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Epson ET-2900 vs Brother DCP-L2640DW: Which Printing Routine Fits?

Choose the Epson ET-2900 for color printing and refillable tanks when occasional flatbed scanning is enough. Choose the Brother DCP-L2640DW for black-and-white documents when its automatic document feeder and two-sided printing fit your routine. Brother can scan in color, but its duplex printing feature does not mean it scans both sides automatically.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-05

Source checked 2026-10-05 19:30 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Do you need color output and want to refill ink tanks, or are black-and-white printing and handling stacks of originals more important?

Epson provides color printing through refillable tanks but uses a flatbed for scanning. Brother gives up color printing while adding a document feeder and automatic two-sided printing; its supplies are black toner and a separate drum.

Quick verdict

Choose Brother DCP-L2640DW if

  • Black-and-white output is enough, including copies.
  • You regularly scan suitable loose-sheet stacks or print two-sided documents.
View Brother DCP-L2640DW on AmazonPaid link
When the recommendation changes
  • If you only need color scans, Brother can capture them even though it cannot print in color.
  • If scanning means stacks of loose sheets, the Brother feeder matters more than it does for books or occasional single pages.
  • If you need automatic scanning of both sides of each original, neither model supplies that function.
  • Do not choose solely from the tank or laser label: total cost depends on actual printing, supplies and maintenance.

The differences that matter

Color Output And Supply Routine

Epson EcoTank ET-2900 (Black, C11CL63201)

Prints in color or black and white using refillable ink tanks.[1]

Brother DCP-L2640DW

Prints and copies in black and white. Its scanner can still capture color documents.[3]

What this changes: Choose Epson when you need color on the printed page. Brother can serve a black-and-white document workflow even when some originals must be scanned in color.[1, 3]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Color Output And Supply Routine

Epson EcoTank ET-2900 (Black, C11CL63201)

Uses separate Epson 522 black, cyan, magenta and yellow inks. Check the tank levels visually, refill the matching tank as instructed and reset its level estimate. All colors must be available for printing, and all are used in maintenance.[1, 2]

Brother DCP-L2640DW

Uses a TN830-family black toner cartridge and a separate DR830 drum. These are distinct replacement supplies.[3, 4]

What this changes: Epson asks you to manage four ink levels and the bottle-refill procedure, even if many jobs are black text. Brother uses a black-toner routine with a separate drum to account for. The supply format alone does not establish lower ownership cost.[1, 2, 3, 4]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Multi Page Scanning And Paper Handling

Epson EcoTank ET-2900 (Black, C11CL63201)

Has a flatbed scanner without an automatic document feeder. You place originals on the glass and change them by hand.[1, 2]

Brother DCP-L2640DW

Has a flatbed plus a 50-page automatic document feeder; that maximum is based on 20 lb paper. It scans one side of an original at a time.[3, 4]

What this changes: Epson fits occasional scanning when changing originals on the glass is acceptable. Brother’s feeder is a reason to choose it for stacks of suitable loose sheets; books or other originals that belong on the glass still require flatbed handling.[1, 2, 3, 4]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Best for your routine

Printing color schoolwork, diagrams or household documents

Best fit: Epson EcoTank ET-2900 (Black, C11CL63201)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Epson provides color output. Keep all ink colors available and follow the supported paper and loading instructions; color capability is not a print-quality ranking.

View Epson EcoTank ET-2900 (Black, C11CL63201) on AmazonPaid link

Scanning a stack of one-sided loose originals

Best fit: Brother DCP-L2640DW

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Brother’s automatic document feeder handles a supported stack without placing every sheet on the glass. Its 50-page maximum assumes 20 lb paper, and it does not scan both sides automatically.

View Brother DCP-L2640DW on AmazonPaid link

Printing two-sided black-and-white documents

Best fit: Brother DCP-L2640DW

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Brother supports automatic duplex printing for supported media. Epson’s documented Windows workflow requires turning and reloading the sheets.

View Brother DCP-L2640DW on AmazonPaid link

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

Compare current prices against the feature you would otherwise miss: printed color and tank refills, or feeder scanning and automatic two-sided printing. Include all Epson ink colors or Brother toner and drum supplies in a workload-specific budget.

There is not enough price history here to assess purchase timing.

Limitations

  • No hands-on comparison establishes print quality, scan quality, real-world speed, reliability, idle-time behavior or total cost of ownership.
  • Epson’s “up to three years” included-ink statement assumes about 100 document pages per month. Initial setup consumes some ink, and actual yield varies with the work and conditions. It is not a guaranteed refill date.
  • Epson’s manual two-sided Windows workflow may be unavailable over a network or shared-printer connection and requires the documented driver settings. Do not assume it works identically in every app or operating system.
  • Paper-tray and document-feeder limits apply to the stated media. Follow the manual for the paper size, weight and type, especially for specialty stock.

Questions shoppers ask

Can Brother scan in color even though it is monochrome?

Yes. DCP-L2640DW supports color scanning, while its printed output and copies are black and white. Choose based on whether you need color on paper, not merely in a saved scan.

Does Brother’s duplex feature scan both sides automatically?

No. Its automatic duplex capability applies to printing. The document feeder scans one side at a time, so two-sided originals require additional handling. Epson also lacks automatic duplex scanning.

Can I maintain only the black ink tank on the Epson?

No. Epson says all ink colors are used for printing and maintenance and must be available for printing. Check each tank, use the matching ink when refilling and reset the level estimate as instructed.

Methodology and sources

Compared color output and supply replacement separately from handling originals, loading paper and printing on both sides. Recommendations reflect the documented functions and their operating limits.

AI helped organize the manufacturers’ information and draft the comparison. Neither printer was tested hands-on.

View 4 sources
  1. 1.Epson EcoTank ET-2900 Black, C11CL63201Epson America · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-05 14:14 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Product highlights; keyed ink bottles; flatbed scanner; notes 4 and 9: Identifies the exact black ET-2900, color printing and refillable tanks. The included-ink duration assumes about 100 document pages per month; setup consumes some ink. All ink colors are used for printing and maintenance, and all must be available for printing.
  2. 2.Epson ET-2900 Series User’s Guide, NPD7649-02 ENEpson · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-05 14:19 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • p. 7 model limits; pp. 20 and 38–39 scanner glass; pp. 43 and 214 two-sided printing; pp. 200–204 refilling; pp. 222–228 paper and US supplies: The guide explicitly excludes the automatic document feeder from the ET-2900 series. It describes checking ink levels, refilling matching tanks and resetting the level estimate. US supplies are Epson 522 inks. Paper capacities and manual two-sided printing depend on the specified media and Windows setup.
  3. 3.Brother DCP-L2640DW Monochrome Laser All-in-One PrinterBrother USA · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-05 17:03 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Specifications: consumables, scanning, copying, duplex printing and paper handling: The exact US model prints and copies in black and white, while its scanner can capture color. It uses a toner cartridge and a separate drum. Automatic two-sided printing is supported; automatic two-sided scanning is not.
  4. 4.Brother DCP-L2640DW Product BrochureBrother USA · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-05 17:10 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Page 2: scanning, paper handling, automatic duplex capability, replacement supplies and footnote 8: Lists a 50-page automatic document feeder and 250-sheet paper tray, both maximums based on 20 lb paper. Duplex capability is printing only. Lists TN830-family toner cartridges and the separate DR830 drum, with different yield conditions that are not used for a cost comparison.

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