Sections
- Page 1 : Brother HL-3140CW Review
- Page 2 : Print Speeds and Costs Table Review
- Page 3 : Performance and Verdict Review
Pros
- Low maintenance LED mechanism
- Lower power than a laser
- Comparatively quiet
Cons
- No duplex print
- Still has to wait for fuser warm-up
- Only single-sheet special purpose tray
Key Features
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Review Price: £119.00
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Wireless connection as standard
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High print speed for class
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Very low price for colour printer
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Low cost black print
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Compact design
What is the Brother HL-3140CW?
Colour laser printers have traditionally been overpriced and under specced, compared with their mono-only counterparts. Brother’s HL-3140CW isn’t a colour laser printer, though, but a colour LED printer. This is part of the reason it’s neither overpriced, nor under specced.
SEE ALSO: Best printers round-up
Brother HL-3140CW – Design and Features
Aimed at the small, or possibly home office, it’s surprisingly compact, and its mid-grey and white colour scheme helps it to look discreet. Paper outputs to its top surface and there’s a flip-up paper stop to prevent it over-running.
Also set into the top surface is a simple control panel with eight buttons including a power button which is surprisingly small and easy to overlook. The printer has a two-line LCD panel set quite deep into the control panel and without a backlight, though we didn’t have any trouble reading messages on it.
At the bottom of the panel a large recessed handle makes it easy to open the 250-sheet main paper tray, a much more sensible capacity than many colour lasers offer. Above this there’s a flip-down panel offering a single feed for envelopes or special media.
Brother HL-3140CW – Connections and Installation
The Brother HL-3140CW has a single USB socket at the rear, but is also wireless compatible and using WPS setup can be linked to a wireless network without a temporary USB link.
Lifting the top panel reveals the consumables. Each drum cartridge has a clip-in toner cartridge and you can use between 7 and 10 toners before needing to change the drum. There’s a transfer belt and waste toner unit, too, though fortunately, these only have to be replaced after 50,000 pages.
Software installation is straightforward as the main application is the driver, though you do get Web access to the Brother CreativeCenter and to a trial version of its OmniJoin videoconferencing; Brother is heavily into videoconferencing.
Features
Networking | Yes |
Card slot | None |
Connection Type | USB |
Extra Features | LED engine, quick-change cartridges |
Physical Specifications
Height (Millimeter) | 240mm |
Width (Millimeter) | 410mm |
Depth (Millimeter) | 465mm |
Weight (Gram) | 17.4kg |
Printing
Type | Color LED |
Duplex | No |
Paper Size | A4 |
Colour | Yes |
Number of Catridges | 4 |
Sheet Capacity | 250 sheet |
Print Resolution (Dots per inch) | 2400 x 600dpi |
Rated Black Speed (Images per minute) | 18ipm |
Rated Colour Speed (Images per minute) | 18ipm |
Max Paper Weight | 163g/sm |
Print Without PC | No |
Functions
Scanner | No |
Copier | No |
Fax | No |
Scanning
Scan Resolution (Dots per inch) | N/Adpi |
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Print speed 9
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Features 8
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Value 10
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Print Quality 8