The catch
Brother DCP-L2640DW
No fax, and the feeder reads only one side per pass.
Side by side
Brother DCP-L2640DW vs Canon MF462dw II: Brother needs less room, and Canon captures both sides
Quick verdict
Double-sided originals and heavier recurring office work favor the MF462dw II. The DCP-L2640DW is the pick for single-sided scanning and ordinary monochrome printing in a smaller body.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Scanning is the upgrade worth having, and one extra ppm is not
One page per minute separates the rated print speeds. Capturing both sides automatically changes a recurring paperwork task far more clearly than that small output-rate gap does.
Where this comes from
Brother has 36 ppm and a simplex ADF, while Canon has 37 ppm and a single-pass duplex ADF.
The catch
Canon MF462dw II
Color scanning does not come with color printing on this model.
Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Why pick it
- The stacks you scan are single-sided
- A smaller machine for daily office work appeals to you
- The catch
- No fax, and the feeder reads only one side per pass.
Canon MF462dw II
- Why pick it
- Regularly scanned forms are two-sided
- A bigger multipurpose paper tray is a requirement
- The catch
- Color scanning does not come with color printing on this model.
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What this page compares
The one-ppm speed gap should not decide this. Compare automatic two-sided scanning, monthly workload and the larger desk area the Canon needs.
Double-sided originals and heavier recurring office work favor the MF462dw II. The DCP-L2640DW is the pick for single-sided scanning and ordinary monochrome printing in a smaller body.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Signed two-sided forms, every week
Both faces get captured by Canon in one pass.
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Caution
- Canon MF462dw II
- Better fit
At a time, thirty one-sided invoices
50-sheet feeders come on each.
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Good
- Canon MF462dw II
- Good
Most months, three thousand pages
The workload falls within Canon’s recommendation.
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Caution
- Canon MF462dw II
- Better fit
Occasional scanning on a worktop with little room
Less closed-body surface area is taken up by Brother.
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
- Canon MF462dw II
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Scanning is the upgrade worth having, and one extra ppm is not
One page per minute separates the rated print speeds. Capturing both sides automatically changes a recurring paperwork task far more clearly than that small output-rate gap does.
How we worked this out
Brother has 36 ppm and a simplex ADF, while Canon has 37 ppm and a single-pass duplex ADF.
The closed footprint grows by about 19% with Canon
From the listed width and depth, Brother comes to roughly 253 square inches and Canon to 300. That is about 19% more surface area, before working clearance.
How we worked this out
16.1 x 15.7 = 252.77, and 16.6 x 18.1 = 300.46. The difference is 18.87%.
The Canon is favored by three thousand pages a month
At this volume, Brother’s 2,500-page recommendation is exceeded while Canon’s 4,000-page upper recommendation still holds. The recommendation is about recurring workload. It does not mean the Brother stops printing at page 2,501.
How we worked this out
Recommended monthly ceilings from the manufacturer are 2,500 and 4,000.
Option A
Brother, DCP-L2640DW
DCP-L2640DW
Where to start if your day involves printing and scanning routine office forms.
- Best for
- The stacks you scan are single-sided
Facts we checked
- Automatic two-sided scanning: Not offered
- Standard paper input: Holds 251 sheets
- Monthly ceiling recommended: 2,500 pages
- Width and depth when closed: 16.1 x 15.7 inches
Option B
Canon, MF462dw II
MF462dw II
Everyday black-and-white printing for the office, plus two-sided forms.
- Best for
- Regularly scanned forms are two-sided
Facts we checked
- Automatic two-sided scanning: Duplex in a single pass
- Standard paper input: Holds 350 sheets
- Monthly ceiling recommended: 4,000 pages
- Width and depth when closed: 16.6 x 18.1 inches
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Brother DCP-L2640DW | Canon MF462dw II | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic two-sided scanning | No | Single-pass duplex | With Canon, you no longer handle the back of supported originals by hand. |
| Standard paper input | 251 sheets | 350 sheets | A 100-sheet multipurpose tray comes with the Canon. |
| Recommended monthly ceiling | 2,500 pages | 4,000 pages | A larger machine can be justified by a higher recurring print volume. |
| Closed width and depth | 16.1 x 15.7 inches | 16.6 x 18.1 inches | More worktop area is needed for the Canon. |
| Letter output | Up to 36 ppm | Up to 37 ppm | A one-ppm difference is not the main reason to buy. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Brother DCP-L2640DW
- With a one-sheet manual feed, batches of supported special media have to be loaded over and over.
With Canon MF462dw II
- Canon’s recommended range is passed by recurring workloads above 4,000 pages a month.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Double-sided is the usual state of incoming forms
Go with Canon MF462dw II. A repeated manual return pass is saved by the duplex scanner.
Moderate workload with one-sided originals
Go with Brother DCP-L2640DW. That workflow is handled by the smaller Brother.
You need color output
Neither model fits. Black and white is all either prints.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with the MF462dw II if you have double-sided originals and heavier recurring office work. The DCP-L2640DW covers single-sided scanning and ordinary monochrome printing in a smaller body.
Print speeds are nearly the same, so look elsewhere
A 36-versus-37-ppm gap rarely decides anything for short reports. The stronger reasons to spend more lie in Canon’s scanner, paper handling and recommended monthly volume.
Do not mix up the two kinds of duplex
Automatic two-sided printing comes with both machines, but only the Canon captures both sides of an original automatically. A household that files signed forms and school documents can gain from that, even when it prints little each month.
Make room for the larger body
The Canon is wider and also deeper. A cabinet top set aside for it may take that bigger closed footprint, but on a tight desk you need to measure with room for tray access and for raising the flatbed cover.
Paper handling can count for more than volume
A batch of supported alternate stock fits in the Canon’s 100-sheet multipurpose tray. Brother’s one-sheet manual feed works for an occasional special sheet, but you have to keep loading it. Tray capacity on neither machine overrides the media restrictions.
What this page can’t tell you
- Rated print speeds are the makers’ figures. Matched hands-on tests were not performed.
- Standardized test documents underlie the toner yields, which change with content.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the laser printers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother DCP-L2640DW |
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| Canon MF462dw II |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Brother DCP-L2640DW
The stacks you scan are single-sided
See price & reviews on AmazonCanon MF462dw II
Regularly scanned forms are two-sided
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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