Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Brother - HL-L2460DW | Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Pages/min (mono) | 36 | 10.5 |
| Color | false | true |
| Pages/min (color) | 0 | 5 |
Between the HL-L2460DW and EcoTank ET-2850, the HL-L2460DW comes out ahead in pages/min (mono), while the EcoTank ET-2850 wins on color / pages/min (color). Overall, the HL-L2460DW scores 80.2 and the EcoTank ET-2850 scores 63.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The HL-L2460DW is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 16.8 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the HL-L2460DW if you care most about pages/min (mono). The biggest gaps in its favor are pages/min (mono). The single most decisive one: Pages/min (mono) — 242.86% more. 36 vs 10.5.
Pick the EcoTank ET-2850 if you care most about color / pages/min (color). Its strongest claims are color, pages/min (color). The single most decisive one: Has Color.
Both ship with comparable auto duplex, adf, airprint, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the HL-L2460DW is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Brother - HL-L2460DW or Epson - EcoTank ET-2850?
Brother - HL-L2460DW leads the current Mars Score by 16.8 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare pages/min (mono), pages/min (color), color against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Brother - HL-L2460DW if…
Brother - HL-L2460DW has the measurable edge on ppm mono.
Choose Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 if…
Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 has the measurable edge on color, ppm color.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Brother - HL-L2460DW wins
- ▲Pages/min (mono) — 242.86% more. 36 vs 10.5.
Why Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 wins
- ▲Has Color.
- ▲Pages/min (color): 5 vs 0.
Spec comparison
Spec
| Spec | Brother - HL-L2460DW | Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Laser | Inkjet AIO |
| Color | false | truelead |
| Pages/min (mono) | 36lead | 10.5 |
| Pages/min (color) | 0 | 5lead |
| Resolution | 1200x1200 dpi | 5760x1440 dpi |
| Max paper size | Letter | Letter |
Features
| Spec | Brother - HL-L2460DW | Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto duplex | true | true |
| ADF | false | false |
| Wi-Fiⓘ | true | true |
| AirPrint | true | true |