Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer vs Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer

9.0/10 Excellent

4.4★ (6,800 owners)

Inkjet, print/scan/copy/fax, auto-duplex, ADF, mobile print, low running cost. The home office printer.

Full Review

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer

9.1/10 Excellent

4.4★ (12,400 owners)

Tank refillable, 3 years ink included, WiFi, scan/copy, borderless. Zero cartridge costs forever.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer	Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer
247Verdict Score	9.0/10	9.1/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (6,800)	4.4★ (12,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Functions	Print/scan/copy/fax	Print, scan, copy

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer: Inkjet, print/scan/copy/fax, auto-duplex, ADF, mobile print, low running cost. The home office printer. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer: Tank refillable, 3 years ink included, WiFi, scan/copy, borderless. Zero cartridge costs forever. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer

INKvestment Tank holds enough ink for up to a year of typical home office use
All-in-one: print, scan, copy and fax with automatic document feeder
Auto-duplex printing saves paper with double-sided output
Mobile printing via app, AirPrint and cloud services
Low running cost per page vs typical inkjet alternatives

Inkjet — laser is faster for high-volume monochrome printing
ADF and tank size add physical footprint
Initial cost higher than basic printers

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer

Tank system never uses cartridges — ink bottles cost £10 vs £25+ for cartridges
Includes 3 years' worth of ink in the box — virtually no ink costs for years after purchase
Borderless A4 printing for photos at no extra cost
WiFi and Epson Connect for printing from phone, tablet and cloud
12,400 Amazon reviews at 4.4★ — the most validated tank printer

Higher upfront cost than cartridge printers — the tank system pays back with volume printing
Slower print speed than laser printers — 10ppm vs 20-30ppm for laser
Tank design is bulkier than cartridge alternatives of equivalent function

FAQ

Which is better, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Epson EcoTank ET-2850?

Is the Brother MFC-J4540DW worth the extra cost?

The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the Brother MFC-J4540DW best suited to?

Inkjet, print/scan/copy/fax, auto-duplex, ADF, mobile print, low running cost. The home office printer.

Who is the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 best suited to?

Tank refillable, 3 years ink included, WiFi, scan/copy, borderless. Zero cartridge costs forever.

What are the main downsides of each?

Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer: Inkjet — laser is faster for high-volume monochrome printing; ADF and tank size add physical footprint. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer: Higher upfront cost than cartridge printers — the tank system pays back with volume printing; Slower print speed than laser printers — 10ppm vs 20-30ppm for laser.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Brother MFC-J4540DW All-in-One Printer sits at 4.4★ from 6,800 verified Amazon owners, and Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Printer at 4.4★ from 12,400.

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