Brother DCP-L2640DW Review (2026): Honest Pros, Cons & Who It's Really For

Heads up: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, Castle Ink may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend printers we have personally researched and that have strong, long-running owner feedback on Amazon. Pricing and availability change frequently — always check the current price on Amazon before buying.

Quick Verdict

The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the multifunction version of Brother's popular HL-L2460DW: the same fast 36 ppm monochrome laser engine and automatic duplex printing, plus a flatbed scanner, copier and a 50-page automatic document feeder in a footprint that still fits on a normal desk. At around $210 it costs roughly $30 more than the print-only HL-L2460DW, which is a small premium for scanning and copying you will almost certainly use at some point. Owner feedback is strong at 4.2 stars across 3,700+ ratings, with print quality, setup and running costs drawing the most praise — one reviewer notes it pays for itself inside a year on toner savings alone. The caveats are the same ones that follow every current Brother laser: mixed reports on long-term Wi-Fi stability, and an optional Refresh toner subscription worth reading carefully before you enroll.

At a Glance

• Monochrome laser all-in-one — print, copy and scan (no fax)
• Up to 36 ppm print speed, 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution
• Automatic two-sided (duplex) printing built in
• 50-page automatic document feeder for multi-page scans and copies
• Scan speeds up to 23.6 ipm mono and 7.9 ipm color
• Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Ethernet and USB connectivity
• 250-sheet paper tray plus a manual feed slot for envelopes and labels
• Uses Brother TN830 / TN830XL toner cartridges and a DR830 drum unit
• Brother Mobile Connect app support; works with Alexa

Who This Printer Is For

• Home offices and small teams that print mostly text and need occasional scanning or copying without buying a second device.
• Anyone who liked the look of the HL-L2460DW but realized they would miss a flatbed and document feeder.
• Buyers who scan multi-page documents regularly — the 50-page ADF is the single biggest reason to choose this over the print-only model.
• Anyone tired of inkjet running costs who prints in black and white almost exclusively.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who needs color — this is a monochrome machine and will never print a color page.
• Buyers who need fax; the DCP line drops it, so step up to Brother's MFC models if you still send faxes.
• Anyone who wants a large color touchscreen — the control panel here is a small mono LCD.
• Buyers who print in very high volume; a workgroup-class machine with larger toner and paper capacity will cost less per page over time.

What People Love About It

• Print quality is the single most-mentioned strength in owner reviews — sharp, clean text at speed.
• Setup is repeatedly described as easy, with most buyers getting it onto Wi-Fi in a few minutes.
• Value for money scores well, and owners specifically call out how reasonable the toner costs are compared with inkjet alternatives.
• Print speed holds up in real use, with fast first-page-out times for one-off documents.
• The 50-page ADF turns multi-page scanning and copying into a genuine time-saver rather than a spec-sheet line item.

The Legitimate Complaints

• Connectivity is the most common complaint: while many owners say Wi-Fi connects easily and stays put, a meaningful minority report repeated dropouts and having to re-add the printer.
• Durability feedback is split — most owners describe it as rock solid, but a subset report failures within the first few months.
• Ease of use divides opinion; the small mono LCD and symbol-based menus frustrate some owners who expected a friendlier panel.
• Brother's optional Refresh toner subscription has generated well-documented complaints across this generation of printers, including reports of genuine Brother toner being flagged as invalid. Enroll only after reading the terms.
• No fax and no color, which are obvious omissions but still catch out buyers who assumed an all-in-one does everything.

How It Compares

Cheaper Alternative

If you genuinely never scan or copy, the Brother HL-L2460DW is the same print engine for roughly $30 less. That said, $30 is a low price for a scanner and document feeder — most buyers who skip it end up wishing they hadn't.

Upgrade Pick

If you still send faxes, or you want a slightly more capable control panel, the Brother MFC-L2820DW adds fax to the same core machine. It is the natural step up rather than a different class of printer.

Toner and Supplies

The DCP-L2640DW uses a two-part system: a toner cartridge and a separate drum unit. That is good news for running costs, because you only replace the more expensive drum every several toner changes.

For almost everyone, the high-yield TN830XL is the one to buy — it prints two and a half times as many pages as the standard cartridge for far less than two and a half times the price. The DR830 drum only needs replacing roughly every fifth high-yield toner.

A note on Brother Refresh: Brother's optional toner subscription has generated real complaints on this generation of printers, including reports of genuine Brother cartridges being flagged as invalid. You do not have to enroll, and declining costs you nothing. If you want the freedom to buy compatible toner, skip it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Brother DCP-L2640DW print in color?
No. It is a monochrome laser printer. It scans and copies in color, but every printed page is black and white.

Does it have a fax?
No. Brother's DCP models omit fax. If you need it, look at the MFC-L2820DW.

What's the difference between TN830 and TN830XL?
Yield. TN830 prints about 1,200 pages; TN830XL prints about 3,000. The XL is the better value for anything beyond very light use.

Do I need to replace the drum every time I change toner?
No. The DR830 drum is rated for roughly 15,000 pages — about five high-yield toner cartridges.

Can I use compatible toner in it?
Yes. Compatible TN830XL cartridges work in this printer. Just avoid enrolling in the Refresh subscription if you plan to buy your own toner.

Does it do two-sided printing automatically?
Yes, automatic duplex printing is built in. Duplex scanning is not — the ADF is single-sided.

Bottom Line

The DCP-L2640DW is an easy recommendation for a home office that prints text and occasionally needs to scan or copy something. It is fast, the output is clean, and the two-part toner-and-drum system keeps running costs genuinely low — which, given what most people are escaping when they leave inkjets behind, is the whole point.

Go in knowing what it isn't: no color, no fax, and a basic control panel. If none of those three matter to you, the roughly $30 premium over the print-only HL-L2460DW is one of the better small upgrades in this price class.

Where to Buy

Check current pricing and availability for the Brother DCP-L2640DW on Amazon. Prices on Brother lasers move around a lot, so it is worth comparing before you order.

Shop Compatible Toner at Castle Ink

Keep it running for less with compatible supplies:

• Brother TN830XL Black Toner Cartridge – High-Yield Compatible — $59.95
• Brother DR830 Drum Unit – Compatible Replacement — $75.95

See Also

• 10 Best Laser Printers (2026)
• Best Printers: Top Picks for Every Use Case and Budget
• PrinterIQ Finder — find your next printer in about 60 seconds
• How we rank and recommend printers

By William Elward, Founder of Castle Ink — 20+ years helping people solve printer and ink problems. Last updated August 23, 2026.