Main trade-off
HP M235sdw
Two-sided originals require manual turning even though printing is automatic duplex.
Head-to-head
HP M235sdw vs Brother DCP-L2640DW: Brother needs fewer refills, neither duplex-scans
The short answer
Choose the DCP-L2640DW for larger scan stacks, fewer paper refills and more regular printing. The M235sdw can suit a lighter workload, but leave room for its trays to open and do not expect automatic two-sided scanning from either model.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
A forty-five-page stack fits only one feeder
A 45-sheet set of suitable one-sided originals exceeds the HP’s 40-sheet ADF but fits the Brother’s 50-sheet feeder. That is a concrete reason to prefer Brother for recurring paperwork packets.
What this is based on
45 exceeds 40 and is within 50. Both ADFs simplex.
Main trade-off
Brother DCP-L2640DW
The feeder scans one side at a time and there is no fax.
HP M235sdw
- Choose it for
- Your workload is light and scan stacks stay below 40 sheets
- Its working dimensions fit your space
- Main trade-off
- Two-sided originals require manual turning even though printing is automatic duplex.
Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Choose it for
- You scan 41 to 50 sheets in one load
- You print enough to value a 250-sheet cassette
- Main trade-off
- The feeder scans one side at a time and there is no fax.
About this comparison
Compare 40-sheet and 50-sheet scan stacks, paper reloads and the HP’s open-tray depth. Neither model automatically scans both sides.
Choose the DCP-L2640DW for larger scan stacks, fewer paper refills and more regular printing. The M235sdw can suit a lighter workload, but leave room for its trays to open and do not expect automatic two-sided scanning from either model.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Forty-five one-sided forms to scan
Only Brother accepts the whole supported stack in one load.
- HP M235sdw
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
Two hundred simplex pages without refilling
Brother main cassette holds enough paper.
- HP M235sdw
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
Printer inside a shallow shelf
Check open dimensions and access, especially HP maximum depth.
- HP M235sdw
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Depends
Archiving double-sided originals automatically
Neither has automatic duplex scanning.
- HP M235sdw
- Not suitable
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Not suitable
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
A forty-five-page stack fits only one feeder
A 45-sheet set of suitable one-sided originals exceeds the HP’s 40-sheet ADF but fits the Brother’s 50-sheet feeder. That is a concrete reason to prefer Brother for recurring paperwork packets.
How we reached this conclusion
45 exceeds 40 and is within 50. Both ADFs simplex.
The shallow HP body needs more depth when open
HP lists 12.13 inches minimum depth and 18.41 inches maximum, a 6.28-inch increase. A shelf that fits the closed printer may therefore fail when trays are in use.
How we reached this conclusion
18.41 minus 12.13 = 6.28 inches. HP maximum dimensions are not additional ventilation clearance.
Two hundred single-sided printouts cross a tray boundary
A full 250-sheet Brother cassette can supply 200 sheets. HP’s 150-sheet tray cannot do so without a reload. Printing on both sides changes the sheet count, so this example assumes simplex output.
How we reached this conclusion
Brother main tray 250 versus HP 150. Example 200 physical sheets.
Choice A
HP, M235sdw
M235sdw
A small shared office that prints and scans single-sided forms.
- Best matched use
- Your workload is light and scan stacks stay below 40 sheets
Checked facts
- Document feeder: 40 sheets, simplex
- Main paper tray: 150 sheets
- Letter print speed: Up to 28 ppm
- Recommended monthly ceiling: 2,000 pages
Choice B
Brother, DCP-L2640DW
DCP-L2640DW
A sensible starting point for printing and scanning everyday office forms.
- Best matched use
- You scan 41 to 50 sheets in one load
Checked facts
- Document feeder: 50 sheets, simplex
- Main paper tray: 250 sheets
- Letter print speed: Up to 36 ppm
- Recommended monthly ceiling: 2,500 pages
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | HP M235sdw | Brother DCP-L2640DW | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document feeder | 40 sheets, simplex | 50 sheets, simplex | A stack between 41 and 50 sheets requires splitting only on HP. |
| Main paper tray | 150 sheets | 250 sheets | Brother holds 100 more sheets in the main tray. |
| Letter print speed | Up to 28 ppm | Up to 36 ppm | Repeated larger jobs favor the Brother rate. |
| Recommended monthly ceiling | 2,000 pages | 2,500 pages | Brother provides modestly more recommended workload headroom. |
| Automatic two-sided scanning | No | No | Duplex printing does not automate reverse-side scanning. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose HP M235sdw
- Its published maximum depth is 18.41 inches, so a shelf sized only to the 12.13-inch closed depth is insufficient.
If you choose Brother DCP-L2640DW
- The one-sheet manual feed means supported special-media batches need repeated loading.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
Your regular scan packets exceed 40 sheets
Choose Brother DCP-L2640DW. Brother accepts up to 50 supported sheets.
Printing is light and the HP fits when fully open
Choose HP M235sdw. The smaller workload does not require the Brother’s extra input capacity.
Automatic two-sided scanning is essential
Choose neither. Move to a duplex-ADF model rather than treating print duplex as a substitute.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Count the work that triggers a reload
Brother’s advantage is not just a higher speed number. A larger main cassette and feeder can avoid interruptions on jobs that fall between the two capacity limits. Small five-page jobs do not see that benefit.
Check the HP in its working position
The M235sdw expands from 12.13 to 18.41 inches deep according to HP’s dimensions. Leave space for operation, cable bends and the manual’s ventilation requirements. The minimum depth is not a cabinet-fit measurement.
Both leave a two-sided scanning chore
Automatic duplex printing is useful on either model. Incoming two-sided forms still need turning. If those are the dominant workload, neither is the strongest fit even if its rated printing speed looks attractive.
Do not convert cartridge yield into a promise
The HP includes a nominal 700-page starter cartridge under standardized yield testing. Your documents may use more or less toner. A running-cost comparison needs current supply prices, actual coverage and all applicable maintenance parts.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Rated print speeds are manufacturer figures, not matched hands-on tests.
- Toner yields use standardized test documents and vary with content.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current laser printers comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP M235sdw |
|
|
|
| Brother DCP-L2640DW |
|
|
Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
HP M235sdw
Your workload is light and scan stacks stay below 40 sheets
See price & reviews on AmazonBrother DCP-L2640DW
You scan 41 to 50 sheets in one load
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.