The catch
Brother HL-L2480DW
It has no document feeder, which means stacks go in a sheet at a time.
Side by side
Brother HL-L2480DW vs DCP-L2640DW: HL sits lower, while DCP feeds stacks
Quick verdict
The DCP-L2640DW is the one to get if you scan several loose pages at once. For occasional copies of books and IDs, the HL-L2480DW does the job in a lower body at the same rated 36-ppm print speed.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The saving is in height, and worktop area stays the same
The closed footprint is 16.1-by 15.7-inch on both. The HL-L2480DW stands 1.8 inches lower, so you gain vertical space. The desk outline stays the same.
Where this comes from
Width and depth match, and 12.5 minus 10.7 =1.8 inches.
The catch
Brother DCP-L2640DW
No fax, and the feeder reads only one side per pass.
Brother HL-L2480DW
- Why pick it
- Your typical copy is a book page or an ID card
- Your worktop benefits from a lower body
- The catch
- It has no document feeder, which means stacks go in a sheet at a time.
Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Why pick it
- Loose documents get scanned in batches
- Recurring paperwork should go through a feeder
- The catch
- No fax, and the feeder reads only one side per pass.
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What this page compares
Let your originals guide the choice. One Brother has only a flatbed, the other adds a 50-sheet feeder, and they print at equal speed. Height needs differ too.
The DCP-L2640DW is the one to get if you scan several loose pages at once. For occasional copies of books and IDs, the HL-L2480DW does the job in a lower body at the same rated 36-ppm print speed.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A thirty-page invoice packet each month
A feeder spares you the repeated placement on the glass.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
Copying an ID card now and then
A flatbed comes with each.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Good
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Good
An open shelf above the worktop
The HL is shorter when closed, though lid clearance still has to be checked.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Better fit
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Depends
Both faces scanned automatically
Duplex scanning is absent on both.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Not suitable
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
The saving is in height, and worktop area stays the same
The closed footprint is 16.1-by 15.7-inch on both. The HL-L2480DW stands 1.8 inches lower, so you gain vertical space. The desk outline stays the same.
How we worked this out
Width and depth match, and 12.5 minus 10.7 =1.8 inches.
The choice shifts with a thirty-page packet
The DCP 50-sheet feeder takes thirty supported single-sided pages. The HL-L2480DW has you put each page on the flatbed. That changes how many manual placements you make, with no promise about scan time.
How we worked this out
DCP has a 50-sheet ADF, HL only a flatbed.
Either model stays in play for books
A flatbed is on each, and an ADF does not spare you from turning bound book pages by hand. The DCP earns its extra height with loose stacks. It cannot automate copying a book.
How we worked this out
Each has a flatbed, and only the DCP has an ADF.
Option A
Brother, HL-L2480DW
HL-L2480DW
Routine two-sided printing, plus the odd copy of a book page.
- Best for
- Your typical copy is a book page or an ID card
Facts we checked
- Document feeder: Absent
- Height when closed: 10.7 inches
- Width by depth: 16.1 x 15.7 inches
- Print speed on Letter: Up to 36 ppm
Option B
Brother, DCP-L2640DW
DCP-L2640DW
Where to start if your day involves printing and scanning routine office forms.
- Best for
- Loose documents get scanned in batches
Facts we checked
- Document feeder: Holds 50 sheets
- Height when closed: 12.5 inches
- Width by depth: 16.1 x 15.7 inches
- Print speed on Letter: Up to 36 ppm
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Brother HL-L2480DW | Brother DCP-L2640DW | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document feeder | None | 50 sheets | Buy the DCP mainly for stacks. |
| Closed height | 10.7 inches | 12.5 inches | Before either lid is opened, the HL stands 1.8 inches lower. |
| Width and depth | 16.1 x 15.7 inches | 16.1 x 15.7 inches | No saving in closed footprint is listed. |
| Letter print speed | Up to 36 ppm | Up to 36 ppm | Printing speed is not increased by the feeder upgrade. |
| Automatic two-sided scan | No | No | Neither handles double-sided originals without you. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Brother HL-L2480DW
- Charts and handouts cannot be printed in color on it.
With Brother DCP-L2640DW
- With a one-sheet manual feed, batches of supported special media have to be loaded over and over.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Loose stacks are a regular part of your scanning
Go with Brother DCP-L2640DW. This exact job makes good use of the 50-sheet feeder.
You copy separate pages from books or cards
Go with Brother HL-L2480DW. The flatbed does the job without needing the taller feeder assembly.
Double-sided is how most incoming forms arrive
Neither model fits. To avoid turning the stack, look at a duplex-scanning model.
Decision guide
How to decide
Several loose pages to scan at a time call for the DCP-L2640DW. The HL-L2480DW covers the occasional book or ID copy, comes in a lower body and shares the rated 36-ppm print speed.
Count originals and leave out copies
Copying one book page thirty times is not the same job as scanning thirty separate pages once. Either machine can repeat a copy, but only the DCP can feed a loose stack. So the kind of originals you have should settle the purchase.
The feeder does not scan both sides for you
One face is scanned at a time on the DCP. With two-sided forms, the feeder spares you from placing each sheet on every pass, yet you still have to manage the reverse side and the page order properly.
Measure the shelf with the lid raised
Closed, the HL is the shorter of the pair. Any scanner still needs headroom for putting a book down and lifting the cover, so try that motion where it will sit before you buy on closed height alone.
On printing, it is nearly a draw
Each is rated at 36-ppm for monochrome output, and each prints two-sided automatically and connects by wire or wirelessly. The feeder is what changes your workflow, so the printing headline gives you little reason to pick one.
What this page can’t tell you
- Print speeds are manufacturer ratings and were not compared in matched hands-on tests.
- Toner yields were measured on standardized test documents and shift 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 HL-L2480DW |
|
| |
| Brother DCP-L2640DW |
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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 HL-L2480DW
Your typical copy is a book page or an ID card
See price & reviews on AmazonBrother DCP-L2640DW
Loose documents get scanned in batches
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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