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At a glance
- HP 3301fdw: up to 26ppm; 4.3-inch touchscreen; Wi-Fi included; HP dynamic-security cartridges.
- Brother MFC-L3780CDW: up to 31ppm; 3.5-inch touchscreen; $569.99 list on Brother’s store.
- Xerox C415/DN: up to 42ppm; 7-inch touchscreen; Wi-Fi is an optional adapter.
- Checked September 27, 2026.
Three color office printers compared
Swipe or scroll sideways to compare all options.
| Difference | HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw | Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Xerox VersaLink C415/DN |
|---|---|---|---|
| US hardware price | HP Store price varies with promotions; request an exact-SKU quote | $569.99 list on Brother’s US store | $1,199 sale / $1,399 regular, base C415/DN |
| Output technology | Color laser | Digital color LED using toner | Color laser |
| Advertised letter print speed | Up to 26ppm | Up to 31ppm | Up to 42ppm |
| Core functions | Print, copy, scan, fax | Print, copy, scan, fax | Print, copy, scan, fax |
| Two-sided printing | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Control panel | 4.3-inch touchscreen | 3.5-inch touchscreen | 7-inch touchscreen |
| Wireless distinction | Wireless configuration included in fdw model | Wireless networking included | Wi-Fi requires an optional adapter |
| Workflow emphasis | Compact office multifunction printing | Office printing with single-pass two-sided scanning | ConnectKey and optional workflow applications |
| Supply restriction to examine | HP dynamic-security cartridge requirements | Toner and drum are separate replacement items | Toner, maintenance items and optional app charges |
| Main limitation / extra cost | Dynamic-security cartridge restrictions affect supply choice | Separate drum, belt and waste-toner items belong in the operating budget | Wi-Fi adapter, extra trays and paid applications are outside the base hardware price |
| Best fit (Sigma assessment) | 26ppm meets the workload and you need included wireless networking | You want 31ppm output and single-pass duplex scanning | You need 42ppm output or a specific ConnectKey workflow |
| Official sources | HP: Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw | Brother: MFC-L3780CDW specifications | Xerox: VersaLink C415/DN product listing Xerox: VersaLink C415 product brochure |
Sources: the three manufacturers’ model pages and Xerox’s C415 brochure. Speeds are vendor specifications, not Sigma test results. The Xerox US store price is a dated hardware reference, before tax, shipping and optional equipment. HP’s store price changes with promotions; request a current quote for the exact model.
What the speed difference means
At their maximum stated print rates, the Brother is 5 pages per minute faster than the HP and the Xerox is 11 pages per minute faster than the Brother. That does not establish the time to finish every office job. First-page delay, two-sided printing, document complexity and the network can affect a real batch.
If the printer mostly produces one- or two-page documents, the advertised continuous speed may be less important than the time to start printing and the convenience of the workflow. If several people regularly submit long jobs, a higher-capacity workgroup machine deserves a closer look.
Avoid treating maximum monthly duty cycle as a recommended monthly workload. Use the manufacturer’s recommended volume, the actual usage pattern and the service arrangement when sizing the device. A printer that survives an occasional peak is not necessarily the right choice for that peak every month.
Scanning may decide the purchase
Many offices spend more time scanning incoming paperwork than printing it. Test a two-sided customer packet through the document feeder, then confirm that the file reaches its intended folder or business application. Check page order, file size, readability and whether text recognition is needed.
A single-pass feeder can process both sides without the same paper-handling sequence as a reversing design. However, the presence of a feeder alone says nothing about the supported destination or a paid document-processing application. Include the actual scan workflow in the demonstration.
The Xerox’s larger panel and ConnectKey platform may be useful when staff perform several document workflows at the machine. That is different from needing only a reliable print queue. Pay for the workflow only if it replaces a recurring manual task or supplies a requirement the office actually has.
Purchase price versus running cost
Obtain two separate figures: the ready-to-use hardware price and the operating cost at your expected black-and-white and color volume. For an outright purchase, price replacement toner, drums or other applicable maintenance items. For a service agreement, identify included pages, excess-page charges and which supplies and labor are covered.
A cartridge’s advertised yield is based on a specified test method, not a promise that every office document consumes the same amount. Heavy color graphics can change the economics. Starter cartridges can also contain less capacity than the replacement supply used in a cost-per-page calculation.
The useful formula is equipment and installation cost plus expected supplies or service charges over the chosen ownership period. Apply the same page mix to each machine. Do not call one printer cheaper using black-only pages while pricing another with a large color allowance.
Fine print that changes the order
The C415/DN’s wireless option is an example of a small detail that can create an incomplete purchase. If the installation requires Wi-Fi, include the adapter in the quote. If Ethernet is available, a wireless accessory may be unnecessary.
HP’s dynamic-security requirements also belong in the decision. Confirm the exact model’s supported cartridge conditions before budgeting third-party supplies. Brother’s separate drum is a different kind of operating-cost item: a toner-only estimate may omit a replacement the business eventually needs.
Which should you shortlist?
Start with HP for the stated compact multifunction requirement, Brother when its speed and single-pass scanning match the workload, and Xerox when higher output or a demonstrated ConnectKey workflow justifies the package. Then choose using a real sample job and the complete operating quote.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What is our monthly page volume, and what share is color?
- What is the cost per page for black and color with replacement supplies?
- Do we need two-sided scanning to a folder, email or cloud app?
- Is Wi-Fi required, or will the printer be wired?
- Who services the printer on our island, and how fast?
What Hawaiʻi businesses should check
For Hawaiʻi offices, ask where toner and drums ship from, how long delivery takes to your island, and who provides on-site service outside Honolulu. A lower hardware price can be outweighed by slow supply delivery or no local service.
Frequently asked questions
Which of the three printers costs least to buy?
The Brother lists at $569.99, below the Xerox’s $1,199 sale price; HP’s price varies with promotions. Compare supply costs at your page volume before deciding.
Can Sigma compare these printers for my office?
Yes. Sigma prepares a model-specific proposal using your page volume, color mix, scanning needs and support location.
Sources and pricing notes
Prices and specifications checked September 27, 2026 against the providers’ published sources below. Prices are US list or published rates before taxes, fees and equipment unless stated; offers change, so confirm the current terms before you buy.
- HP. Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw
- Brother. MFC-L3780CDW specifications
- Xerox. VersaLink C415/DN product listing
- Xerox. VersaLink C415 product brochure
- Brother. MFC-L3780CDW: price and specifications
How Sigma is paid. Sigma is a Hawaiʻi technology advisor. Provider or reseller partners compensate Sigma; product and service prices may include a margin. No procurement fee applies. Standalone consulting is quoted separately.