Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Brother - MFC-J5855DW | Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Pages/min (color) | 30 | 5 |
| Pages/min (mono) | 30 | 10.5 |
| ADF | true | false |
Between the MFC-J5855DW and EcoTank ET-2850, the MFC-J5855DW comes out ahead in pages/min (color) / pages/min (mono), while the EcoTank ET-2850 wins on several specs. Overall, the MFC-J5855DW scores 76.3 and the EcoTank ET-2850 scores 63.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The MFC-J5855DW is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 12.9 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 MFC-J5855DW if you care most about pages/min (color) / pages/min (mono). The biggest gaps in its favor are pages/min (color), pages/min (mono), adf. The single most decisive one: Pages/min (color) — 500.00% more. 30 vs 5.
The EcoTank ET-2850 similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable type, color, auto duplex, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the MFC-J5855DW 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 - MFC-J5855DW or Epson - EcoTank ET-2850?
Brother - MFC-J5855DW leads the current Mars Score by 12.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare pages/min (mono), pages/min (color) against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Brother - MFC-J5855DW if…
Brother - MFC-J5855DW has the measurable edge on ppm color, ppm mono, has adf.
Choose Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 if…
Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
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 - MFC-J5855DW wins
- ▲Pages/min (color) — 500.00% more. 30 vs 5.
- ▲Pages/min (mono) — 185.71% more. 30 vs 10.5.
- ▲Has ADF.
Why Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Spec
| Spec | Brother - MFC-J5855DW | Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Inkjet AIO | Inkjet AIO |
| Ink system | Cartridge | Refillable tanklead |
| Color | true | true |
| Pages/min (mono) | 30lead | 10.5 |
| Pages/min (color) | 30lead | 5 |
| Resolution | 4800x1200 dpi | 5760x1440 dpi |
| Max paper size | Tabloidlead | Letter |
Features
| Spec | Brother - MFC-J5855DW | Epson - EcoTank ET-2850 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto duplex | true | true |
| ADF | truelead | false |
| Wi-Fiⓘ | true | true |
| AirPrint | true | true |