Printers · Comparison

Epson EcoTank ET-2803 vs Brother HL-L2465DW

The comparison that actually defines this category: color tank ink versus mono laser. It comes down to one question — do you print in color with any regularity? — because everything else is a win on its own turf for each machine.

Last updated 2026-07-29.

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Quick comparison

Ranked by Picksights Score. Prices are approximate and change frequently.
Product	Picksights Score	From	Best for
#1 · Epson Epson EcoTank ET-2803	8.4/10	$179	Best for most homes
#2 · Brother Brother HL-L2465DW	8.2/10	$169.99	Best if you never print in colour

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Top pick

Epson

Number 1: Epson EcoTank ET-2803

PS8.4/10

Best for most homes

The default recommendation for a house rather than an office. It does the three things households actually need — print, scan, copy — and it does them with the ink economics that make tank printers worth the higher sticker. You give up the document feeder, which matters only if you regularly scan stacks of paper. If you do, spend the extra $40; if you do not, this is the one.

Pros

Around two years of ink in the box, so the first refill is a long way off
The cheapest genuine tank printer here, and the running-cost advantage is identical to the pricier model
Simple enough that it is the sensible default for a household

Cons

No document feeder — scanning multiple pages means feeding them one at a time
No fax or Ethernet
Colour output is adequate rather than good

From $179Approximate — prices change

See current price

Sources: RTINGS printer testing (2026) · TechRadar (standardised test across 200+ printers) (2026-07)Last checked by Picksights 2026-07-29

Brother

Number 2: Brother HL-L2465DW

PS8.2/10

Best if you never print in colour

The honest answer for a large number of people who buy colour printers and never print in colour. Consumer Reports' position is blunt: if you do not need colour, buy a mono laser, because they are far more reliable. And the reason matters — toner does not dry out, so this survives being ignored for three months, which is exactly what kills an inkjet. Print one photo a year at a shop and you will still be ahead.

Pros

Consumer Reports' testing finds lasers markedly more reliable than inkjets, which is the complaint most printer owners actually have
Toner does not dry out, so it survives months of not being used — the failure mode that kills inkjets
Crisp text at speed, with automatic two-sided printing

Cons

No colour whatsoever, which rules it out for anyone printing photos or school projects
Per-page cost is higher than bottled tank ink, though far below cartridges
No fax or document feeder

From $169.99Approximate — prices change

Sources: Consumer Reports (laboratory testing and cost-of-ownership modelling) (2026-06-24) · TechRadar (standardised test across 200+ printers) (2026-07)Last checked by Picksights 2026-07-29

The real question: do you need color?

The ET-2803 is the answer if you need color with any regularity — school assignments, occasional photos, graphics. Its tank-ink system keeps running cost low, and it ships with roughly two years of ink from the factory.

The Brother HL-L2465DW wins if you never print in color: Consumer Reports is blunt that lasers are markedly more reliable than inkjets, and its toner doesn't degrade over time — it survives months of disuse, exactly the failure mode that kills inkjets left sitting idle.

How we rank

Picksights Score is a weighted average of 4 criteria, the same as in the full printer ranking:

Running cost — 35%
Print quality — 25%
Price — 25%
Features — 15%

Full ranking: Best Home Printer →

Guide: Inkjet vs Laser →

Also see: ET-4800 vs ET-2803 →