Brother Work Smart 1360 Wireless Color vs Canon MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Wireless

Design and build quality

The Brother Work Smart 1360 is engineered as a compact all-in-one multifunction printer designed for home and home office environments. Its build focuses on productivity-focused printing features within a smaller footprint. The Canon MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Wireless utilizes a tank-based system design, which typically implies a larger physical structure to accommodate ink bottles, though specific dimensions are not provided in the data. Both units serve as physical hardware for printing, copying, and scanning tasks.

Print Speed and Performance

Performance metrics vary significantly between the two models based on the provided specifications. The Brother Work Smart 1360 is engineered to print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 9 ppm in color. These figures provide a clear benchmark for workflow efficiency. The Canon MegaTank G3270 documentation does not specify pages per minute in the provided text, making direct speed comparisons difficult. For users where throughput time is critical, the Brother model offers documented speed advantages.

Ink Efficiency and Costs

Ink efficiency is the primary differentiator for the Canon MegaTank G3270. This model includes up to 2 years of ink in the box. Users can print up to 6,000 black and white pages or 7,700 color pages using a single set of inks. Canon claims this can save up to $1,000 on ink costs compared to traditional cartridge models. The Brother Work Smart 1360 data does not specify ink yield or cartridge page capacity. Consequently, while Brother may have a lower entry price, Canon provides explicit data suggesting superior long-term ink economy.

Paper Handling Features

Paper handling capabilities differ notably between the two devices. The Brother Work Smart 1360 includes a 150-sheet paper tray, allowing for less frequent reloading during large jobs. It also features a 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), which facilitates multi-page scanning or copying without manual intervention. The Canon MegaTank G3270 is listed with single-sided printing capabilities and does not mention an ADF or specific paper tray capacity in the provided information. Users requiring automatic document feeding or higher paper capacity may find the Brother model more suitable.

Connectivity and Cloud Options

Both printers offer wireless connectivity for network integration. The Brother Work Smart 1360 provides multiple connection options, allowing users to interface via wireless network or USB. It also supports cloud app connections, enabling printing from and scanning to services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive. The Canon MegaTank G3270 supports wireless print, copy, and scan functions. While both support wireless standards, the Brother model explicitly lists USB connectivity and specific cloud integrations in the provided feature set.

Display and User Interface

User interaction is managed through onboard displays on both units. The Brother Work Smart 1360 features a 1.8-inch color display. This screen supports simple menu navigation for printer functions and cloud app access. The Canon MegaTank G3270 utilizes a 1.35-inch square LCD display. The Brother unit offers a larger screen real estate, which may assist in navigating menus and viewing status information more clearly than the smaller square display on the Canon model.

Price and Value Proposition

The upfront cost presents a clear distinction. The Brother Work Smart 1360 is priced at $109.98, making it the more affordable option initially. The Canon MegaTank G3270 is priced at $229.99, reflecting its inclusion of high-capacity ink tanks. Value assessment depends on usage volume. Low-volume users may prefer the lower initial investment of the Brother model. High-volume users might justify the higher Canon price through the stated ink savings of up to $1,000 and the inclusion of up to 2 years of ink.

Which one should you buy?

Choosing between these printers depends on specific workflow needs. The Brother Work Smart 1360 is the recommended choice for users who prioritize hardware features such as automatic duplex printing, an automatic document feeder, and faster documented print speeds at a lower upfront cost. It is well-suited for home offices requiring versatile connectivity including USB and cloud apps. The Canon MegaTank G3270 is the better option for users primarily concerned with ink costs and high page yields. If printing volume is high enough to utilize the 6,000 black and 7,700 color page yields, the long-term savings may outweigh the higher initial price and lack of documented duplex or ADF features.