Brother MFC-9970CDW Pro Reviews

A colour laser MFP with plenty of features, but it’s let down by slow colour speeds and poor quality

The MFC-9970cdw is the multifunction version of the HL-4570cdw and so it shares many of the same qualities: quick print speeds, overall good print quality, and unique features. But it can take businesses to the next level with the addition of a useful scanner, unique PC fax functionality and instant copies. The only negative I see with the MFC-9970cdw is that it is probably out of the price range for most home offices and certain small offices, which is the area the HL-4500 series was marketed towards. The $699.99 seems to be a competitive price considering that the HL-4570cdw comes in at $499.99 and offers much less, but that's only the initial cost. And while the high yield toner cartridges can bring down the cost per page over the long run, not many professionals working from home will see the benefits. The MFC-9970cdw could be a great addition to a small or medium business that is looking for a color all-in-one replacement for their old, tired devices. It offers businesses plenty of options and includes all of the standard features businesses can't live without.

Brother's MFC-9970CDW stands out from other models in its price range because it hits certain sweet spots -- speed, features, and cost per page. Although it could stand to improve in photo quality and especially scan quality, it might offer enough bells and whistles for many small offices to overlook the shortcomings.

Brother's MFC-9970CDW stands out from other models in its price range because it hits certain sweet spots—speed, features, and cost per page. Although it could stand to improve in photo quality and especially scan quality, it might offer enough bells and whistles for many small offices to overlook the shortcomings.

Solidly built, with simple and clear controls, auto-duplex capability for all four functions, exceptional black text quality and fast speeds, the Brother MFC-9970CDW is well worth considering for medium-sized offices - as long as you don't want to print too many photos.

The Brother MFC-9970CDW's output quality is a little disappointing for graphics and photos, but the color laser multifunction printer offers fast speed, high quality text, and lots of features.

While the purchase price of the MFC-9970CDW may be a little high, given the actual throughput speed we measured, there's no doubt that its feature set, print quality and print costs are well up to the mark. With duplex printing and single-pass, duplex copying, as well as extensive, single-press quick dials, secure and direct print, wireless connection and an easy-to-use, wide aspect touchscreen, it's a strong contender in any medium-sized workgroup.