CDW, MFC-L3740CDW, MFC-L3760CDW, MFC-L8340CDW and MFC-L8390CDW.
Alternatives we also supply
- If you only print in black and white: the Brother HL-L2400DW is faster (30 ppm) and much cheaper to run.
- If you prefer HP in mono: the HP LaserJet M209dw.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the HL-L3240CDW and the MFC-L3760CDW?
The print engine is the same: 26 ppm in colour and mono, duplex at 10 sides/min and the same TN-248XL toner. The MFC-L3760CDW adds a scanner with ADF, copying and an 8.8 cm colour touchscreen, and weighs 5 kg more.
How many pages does the TN-248XL yield?
Brother declares 3,000 pages in black and 2,300 in each colour, according to ISO/IEC 19798.
Can I use compatible toner in the Brother HL-L3240CDW?
Yes. It takes compatible toner with a chip.
How often does the drum need changing?
Brother declares about 20,000 pages for the original DR-248CL, measured at one page per job. Our compatible drum declares 15,000 pages.
What is the BU-229CL belt and does it need changing?
Yes. It is the transfer belt and it lasts about 50,000 pages. Together with the waste toner box (WT-229CL, also about 50,000 pages), these are real consumables worth including in your total cost calculation.
Specifications taken from Brother's official datasheets for the HL-L3240CDW and the MFC-L3760CDW. Toner yields declared according to ISO/IEC 19798. Startoner prices current at the date of publication.
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