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Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models

⁦Compare Brother DCP-T230 & Epson ET-5850⁩

A full side-by-side comparison of reference models DCP-T230 and ET-5850 within the same category.

Borderless Printing ⁦Brother DCP-T230⁩

⁦DCP-T230⁩

Brother

Not for sale

View model
Best Overall ⁦Epson ET-5850⁩

⁦ET-5850⁩

Epson

Not for sale

View model

Specifications

Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models

Specification ⁦DCP-T230⁩ ⁦ET-5850⁩
Price Not for sale Not for sale
General
Brand Brother Epson
Product Family InkBenefit Tank EcoTank
Canonical Model ⁦DCP-T230⁩ ⁦ET-5850⁩
Launch Year ⁦2025 year⁩ ⁦2020 year⁩
Printer Type Colour ink-tank multifunction Colour multifunction ink tank printer
Functions Print, Scan, Copy Print, Scan, Copy, Fax
Colour Printing Yes Yes
Form Factor Desktop Desktop
Target Use Home / Home office Home office and workgroup
Merged Regional Aliases No regional aliases merged None in supplied list
Print Technology Refillable ink-tank inkjet Inkjet (refillable ink tank)
Machine Life or Duty Cycle ⁦30000 pages / 5 years page⁩ —
Print
Print Head Brother piezo inkjet PrecisionCore printhead
Nozzle Configuration — ⁦800 black nozzles; 800 nozzles per colour⁩
Ink Colour Count ⁦4 colour⁩ ⁦4 colour⁩
Ink Technology Dye Pigment ink
Maximum Print Resolution ⁦1200 x 6000 dpi⁩ ⁦4800 x 1200 dpi⁩
ISO Black Speed ⁦16 ipm⁩ ⁦25 ipm⁩
ISO Colour Speed ⁦9 ipm⁩ ⁦25 ipm⁩
Draft Black Speed ⁦27 ppm⁩ —
Draft Colour Speed ⁦11 ppm⁩ —
First Page Out Colour ⁦9.6 sec⁩ ⁦6 sec⁩
Borderless Printing Yes —
Maximum Borderless Size ⁦A4⁩ —
Minimum Droplet Size — ⁦3.8 pl⁩
Print Performance
First Page Out Black ⁦6.2 sec⁩ ⁦5.5 sec⁩
Recommended Monthly Volume ⁦1000 page/month⁩ —
Paper & Printing
Automatic Duplex Printing — Yes
Maximum Paper Size ⁦A4 / Legal⁩ Legal
Standard Input Capacity ⁦150 sheet⁩ ⁦550 sheet⁩
Multipurpose Tray Capacity ⁦0 sheet⁩ ⁦0 sheet⁩
Output Capacity ⁦50 sheet⁩ ⁦125 sheet⁩
Scanning
Scanner Type CIS flatbed Contact Image Sensor (CIS)
Optical Scan Resolution ⁦1200 x 2400 dpi⁩ ⁦1200 dpi⁩
ADF Capacity — ⁦50 sheet⁩
Scan Copy Fax
Maximum Scan Size ⁦A4 / Letter⁩ ⁦A4⁩
Mono Scan Speed ⁦3.35 (flatbed) sec/page⁩ ⁦5 (flatbed) sec/page⁩
Colour Scan Speed ⁦4.38 (flatbed) sec/page⁩ ⁦10 (flatbed) sec/page⁩
Automatic Document Feeder — Yes
Automatic Duplex Scanning — Yes
Copy Function Yes Yes
Colour Copy Speed ⁦3.5 ipm⁩ —
Fax Function — Yes
Copying
Black Copy Speed ⁦11 ipm⁩ —
Fax
Fax Modem Speed — ⁦33.6 kbps⁩
Paper
Rear Feed Capacity ⁦0 sheet⁩ ⁦50 sheet⁩
Front Cassette Count ⁦1 tray⁩ ⁦2 tray⁩
Media Types Plain, inkjet, glossy, recycled Plain paper; Envelopes
Media Weight Range ⁦64-300 g/m2⁩ ⁦64-255 g/m2⁩
Connectivity
USB Yes Yes
Ethernet — Yes
Wi-Fi — Yes
Wi-Fi Direct — Yes
Apple AirPrint — Yes
Mopria — Yes
Connectivity Software
Mobile App Brother iPrint&Scan Epson Smart Panel
Operating Systems Windows; Linux Windows; macOS; Windows Server
Email or Cloud Print — Yes
Ink Operations
Ink Bottle Series ⁦BTD100⁩ 113
Replacement Black Yield ⁦7500 page⁩ ⁦7500 page⁩
Replacement Colour Yield ⁦5000 page⁩ ⁦6000 page⁩
Dimensions W x D x H ⁦390 x 343 x 148.5 mm⁩ ⁦425 x 500 x 350 mm⁩
Operating Power — ⁦19 W⁩
Display LED indicators ⁦Colour, touchscreen, 10,9 cm⁩
User-replaceable Maintenance Box — Yes
Included Black Yield ⁦7500 page⁩ ⁦4500 page⁩
Included Colour Yield ⁦5000 page⁩ ⁦2800 page⁩
Dimensions & Weight
Weight ⁦6.3 kg⁩ ⁦17.8 kg⁩

Summary: Which Printer Should You Choose?

Choose DCP-T230 if you need:

  • Included black ink yield of 7500 pages, versus 4500 pages on the other model.
  • Included colour ink yield of 5000 pages, versus 2800 pages on the other model.
  • Supports borderless printing; the other model does not.
  • Weight of 6.3 kg, versus 17.8 kg on the other model.

Choose ET-5850 if you need:

  • Combines print, scan, copy, and fax, compared with print, scan, and copy on the other model.
  • ISO black print speed of 25 ipm, versus 16 ipm on the other model.
  • Supports an automatic document feeder (ADF); the other model does not.
  • Supports automatic duplex printing; the other model does not.

Both printers include colour printing and USB connectivity. Compare functions and ISO black print speed to decide.

The paired specifications favour ET-5850, particularly on fax. The other model may fit better if its own strengths matter more to you.

What Is the Difference Between Brother DCP-T230 and Epson ET-5850?

Both printers include colour printing and USB connectivity. Their most relevant distinctions are fax and ISO black print speed.

ET-5850 offers print, scan, copy, and fax, versus print, scan, and copy on DCP-T230. ET-5850 has ISO black print speed of 25 ipm, versus 16 ipm on DCP-T230. ET-5850 supports an automatic document feeder (ADF), whereas DCP-T230 does not. ET-5850 supports automatic duplex printing, whereas DCP-T230 does not. ET-5850 supports automatic duplex scanning, whereas DCP-T230 does not.

The paired specifications favour ET-5850, particularly on fax. The other model may fit better if its own strengths matter more to you. Consider the first model if included black ink yield matters most; consider the second if fax is the priority.

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