This color laser is snappy and prints well overall, but Brother's next-step-up model is much more capable-and not much more money.

Respectable print speeds; overall print quality; Strong cloud/mobile-device support; Sturdy feel; Multi-tray paper-expansion option; Port for USB flash drives

A much more robust sibling costs only little more money; Running costs a bit high versus competition

Brother HL-L8260CDW

The Brother HL-L8260CDW stacks up nicely against the Editors' Choice HP Color LaserJet Pro M452dw. We couldn't test them speed-wise head to head, but the Brother has a slightly higher rated speed. And it has better optional paper capacity than the M452dw, and lower color costs.

Good text and graphics quality; Low running cost; Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, and USB connectivity

Slightly below-par photo quality

Brother HL-L8260CDW Review

A color laser printer for up to medium-duty use in a small or micro office or a workgroup, the Brother HL-L8260CDW ($329.99) delivers very good output quality for text and graphics. It offers a wide range of connection choices, good paper handling, and a reasonably low cost of ownership. Its mixture of features and performance at a competitive price earns it our Editors' Choice. Design and Features An off-white printer with a black top, the HL-L8260CDW ($461.40 at Amazon) is typical in size and weight for a color laser at its price. It measures 12.3 by 16.1 by 19.1 inches (HWD), and weighs 47.9 pounds. You will likely need two people to move it into place, and it is large enough that you will want to put it on a table or bench of its own. On top of the printer, a two-line monochrome display to the left of the output tray, combined with a small suite of function buttons, facilitates setup and maintenance. For paper handling, the HL-L8260CDW is typical of a color laser in its pr...

The Brother HL-L8260CDW color laser printer offers above-average text and graphics, good paper handling, a wide range of connectivity choices, and low running costs, making it a top pick for a small or micro office or a workgroup.

Good text and graphics quality; Low running cost; Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, and USB connectivity

Slightly below-par photo quality