MFCL8900CDW Brother Color Laser All-in-One Printer Review

In the modern office landscape, efficiency is not just a luxury; it’s a requirement. If you are searching for a heavy-duty workhorse that can handle high-volume demands without breaking a sweat, the MFCL8900CDW Brother Color Laser All-in-One Printer is likely at the top of your list.

As of 2026, this model remains one of the most reliable and feature-rich options for small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and busy home offices. In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive into why this "Swiss Army knife" of printers continues to dominate its class.

Key Specifications

Here’s what makes the Brother MFCL8900CDW tick:

• Print technology: Color laser
• Functions: Print, Scan, Copy, Fax
• Print speed: Up to 33 pages per minute (ppm) in both black & color
• Print resolution: Up to 2400 × 600 dpi
• First page out: ~15 seconds
• Display: 5″ color touchscreen
• ADF capacity: 70 sheets, single-pass duplex
• Input capacity: Standard 250-sheet + 50-sheet multipurpose tray (expandable)
• Connectivity: USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, NFC
• Memory: 512 MB RAM
• Monthly duty cycle: Up to 60,000 pages
• Recommended monthly volume: up to ~4,000 pages

These numbers clearly show why this laser printer is suitable for offices that need fast, reliable color printing every day.

Design and Build Quality

The Brother MFC-L8900CDW features a sturdy, office-friendly design. Its solid construction ensures durability even under heavy daily use. While it is larger than consumer printers, the footprint is optimized for shared office spaces.

The 5-inch color touchscreen enhances usability by providing quick access to printing, scanning, and network features. Physical buttons are minimal, giving the printer a modern and professional look. Overall, the build quality reflects Brother’s reputation for reliability.

Printing Performance

Brother has perfected the balance between speed and quality. With a print speed of 33 pages per minute (ppm) for both monochrome and color, it outpaces most competitors in its price bracket.

Text Quality: Sharp, crisp, and professional. Even at font sizes as small as 4 points, the laser technology ensures no bleeding or blurring.

Color Graphics: Ideal for business presentations, charts, and newsletters. While it isn't a dedicated photo printer (inkjets still win there), the color reproduction is vibrant and consistent.

Speed to First Page: You won't be waiting long; the first page exits in less than 15 seconds from ready mode.

Scanning is often the bottleneck in office workflows, but the MFC-L8900CDW solves this with Dual CIS (Contact Image Sensor) technology. This allows the machine to scan both sides of a page in a single pass.

Scan Speed: Up to 58 images per minute (ipm) for duplex documents.

ADF Efficiency: The 70-sheet capacity means you can drop a large stack of documents and walk away.

Destinations: You can scan directly to Cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote), Email, FTP, or a USB flash drive.

Connectivity and Network Features

In today’s connected office, versatile networking is essential — and Brother delivers:

• Wi-Fi & wired Ethernet: Supports both wireless and wired connections for easy sharing.
• NFC & Wi-Fi Direct: Convenient for mobile and on-the-spot printing from phones or tablets.
• Mobile print support: Via AirPrint, Mopria, Brother iPrint&Scan, and more.
• Cloud integration: Scan to email, SharePoint, Google Drive, and other services.

This extensive suite makes it easy to integrate the printer into mixed-device environments and mobile workflows.

Fax Capabilities

While many industries are moving away from fax, legal and medical sectors still rely on it. The MFC-L8900CDW includes a 33.6 Kbps Super G3 fax modem with a 500-page memory. It also supports PC-Fax, allowing you to send faxes directly from your computer without printing them first.

Power Consumption and Noise Levels

The printer is designed to be energy efficient while maintaining high performance. Sleep mode significantly reduces power usage when idle. During operation, the noise level remains moderate and acceptable for shared office spaces.

• Printing: ~550 W
• Ready Mode: ~70 W
• Sleep Mode: ~10 W
• Noise Level: ~49 dB(A) during printing

The MFC-L8900CDW uses separate toner cartridges for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. High-yield and super high-yield toner options are available, which significantly lower cost per page for heavy users.

High-Yield Toners: You can use "Super High-Yield" replacement cartridges (TN-436 series) which provide up to 6,500 pages per color and black cartridge.

Cost Per Page: By using these high-capacity toners, the cost per page (CPP) is significantly lower than entry-level laser printers, making it a smart long-term investment for high-volume users.

Who Should Buy It / Use Case Scenarios

The Brother MFCL8900CDW is not a casual home printer. It is a strategic purchase for:

Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: Needing a durable, shared network printer that can handle high-volume, mixed print jobs.

Home Offices with Heavy Workloads: For professionals like consultants, accountants, or remote workers who print hundreds of pages weekly and need professional features like fast duplexing and an ADF.

Workgroups or Departments: Within larger organizations that need a reliable satellite printer for everyday document needs.

Conclusion

Overall, the Brother MFC-L8900CDW is a powerful, flexible, and business-ready all-in-one color laser printer. With strong performance in printing, scanning, and connectivity — wrapped in a robust build — it’s a solid investment for busy offices. The cost of consumables and size might be drawbacks for smaller setups, but for teams looking to streamline workflows and reduce per-page costs in the long run, this model delivers a compelling balance of speed, quality, and features.

Why Choose Compu Devices? 

Finding the right printing technology is one thing; getting the right support is another. At Compu Devices, we go beyond just selling printers.

Expert Guidance: Our specialists help you ensure the printer is the perfect fit for your specific workflow and volume needs.

Seamless Setup & Integration: We offer professional setup services to get your new printer networked and configured for all users, saving you time and frustration.

Genuine Supplies & Support: We provide guaranteed genuine Brother toners and consumables, protecting your investment and print quality. 

Value-Added Solutions: Ask us about managed print services or supply subscription plans to automate ordering and control costs.

Ready to elevate your office productivity? Visit Compu Devices today to explore a diverse range of premium printers from top brands and discover how you get the most out of your technology investment.

Also Read: 

Inkjet vs Laser Printers: Which One Is Right for You?