MFC vs Single-Function Printers: Which Do You Need?

MFC and single-function at a glance

MFC is a name Brother uses for its all-in-one printers, and the term has become shorthand for any multifunction printer that combines printing with scanning, copying and sometimes faxing. A single-function printer does exactly one job: it places toner or ink on paper.

The decision is not about print quality, because the same print engine appears in both forms. It is about whether paper arrives on your desk from outside, and whether those documents need to travel back into a computer as files.

What an MFC adds beyond printing

An all-in-one adds a scanner, a control panel with copy buttons and, on many models, a fax modem. The copy function is the most immediate reason to buy one: set the document on the glass, press a button, and the machine prints without a computer involved. The current best all-in-one printers all include that glass.

The scanner matters more than it used to. A phone camera can photograph a page, but a scanner produces a cleaner digital file for archiving, and an automatic document feeder lets you digitize a stack of pages unattended.

• Scan to PDF, image files, email or a network folder
• Standalone copying without a computer
• Fax send and receive over a phone line, where provided
• Scan from a phone using Mopria-certified apps

Do you scan or copy at all?

If the honest answer is almost never, a single-function printer is the right choice, and the best laser printers and best inkjet printers lists separate print-only models. The scanner, glass and feeder on an MFC add bulk and cost, and they contribute nothing when they sit idle.

If you scan a handful of pages per month, the flatbed on a mainstream MFC covers the task. If you work through stacks of bills or archive family photos, look for a model with an automatic document feeder and check its scanning resolution; see the scanner resolution guide and ADF vs flatbed for scanning.

A dedicated scanner offers higher optical resolution and more advanced software, but it is a second device that demands desk space. The full trade-off is covered in all-in-one scanner vs dedicated scanner.

Fax is the remaining differentiator

Fax is the function that most cleanly separates all-in-one printers from single-function ones. Medical, legal and real estate offices still transmit signed documents over phone lines, and an MFC with a fax modem covers that role without a separate fax machine.

Even when you never connect a phone line, the same hardware enables scan-to-email and, on many models, scan-to-network-folder, which offices use every day. See fax specs explained for what the modem and memory do. If fax is a hard requirement, look for an MFC that includes it.

One footprint or two?

An MFC is taller and usually deeper than the comparable single-function model, because the scanner assembly sits on top of the print engine. Measure the desk space before you choose; the printer footprint size guide explains the dimensions that matter.

Weigh that against the alternative: a printer plus a separate flatbed scanner takes two footprints, two power cords and two cables. In a small home office where the desk is shared with a monitor, the single box usually wins.

Cost: one box or several

An MFC sits in a higher tier than the single-function printer from the same line, because you are paying for the scanner, glass, feeder and control panel. That is a features difference, not a change in printing technology: the same print engine sits underneath the scanner.

When you never scan, the lower tier of a single-function printer is the sensible buy; start with the best printers under 200. When you scan regularly, one all-in-one replaces two devices and one round of setup. Toner, drums and paper handling are shared with the single-function model, so the per-page math is the same; see printer cost per page.

Also consider the physical bulk: a single-function printer is typically lighter and easier to move or tuck into a tight corner. If you relocate your workspace often, that could tip the balance.

Connectivity is the same on both

Both types connect the same way: USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and both are discovered by phones and computers through the same standards. The Printer Working Group notes that 98% of printers sold today support the protocols behind IPP Everywhere, which lets devices find and print without vendor-specific drivers.

Mopria certification covers printing and scanning from Android, Windows and Chromebook devices, so the MFC's extra functions do not complicate setup. The printing side behaves identically to a single-function model. For the full picture, see printer connectivity options and AirPrint and Mopria.

Energy and disposal

ENERGY STAR certification for imaging equipment covers both single-function printers and multifunction devices, requiring automatic duplexing and efficient sleep modes. Certified equipment can save up to 35 percent in energy compared with conventional models. The scanner on an MFC draws power mainly while it runs, so the daily difference between the two forms is modest.

One machine instead of two also means one device to replace and recycle. The US EPA's electronics guidance covers donating or recycling used imaging equipment when the time comes. A single device also keeps a small office tidy with one power cord and one cable.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What does MFC stand for?

Multi-Function Center, Brother's own name for its all-in-one printers. The generic industry terms are multifunction printer (MFP) and all-in-one.

Is an MFC just a printer with a scanner?

Mostly, plus a control panel for standalone copying and, on many models, a fax modem. The scan and copy functions share the same glass.

Does an MFC print worse than a single-function printer?

No. The print engine and driver are shared with the single-function model in the same line, so text quality and speed are the same.

Do I need a separate fax machine if I get an MFC?

Most MFCs with a fax modem can send and receive faxes directly, so a separate machine is unnecessary for typical volumes. Check the fax specs on the model you consider.