The catch
HP M235sdw
Printing duplexes automatically, but you still turn two-sided originals by hand.
Side by side
HP M235sdw vs Brother DCP-L2640DW: Neither duplex-scans, though Brother needs fewer refills
Quick verdict
The DCP-L2640DW is the pick for larger scan stacks, fewer paper refills and printing on a more regular basis. A lighter workload can suit the M235sdw, as long as there is space for its trays to open. Neither model scans two-sided originals automatically.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Only one feeder takes a forty-five-page stack
The HP’s 40-sheet ADF cannot take a 45-sheet set of suitable one-sided originals, but the Brother’s 50-sheet feeder can. That is a concrete reason to prefer Brother for recurring paperwork packets.
Where this comes from
45 is over 40 and within 50. Both ADFs are simplex.
The catch
Brother DCP-L2640DW
No fax, and the feeder reads only one side per pass.
HP M235sdw
- Why pick it
- You print lightly and your scan stacks stay below 40 sheets
- The space you have suits its working dimensions
- The catch
- Printing duplexes automatically, but you still turn two-sided originals by hand.
Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Why pick it
- A single scan load for you is 41 to 50 sheets
- A 250-sheet cassette is worth it for your print volume
- The catch
- No fax, and the feeder reads only one side per pass.
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What this page compares
Neither model scans both sides automatically. Weigh 40-sheet against 50-sheet scan stacks, how often you reload paper and how deep the HP gets with its trays open.
The DCP-L2640DW is the pick for larger scan stacks, fewer paper refills and printing on a more regular basis. A lighter workload can suit the M235sdw, as long as there is space for its trays to open. Neither model scans two-sided originals automatically.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Scanning forty-five one-sided forms
The whole supported stack goes in one load only on Brother.
- HP M235sdw
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
Printing two hundred simplex pages with no refill
Enough paper fits in the Brother main cassette.
- HP M235sdw
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
The printer must fit a shallow shelf
Look at the open dimensions and access, HP maximum depth above all.
- HP M235sdw
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Depends
Double-sided originals archived automatically
Automatic duplex scanning is absent from both.
- HP M235sdw
- Not suitable
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Only one feeder takes a forty-five-page stack
The HP’s 40-sheet ADF cannot take a 45-sheet set of suitable one-sided originals, but the Brother’s 50-sheet feeder can. That is a concrete reason to prefer Brother for recurring paperwork packets.
How we worked this out
45 is over 40 and within 50. Both ADFs are simplex.
When open, the shallow HP body takes up more depth
Minimum depth is listed by HP at 12.13 inches and maximum at 18.41 inches, a 6.28-inch increase. A shelf that holds the closed printer may therefore be too shallow when trays are in use.
How we worked this out
18.41 minus 12.13 = 6.28 inches. The HP maximum dimensions should not be read as extra ventilation clearance.
A tray limit is crossed by two hundred single-sided printouts
Brother’s 250-sheet cassette, when full, can supply 200 sheets, but HP’s 150-sheet tray cannot without a reload. Printing on both sides changes the sheet count, so the example assumes simplex output.
How we worked this out
Main tray: Brother 250, HP 150. The example uses 200 physical sheets.
Option A
HP, M235sdw
M235sdw
Printing and single-sided form scanning for a small shared office.
- Best for
- You print lightly and your scan stacks stay below 40 sheets
Facts we checked
- Document feeder: Simplex, 40 sheets
- Main paper tray: Holds 150 sheets
- Print speed on Letter: Up to 28 ppm
- Monthly ceiling recommended: 2,000 pages
Option B
Brother, DCP-L2640DW
DCP-L2640DW
Where to start if your day involves printing and scanning routine office forms.
- Best for
- A single scan load for you is 41 to 50 sheets
Facts we checked
- Document feeder: Simplex, 50 sheets
- Main paper tray: Holds 250 sheets
- Print speed on Letter: Up to 36 ppm
- Monthly ceiling recommended: 2,500 pages
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | HP M235sdw | Brother DCP-L2640DW | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document feeder | 40 sheets, simplex | 50 sheets, simplex | Only on HP does a stack of 41 to 50 sheets have to be split. |
| Main paper tray | 150 sheets | 250 sheets | The main tray on Brother has room for 100 more sheets. |
| Letter print speed | Up to 28 ppm | Up to 36 ppm | Larger jobs that repeat favor Brother’s rate. |
| Recommended monthly ceiling | 2,000 pages | 2,500 pages | There is modestly more recommended workload headroom with Brother. |
| Automatic two-sided scanning | No | No | Reverse-side scanning is not automated by duplex printing. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With HP M235sdw
- A shelf sized only for the 12.13-inch closed depth falls short, since its published maximum depth is 18.41 inches.
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
Your usual scan packets run past 40 sheets
Go with Brother DCP-L2640DW. Brother takes as many as 50 supported sheets.
Light printing, and the HP fits even fully open
Go with HP M235sdw. A smaller workload has no need for the Brother’s extra input capacity.
You cannot do without automatic two-sided scanning
Neither model fits. Go with a duplex-ADF model, since print duplex is no substitute.
Decision guide
How to decide
Larger scan stacks, fewer refills and steadier printing point to the DCP-L2640DW. The M235sdw can handle a lighter workload if its trays have room to open. Do not count on automatic two-sided scanning from either one.
Think about which jobs force a reload
Speed on paper is not the whole Brother advantage. Its bigger main cassette and feeder can spare you interruptions when a job lands between the capacity limits. Small five-page jobs get nothing from it.
Judge the HP as it sits when in use
HP lists the M235sdw as growing from 12.13 to 18.41 inches deep. Allow for operation, cable bends and the ventilation the manual requires. A cabinet fit cannot be judged from the minimum depth.
Neither removes the chore of scanning two sides
Either model gives you automatic duplex printing, which helps. Two-sided forms coming in still have to be turned by hand, though. When those make up most of your workload, neither is the strongest fit, however good its rated printing speed looks.
Cartridge yield is not a guarantee
Under standardized yield testing, the HP comes with a nominal 700-page starter cartridge. Your own documents might use more toner or less. To compare running costs you need current supply prices, real coverage and every applicable maintenance part.
What this page can’t tell you
- The speeds quoted are manufacturer ratings and were not measured in matched hands-on tests.
- Toner yields come from standardized test documents and move with your 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP M235sdw |
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| 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.
HP M235sdw
You print lightly and your scan stacks stay below 40 sheets
See price & reviews on AmazonBrother DCP-L2640DW
A single scan load for you is 41 to 50 sheets
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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