Customer Ratings & Reviews

I own two of these units - one for my home office and one supporting a small workgroup at my main office. These units were easy to set up (in both wired and wireless network environments), and offer a wide array of features that are easy to use. The ability to scan directly (BOTH SIDES OF A DOCUMENT IN A SINGLE PASS TOO!!!) to email or your choice of file formats (including PDF) sent to a desktop, laptop or even USB drive or FTP server has become one of our most used features - super convenient and quickly replacing traditional faxing. A wide array of enhanced printing features and options, including remote printing directly from a smartphone, printing booklets and printing directly from USB/memory card (with previews on the printer's color LCD) are all better than expected. For basic printing, standard print mode is acceptable. But if you are going to print graphics or photos, you MUST switch to high quality mode or you won't find print quality to be acceptable. An extremely welcome feature not generally found even on units far more expensive than this one is the capability to establish secured "accounts" and limit those accounts' capabilities to use specific functions on the unit. I use this to restrict the number of color prints or copies made by certain people and to completely prohibit others from using other functions while tracking how much use of each function is made by every account user. At home, I use this feature to track how much I use the unit for each project I work on so I can bill / be reimbursed accordingly. I've had similar units from other manufacturer's before (including HP) and I'm finding that I like Brother products more and more as time goes by. That's mostly because of the little things Brother does on behalf of the user. For example, including software that makes the printer easier to set up, manage and maintain without getting in your way with pop-ups all the time (as is often the case with HP). Or including more information on the printer's internal web server about how you use your consumables and how much life remains in them. Other manufacturers include some of this, and many even do a better job of presenting the information to you than Brother does (web pages are pretty bland), but Brother offers more USEFULL information than most). That's not to say that I like everything about this printer. First off, it's a beast. It's surprisingly tall and deep. By the time you allocate sufficient space to be able to open the paper drawer (front), clear jams via an access panel (rear) and open the auto document feeder to expose the scanner glass to use books or magazines, you realize this unit won't fit on an average desktop or even a full size credenza. Unless you aren't worried about these occasional needs, resign yourself to the fact that they will present a struggle OR just put this baby on it's own cabinet (preferably with wheels). However size is really not so much of a complaint as it is an observation. My one and only actual complaint is cost of operation. It seems that nearly every manufacturer now designs printers with the concept of reducing printer cost in exchange for skyrocketing costs of consumables. Based on the cost of the printers and all associated consumables on the day I bought this printer, it will literally be cheaper for me to replace this printer before I need to replace my first drum (25,000 pages), let alone the transfer belt (50,000 pages) or waste receptacle (60,000 pages). At an average cost of $110 per single color toner cartridge yielding only up to 3,500 pages of print, it will cost nearly $500 to refill this printer with toner every 3,500 pages. Even if you paid retail for this printer (I did NOT), you will have spent more on toner than you paid for the printer before you print 10,000 pages. Granted, you'll always pay more for consumables than for the printer, but to reach this point in such a relatively short time (in my case, it will take about 4 months), is absolutely ridiculous. If Brother really wants to take the lead, I challenge them to change this paradigm by reducing BASIC consumables cost to more reasonable (but still profitable) level. Otherwise, they are just forcing consumers to switch to generic supplies which costs Brother the entire benefit of this revenue stream. Bottom line: I love this unit but I cringe every time a piece of paper comes out of it because of the cost to produce it. For that single reason, I can only recommend it for users who don't care about cost or don't print as much as they use the other (non-printing) functions.

Overall , very good laser printer for the cost. Print quality is very good and the automatic duplex printing feature is great. As with almost any printer these days, cost of toner cartridges is obscene, I'm told that with Brother, if you don't use a Brother replacement cartridge, the machine will keep telling you it out of toner (Have yet to change yet?). It is a large machine and about 70lbs. so place on have adequate space for it. A few little quirks, every one in awhile, when you go to print something it will tell you it's out of paper. You check the tray and there is plenty. What the machine has done is decided to source the manual paper tray. I did Brother about this, the person there told me to change the paper course, which I did. Same result, for whatever reason, the machine decides it wants manual fed paper?

Even though it is 62 pounds or thereabouts, it doesn't consume a lot of space. It is an upgrade from my previous printer. I downloaded the Advanced Guide, and I am delighted with all the tasks that the printer does. It was relatively easy to set up. It's a Brother, so the support I got from Brother in setting the printer up was, as usual, great. It was up and running in no time. I am looking forward to using this printer to fax, scan and print. So far, this is a great buy.

"Brother is best known for monochrome and color laser printers. In 2013, they decided to stop manufacturing all-in-one inkjet printers and solely focus on the laser market." - Consumer Reports (in my conclusion, have a link reference to www.consumerreports.org for the MFC-9970CDW that is tested/reviewed, a review that is complete with recommendations and estimations of the real world cost of ownership). I wish to cite just my experience. Why purchased? My needs, in having been around the block a few times, is to address the issues of home schooling and assist those in the work of home schooling with document production supporting continuously changing curriculum planning and goals. While needing the gamut of document production needs (from faxing of mark-up to final print ready production of PDF files), I specialize in the need for producing booklet printed materials utilizing legal-sized paper. The purchase decision: Speed does matter. This printer performs with a print speed of up to 30 ppm. Of course, no where near that speed can be had when using legal-sized paper in a duplex printing of graphic embedded booklets. Still, best possible speed as well as quality of print, reliability and economy of usage are very important considerations. With increased paper handling speed, it should be unquestionably accepted that mishaps will be much more horrific than those occurring in the use of low speed printer. I offer this review because I had more than 50 variable length booklets to immediately print upon completing set-up of the MFC-9970CDW printer. I had read of excessive paper curling, jams, and worse re the experience of some in having the MFC-9970CDW printer. I judged that over-heating could very much relate to not considering the environmental requirements of such seemingly innocuous need as the space between machine and structures such as a wall or a cabinet. I know that the selection of paper used is also critical. One is not an expert by merely placing fanned paper from a single ream of paper in the paper tray of an all-in-one printer. Following recommended best practice is important if not wishing to incur careless, perhaps even thoughtless mishaps. Some reviewers review the product as though they were a dentist working without a good doctor-patient relationship first being established. Who is with the most misfortune? Certainly, it is the patient (in this instance, the MFC-9970CDW printer). The reader of such offerings finds their interest piqued by the demise seemingly proven by a picture of accordion pleated jams, but the reader is not any better off in his/her buying decision if the decision is thwarted by unexplained processes. Before taking the opinion of another (especially regarding an item as critical to the experience of a workplace as is a multifunction, all-in-one printer) do have some indication of the reviewer's basis for reporting. I have just donated a work-horse of a printer of more than 5 years vintage: the Dell 3100CN with duplex upgrade, a truly one function laser printer. While still in working condition, thanks to my many under-the-hood experiences with the printer and with Dell, I must offer a disclaimer to anyone reading this review because my length of experience with my new printer of choice is very short. My MFC-9970CDW is only just unboxed. But it is precisely that... the merit found even in just the setup of this printer that requires me to offer my review. The Quick Set-up Guide was just that! Clear, with good organization. I had a fax of the warranty off in under 30 minutes of its big box receipt having occurred. The MFC-9970CDW is over 70 pounds, including its packaging. But much more than weight alone, my receipt was a factory boxed item complete with many measures relating to secure packaging of the delicate machine inside. Do be wary. The Basic User's Guide in only the preface offers the full disclosure on the machine's one year on site limited warranty. Key to all is that the Warranty is "given only the the original end-user/ retail purchaser." Very specifically, if the product was used, you are not the Original Purchaser. Well, I am the Original Purchaser. Removing the packing material from the machine offered a certain reward in knowing that this item is especially not something to consider buying as an open box purchase. I took time to follow each step and to re-check what I had done. I note that I was working essentially without assistance (but under the watchful guise of my significant other - my wife - in handling the moving of the printer from its box to its resting place on a well-built, heavy duty file cabinet specifically designed to be a heavy object holder and offering rollers allowing mobility. This printer has need for complete access to its rear paper tracking mechanism. I know the experience very well in having owned the Dell 3100CN with its add-on duplex unit which of course attached to the rear of the printer. The Quick Setup Guide clearly notes that the printer must have 10 inch clearance from its back side to any wall and 4 inches on either side. That's when it is in operation. Of course, the wheeled base and the extra length power cord and connection type of choice (LAN but you may choose USB or a Wireless network connection), allow for the printer (with its 60 lb., unboxed weight) to be moved out into an area allowing easy access as needed. That's just smart planning.... There is no need for photos of accordion-shaped paper removed from paper jams or citing the need to use pliers to remove paper bits. If adhering to best practices of folks having years of involvement with all types of printers, one should know that one must report on the multiple facets of just how the machine is used, its environment, and one's own credentials. If wishing to have just the facts, open www.consumerreports.org and read their "All-in-one printer Recommendations" at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/computers-internet/printers/all-in-one-printer-ratings/models/user-reviews/brother-mfc-9970cdw-99040836.htm#readReview ... And do keep on keeping on.... This printer produced my needed supply of booklets in time for important continuing endeavors. For my needs as I view them for the next 5-8 years, the MFC-9970CDW printer has the quality of manufacture to meet my needs. And though my usage experience is minimal, I rely on the expertise of the likes of Consumer Reports. The process for certification of a product is generally summed up in four steps: 1) Application (including testing of the product) 2) Evaluation (does the test data indicate that the product meets qualification criteria) 3) Decision (does a second review of the product application concur with the Evaluation) 4) Surveillance (does the product in the marketplace continue to meet qualification criteria)

My second brother all in one printer, this one combines color laser printing with the all in one functionality. Print speed and quality is good. Setup was simple. Scanning is fast, and the software scans multiple pages to a single PDF.

As a new small business owner on a budget, this machine meets many of my needs, and in many ways exceeds my expectations. Finding a machine with automatic duplex printing and scanning was a challenge, so I appreciate this function. Set-up was a breeze for someone who is not technologically-savvy! Print quality is good. My complaints are picayune in comparison to my overall satisfaction with this machine.

This printer is HORRIBLE. Jams REPEATEDLY on label sheets or photo paper. Jams quite often on even simple 20# standard letter or legal paper. If you're lucky enough to avoid a jam, you can still have the pleasure of receiving paper printouts with crinkled bent corners. I think the most helpful thing about this printer is that the feed tray is on the REVERSE of the machine, ya know, the part facing the wall. So if you do have a jam (and ahem, you WILL have, well, MORE than one jam...) you have to pull the printer away from the wall, give the feed door clearance, and maybe you'll even enjoy the exquisite privilege of running for pliers as I did, in order to extract said jam. BROTHER, WHEREFORE ART THOU?!?!?!?!?!?!

Good quality and reasonable speed for a color laser. Easy to setup. Reasonably fast output.

a good piece of equipment does lots and easy to use

Overall a great copier and printer. Haven't had a paper jam in the first month of use. Seems to have decent ink consumption. Easy duplex copying.

Best Printer I've owned by far. Will never go back to Inkjet

Short and sweet feedback after three weeks running it. This machine albeit a bit pricy for what you get...provides surprisingly great color for a laser, great print quality, fast everything, noisy, a bit of a rattle box, but gets the darn job done well. Can't wait to see how well the supplies hold up over time, but for now...I prefer this over the inkjet printer for anything other than photo quality prints.

Color, duplex, multifunction, all in one. I print a large number of two-sided documents for my business. Having a duplex printer saves me a ton of time. I also use it quite a bit for copying and scanning. It even copies and scans two-sided documents. I love it! The only complaint I have is the print color is not as vibrant as my old HP laser printer. This can be overcome somewhat with document modifications. Also, when it matters, I print at high quality (2400 dpi vice the standard 600 dpi, which makes a big difference also). I had seen the reviews about the toner issue. There are good tips online on how to reset the out-of-toner warning. I did this with the original cartridges and more than doubled the number of pages printed with them. I'm now using the high capacity cartridges. I'm expecting them to last quite a while. And compared to the price of HP toner cartridges, I'm saving a lot of money on the cost to operate. The speed is pretty good, especially for this price range. Of course, nothing is fast enough! But since I do almost all duplex printing, having duplex capability certainly saves me a lot of time. I highly recommend this printer.