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Five color laser multifunction printers stand out as candidates for home use in Consumer Reports’ 2026 Buying Guide: the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw, Brother MFC-L3780CDW, Brother MFC-L3765CDW, Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw, and HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw. The guide’s scores run from 65 to 74, but they are its comparative results—not hands-on tests for this article or a guarantee that one model will suit every household.
This is a shortlist, not a definitive ranking. Use the guide values as dated comparison points, then confirm current availability, exact model revision, regional features, and price before buying.
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How to read this shortlist
Consumer Reports’ 2026 Buying Guide supplies comparable overall scores and listed prices for these models. Its price figures are guide-listed amounts, not verified live offers for October 2026. The scores are useful for narrowing candidates, but they do not establish which printer is best for a particular home or how it performs under every workload.
The detailed manufacturer specifications in the sources reviewed are strongest for the Brother MFC-L3780CDW. For the other four picks, the guide supports their inclusion and its reported score and price; check the maker’s current specifications for the exact SKU before relying on a feature or consumable detail.
#1 Best Overall
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality color documents and reports. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—next-generation TerraJet toner brings your business to life with more vivid colors.
- ORIGINAL HP TONER CARTRIDGES – This HP printer uses Original HP 218A standard and 218X high yield LaserJet toner cartridges.
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray.
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business.
Five models at a glance
| Model | Consumer Reports 2026 guide score | Guide-listed price | What the evidence establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw | 74 | $430 | Listed by the guide as an all-in-one color laser printer. These are guide values, not live October 2026 pricing. |
| Brother MFC-L3780CDW | 71 | $500 | Guide score and price; Brother specifies print, copy, scan, fax, single-pass duplex copy and scan, and network connections on its product page. |
| Brother MFC-L3765CDW | 71 | $399 | Listed by the guide as an all-in-one color laser printer. Verify exact features and current price for the regional SKU. |
| Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw | 69 | $350 | Listed by the guide as an all-in-one color laser printer. Verify exact features and current price for the regional SKU. |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw | 65 | $529 | Listed by the guide as an all-in-one color laser printer. Verify exact features and current price for the regional SKU. |
Each score and listed price in the table is from Consumer Reports’ 2026 Buying Guide. The guide also names other candidates, including the Brother MFC-L8900CDW, Brother MFC-L3720CDW, and HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw; this shortlist focuses on five models rather than claiming they are the only viable options.
What stands out about each candidate
Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw
The MF753Cdw has the highest score among these five in the Consumer Reports 2026 guide, at 74, with a guide-listed price of $430. That makes it a reasonable first model to investigate if you are using the guide as your starting comparison. Do not assume specifications published for a similarly named or newer revision apply to this exact listing.
Rank #2
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for office teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality B&W documents and reports. Auto 2-sided printing, plus auto 1-sided scanning through the document feeder. Perfect for up to 7 users.
- SIMPLIFY SCAN TO EMAIL – Save time when scanning documents to email. HP AI automatically generates smart subject lines, file names, and actionable summaries to streamline your workflow and find files effortlessly.
- REDUCE WASTED PAGES AND ODD LAYOUTS – Turn web pages and emails into neatly formatted prints. HP AI Precise Print easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want.
- SUPER FAST – Blazing fast print speeds up to 33 pages per minute with auto paper jam recovery
- STAYS CONNECTED – Avoid interruptions with Wi-Fi that intelligently looks for the best connection to stay online
Brother MFC-L3780CDW
Brother describes the MFC-L3780CDW as a wireless color all-in-one for printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. Its manufacturer specifications rate print speed at up to 31 pages per minute and scan speed at up to 29 images per minute in black and 22 in color. These are rated maximums, not a promise of the speed you will see with every job.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFor paperwork, its single-pass duplex copy and scan capability is a concrete distinction: the machine can handle both sides of an original in one pass, rather than requiring the user to turn or re-feed pages. Brother lists dual-band wireless, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB connectivity. The carton contents listed by Brother include starter toner rated at 2,300 pages for black and 1,200 pages each for cyan, magenta, and yellow, plus a DR229CL drum unit, WT229CL waste toner box, and BU229CL belt unit. Starter yields are manufacturer-listed figures and do not predict typical household results; check replacement supplies and their yields separately.
Rank #3
- Color, Wireless, Duplex 4-in-1: Print, scan, copy, fax.
- Fast Print Speeds: Print up to 26 ppm in both color and monochrome and spend less time waiting with a quick first print time of approximately 10.3 seconds.
- Easy Wireless Setup: Setup your wireless connection and get up and running in just a few steps.
- 5-inch Color Touchscreen: Get the job done quickly with Application Library - an intuitive and easy to use customizable access to the features you use most.
- Mobile Device Printing: Print from your compatible mobile devices using the free Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service.
Brother MFC-L3765CDW
The MFC-L3765CDW ties the MFC-L3780CDW at 71 in the Consumer Reports 2026 guide and has a lower guide-listed price of $399. The evidence here does not establish that its duplex-scanning method, speed, connectivity, or consumables match the L3780CDW. Compare the exact model specifications rather than transferring features from one Brother model to another.
Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw
The MF656Cdw scores 69 in the guide, which lists it at $350. Regional Canon model names can differ: Digital Camera World discusses the i-SENSYS MF655Cdw and imageCLASS MF653Cdw as market-specific variants, not as proof that their specifications apply to the MF656Cdw. Check the precise model sold in your country before comparing features.
Rank #4
- Professional Performance: Dominate your business printing with this Brother Genuine color laser printer delivering exceptional print speeds up to 19 ppm and stunning laser-quality output that makes your documents stand out from the competition
- Advanced Connectivity: Take command of your workflow with dual-band wireless networking (2.4GHz/5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, and USB 2.0 interface, enabling multiple users to connect and print seamlessly from any device in your office
- Productivity Powerhouse: Maximize efficiency with the 50-sheet auto document feeder, 250-sheet adjustable paper tray, and automatic duplex printing, ensuring uninterrupted performance for your demanding business needs
- Smart Integration: Transform your workflow with the intuitive 3.5" color touchscreen featuring 48 customizable shortcuts and direct access to popular cloud services including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneNote for seamless document management
- Mobile Command Center: Leverage the power of mobile printing with remote access capabilities, toner level monitoring, and complete printer management directly from your mobile device through the exclusive companion app
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw
The 3301fdw scores 65 in the guide, with a listed price of $529. The sources reviewed establish those guide values and its inclusion as an all-in-one color laser candidate, but do not provide enough model-specific handling and consumables detail for a full specification comparison here. Confirm the current regional product page for its scan method, feeder, connection options, and supply requirements.
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Automatic duplex printing means the printer can print on both sides of paper without you manually turning the sheets. It does not prove the scanner can capture both sides of a two-sided original automatically. An automatic document feeder (ADF) likewise does not, by itself, establish automatic two-sided scanning. Tom’s Guide explicitly cautions buyers to distinguish these functions in its 2026 all-in-one printer guide.
Best Value
- Color, Wireless, Duplex 4-in-1: Print, scan, copy, fax.
For frequent contracts, school forms, or multi-page records, check whether duplex scanning is single-pass or requires turning and re-feeding originals. Also check whether duplex copying is supported; scanning and copying are separate functions, even when both are offered by the same multifunction printer.
Quick Recap
Choose by workload, not just the score
- For occasional one-sided jobs: A high-capacity feeder or fax may matter less than footprint, setup, and the cost of replacement toner.
- For paperwork-heavy households: Look closely at ADF capacity, automatic two-sided scanning, duplex copy, and whether fax is useful to you. A printer’s “all-in-one” label does not guarantee every one of these features.
- For a shared home office: Compare Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB against where the printer will sit and how household devices connect. Brother lists all four connection types for the MFC-L3780CDW; verify the others on their exact product pages.
- For frequent color documents: Consider replacement toner costs and yields, as well as any drum, belt, or waste-toner components. The purchase price alone does not capture ownership cost.
- For photographs: These sources do not provide standardized comparative photo-quality tests for all five models. Digital Camera World’s 2026 home-office printer guide frames laser printers as a stronger fit for faster, higher-volume text printing, while inkjets generally better serve image needs. Do not treat this shortlist as evidence that color laser is the best photo-printing choice.
What to verify before ordering
- Match the model name and region. Confirm the full SKU and generation sold in your country; similar names can refer to different market variants or revisions.
- Check both sides of document handling. Confirm automatic duplex printing, duplex scanning method, duplex copy, and ADF capacity independently.
- Review the connections and paper handling. Verify the ports and wireless features you need, plus paper capacity and supported sizes on the exact current listing.
- Price the supplies. Check replacement toner yield and cost, and whether drums, belt units, or waste-toner boxes are separate consumables for that model.
- Check live availability and price. Treat the Consumer Reports guide-listed prices above as historical reference values, not current offers.
Sources
- Consumer Reports, CR Buying Guide 2026 — comparison scores and guide-listed prices.
- Brother MFC-L3780CDW product specifications — manufacturer-rated speeds, functions, connections, and carton contents.
- Tom’s Guide, best all-in-one printers in 2026 — context on distinguishing duplex printing from duplex scanning.
- Digital Camera World, all-in-one printers for home office and hybrid working in 2026 — context on laser versus inkjet use and regional Canon naming.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
