Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer Review: The Home Office Workhorse That Delivers on Value

We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a crucial project for work, or your child has a school report due tomorrow morning. You hit “print,” only to be met with a blinking light and a dreaded “Low Ink” warning. The frustration is palpable. You either embark on a frantic late-night search for an open shop or pay exorbitant prices for overnight delivery of tiny, ridiculously expensive ink cartridges that seem to run dry after just a handful of pages. This cycle of high costs and low yields is the bane of the modern home office and busy family household. It’s a recurring problem that turns a tool meant for productivity into a source of constant stress and expense, making you wonder if there’s a better way to manage your printing needs without breaking the bank.

What to Consider Before Buying an All-In-One Printer

An All-In-One Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for consolidating your workspace and streamlining your workflow. By combining the functions of a printer, scanner, copier, and often a fax machine into a single, compact device, it tackles the perennial problems of limited desk space and the need for multiple, expensive peripherals. The main benefit is efficiency—both in terms of cost and physical footprint. Instead of buying, housing, and maintaining four separate machines, you have one central hub for all your document management needs, seamlessly connected to your computer, phone, and tablet. This integration is crucial for anyone looking to create a productive and uncluttered environment, whether at home or in a small office.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daily demands of a home office, a small business owner who needs versatile document handling, or a family with students who have varied printing and scanning assignments. These users require reliability, cost-effectiveness, and the flexibility to print reports, scan invoices, copy permission slips, and more. Conversely, an all-in-one might not be suitable for those with highly specialized needs. A professional photographer, for instance, would be better served by a dedicated photo printer capable of gallery-quality prints. Likewise, a large corporation with heavy daily print volumes would need a more robust, enterprise-grade laser printer. For those who print only a few pages a year, a simple, entry-level printer or even a local print service might be a more economical choice.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your intended space carefully. While all-in-one printers are designed to be compact, their footprint can still vary significantly. Consider not just the width and depth, but also the height required, especially for models with a top-loading scanner or automatic document feeder (ADF). Ensure there’s enough clearance around the device for ventilation and easy access to paper trays and ink cartridges.
• Capacity/Performance: Look beyond the initial purchase price to the long-term performance metrics. Pages per minute (PPM) indicates printing speed for both black-and-white and colour documents. Paper tray capacity (e.g., 150 sheets) determines how often you’ll need to refill it, a key factor for frequent printers. For scanning and copying, the presence and capacity of an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) is a game-changer, allowing you to process multi-page documents without feeding each sheet manually.
• Connectivity & Compatibility: In today’s wireless world, robust connectivity is non-negotiable. Wi-Fi is standard, but check for support for Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint, and cloud printing services like Google Cloud Print. Ensure the printer is compatible with all your devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones (iOS and Android), and even Chromebooks. While wireless is convenient, having a USB port for a stable, wired connection is a valuable backup.
• Ink System & Running Costs: This is arguably the most critical factor for long-term satisfaction. Some printers are cheap to buy but expensive to run due to costly, low-yield cartridges. Look for models with high-yield (XL) cartridge options or, even better, those with an ink tank system. The Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer, with its generous starter cartridges, is a prime example of a device designed to lower the total cost of ownership from day one.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer stands out in several areas, particularly regarding its balance of performance and long-term running costs. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.

While the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Compact Powerhouse Ready for Business

Unboxing the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer, our first impression was one of purpose-built efficiency. The packaging is secure and straightforward, and lifting the 8.8kg unit out of the box reveals a surprisingly compact and well-designed machine. Finished in a clean, professional white, it avoids the bulky, cumbersome aesthetic of older all-in-one devices. It feels sturdy and well-constructed, with no flimsy parts that feel prone to breaking. Its dimensions (435 x 180 x 343 mm) are modest enough to fit comfortably on a standard desk or shelf without dominating the entire workspace, a crucial consideration for any home office.

What truly set the initial experience apart, however, was what we found inside. Alongside the printer itself were four substantial ink cartridges. This isn’t your typical “starter pack” that runs out after 50 pages. Brother includes high-yield cartridges right in the box—enough for approximately 2,250 black-and-white pages and 975 pages for each colour (cyan, magenta, and yellow). This immediately signals that the printer is designed for value and productivity from the moment you plug it in. The setup process, which we’ll detail later, proved to be just as user-friendly as the unboxing, confirming our initial assessment that this printer is built for hassle-free performance.

Deep Dive: A Feature-by-Feature Performance Analysis

A printer’s true worth is revealed not on the spec sheet, but in the day-to-day grind. It’s about how easily it connects, how reliably it prints, and whether it saves you time and money over the long haul. We put the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer through its paces, focusing on the core pillars of its performance to see if it truly lives up to its promise as the ultimate home office companion.

Setup and Connectivity: From Box to First Print in Minutes

One of the biggest hurdles with any new piece of tech is the setup process. We were immediately impressed with how streamlined Brother has made this experience. As one user noted, the setup was “uncomplicated and simple” even without closely following the included quick-start guide. We can confirm this assessment. After removing the packaging tape and plugging in the power cord, the on-screen LCD guide walks you through installing the four ink cartridges. The process is foolproof; each cartridge clicks satisfyingly into its colour-coded slot. The printer then initiates a brief priming cycle, and you’re ready to connect.

Connecting to our Wi-Fi network was the next step, and it was painless. The printer’s menu system makes it easy to find available networks, and entering the password with the physical keypad, while not as fast as a touchscreen, was straightforward. Within minutes, the printer was on our network and accessible from every device in our office—PCs, a MacBook, an Android phone, and an iPad. We downloaded the Brother Mobile Connect app, which instantly recognized the printer. From the app, we could print documents and photos, initiate scans, check ink levels, and order new supplies. This level of seamless integration is exactly what you want in a modern printer. It just works. The only minor critique, echoed by another user, is the absence of a USB cable in the box. While wireless is the primary connection method for most, having a cable for troubleshooting or for those who prefer a hardwired connection would have been a welcome addition.

Print Quality and Speed: The Everyday Workhorse Test

When it comes to printing, the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer is all business. The advertised speeds of up to 20 pages per minute for black and white and 19 ppm for colour are not just marketing fluff. In our testing of multi-page text documents, the printer churned out pages at a remarkable pace, easily keeping up with the demands of a busy workflow. There was very little “warm-up” time; the first page emerged quickly, and subsequent pages followed in rapid succession. This speed is a significant advantage when you need to print a long report or a stack of invoices and can’t afford to wait.

Speed is meaningless without quality, and here too, the printer excels. Text documents are its forte. Using standard office paper, black text was consistently sharp, crisp, and highly legible, with no smudging or bleeding, even at smaller font sizes. This makes it ideal for the professional reports, school essays, and official correspondence that form the bulk of printing for its target audience. Colour printing was also impressive. Graphics in business presentations, charts, and flyers were rendered with vibrant, accurate colours and smooth gradients. While it’s not a dedicated photo printer, the occasional family photo we printed on glossy paper came out with pleasing detail and colour fidelity, certainly good enough for casual use and albums. The automatic duplex (two-sided) printing feature worked flawlessly, helping us save paper without any manual intervention—a small but significant feature for both cost savings and environmental consciousness.

Ink Efficiency and Value: The INKvestment Tank Promise

This is where the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer truly demolishes much of its competition. The “printer and ink” business model, where manufacturers sell printers at a low cost and profit from expensive proprietary cartridges, is a well-known consumer pain point. Brother flips this model on its head by including an incredible amount of ink right in the box. The starter black cartridge is rated for up to 2,250 pages, and the colour cartridges for 975 pages each. For a light-to-moderate user, this could easily last a year or more without needing a replacement. This is not a gimmick; it’s a fundamental shift in value.

This approach transforms the ownership experience. Instead of constantly worrying about ink levels and budgeting for frequent replacements, you can simply print with confidence. This was a key point of praise in user feedback, with one family noting how “ergiebig” (high-yield) the cartridges are, especially the black one, which is perfect for printing the large volume of text documents required by students and home office workers. The printer also features a “Page Gauge” on its display and in the app, which doesn’t just show you a vague bar graph of ink levels but provides an estimated number of pages remaining. This transparency allows you to plan for ink purchases well in advance, eliminating any last-minute surprises. When you do eventually need to buy more, Brother’s high-yield replacement cartridges continue to offer a competitive cost per page. If long-term running costs are a major concern, the outstanding ink value of this printer makes it a top contender.

Scanning, Copying, and All-in-One Usability

A multifunction device is only as good as its weakest function, and thankfully, the scanning and copying capabilities of the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer are just as solid as its printing. The flatbed scanner provides resolutions up to 1200 x 2400 dpi, which is more than sufficient for creating high-quality digital copies of documents, photos, and receipts. Scans were sharp, with accurate colour reproduction. The real productivity booster, however, is the 20-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). This allowed us to load a stack of papers and scan or copy the entire batch in one go, a feature that is indispensable for tasks like digitizing contracts or copying multi-page handouts.

Copying is quick and intuitive directly from the control panel. You can easily adjust settings like the number of copies, size, and quality. Copies of both black-and-white text and colour documents were faithful to the originals. The control panel itself, while not a touchscreen, is functional. The 4.5cm colour LCD is bright and clear, and the accompanying physical buttons provide tactile feedback. While some users expressed a preference for a touchscreen for easier navigation, we found the button layout logical enough after a few minutes of use. For many, the reliability and durability of physical buttons may even be preferable to a sometimes-finicky touchscreen. Fax functionality is also included, which, while a niche feature for some, remains critical for certain businesses in the medical and legal fields.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user feedback for the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer is overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing many of our own findings. Many users, particularly those setting up a home office or supporting students, highlight the incredibly straightforward setup process as a major benefit. One reviewer stated they had it “ready for use in a short time” without even needing the instructions. The combination of impressive print speed and generous, high-yield starter cartridges is a recurring theme of praise, with one user calling it “very important and advantageous” for their family’s heavy text-printing needs.

However, the feedback also provides a balanced perspective by pointing out a few minor shortcomings. The most common piece of constructive criticism is the lack of an included USB cable, which can be an inconvenience for those who prefer or need a wired connection. Another point raised is that the button-based navigation on the control panel feels slightly dated compared to modern touchscreen interfaces, requiring a bit more “pressing around” to get to the desired setting. Despite these minor critiques, the general consensus is clear: this is a “good printer for the price” that delivers exceptional value and reliable performance where it matters most.

How Does the Brother MFC-J4335DW Compare to the Alternatives?

The Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer operates in a competitive market. To help you make the most informed decision, here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives, each catering to slightly different needs.

1. Brother MFC-J4340DW A4 Colour Inkjet Printer

As a direct sibling to the model under review, the Brother MFC-J4340DW is an extremely similar machine. It often shares the same core print engine, speed, and INKvestment Tank system, meaning you get the same fantastic value from the included ink. The primary difference is typically found in the user interface; the J4340DW model often includes a larger colour touchscreen instead of the button-operated panel on the J4335DW. For users who place a high premium on the convenience of a smartphone-like interface and are willing to pay a slight premium for it, the MFC-J4340DW presents a compelling upgrade without sacrificing any of the core benefits.

2. Epson WorkForce WF-7840DTW A3+ 4-in-1 Printer

The Epson WorkForce WF-7840DTW caters to a completely different user. Its standout feature is the ability to print, scan, and copy documents up to A3+ size. This makes it an ideal choice for architects, designers, engineers, or small businesses that need to produce large-format documents like spreadsheets, blueprints, or marketing materials in-house. While it is also a feature-rich 4-in-1 device with fast print speeds and robust connectivity options including Ethernet, its larger footprint and higher price point make it overkill for standard A4 home office use. Choose the Epson if you absolutely need A3 capability; otherwise, the Brother offers better value for everyday tasks.

3. Canon PIXMA TS5350 Multifunctional Wifi Printer

The Canon PIXMA TS5350 is aimed more at the creative home user than the dedicated home office professional. It boasts a more compact, stylish design available in multiple colours, making it a better fit for a living space. Its primary strength lies in photo printing, where Canon’s FINE cartridge system often produces superior, more vibrant results on glossy photo paper. However, it typically has slower document printing speeds, a smaller paper capacity, and lacks an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and fax capabilities. If your printing is a mix of schoolwork and high-quality family photos and you value aesthetics over office features, the Canon is a great choice. For document-heavy workflows, the Brother is the more practical and efficient machine.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Brother MFC-J4335DW Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is unequivocal: the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer is a phenomenal value proposition for its target audience. It expertly addresses the most significant pain point of modern inkjet ownership—the high cost of ink—by providing a massive supply right in the box. This single feature provides peace of mind and makes the total cost of ownership incredibly low from the outset.

This printer isn’t just about cheap ink, though. It backs up its value with robust, reliable performance. Print speeds are fast, text quality is excellent, and the full suite of all-in-one features, including an ADF and automatic duplexing, ensures it can handle any task a busy home office or family can throw at it. While the lack of a touchscreen and an included USB cable are minor oversights, they do little to detract from the machine’s overall excellence. For anyone seeking a fast, efficient, and supremely cost-effective workhorse to anchor their productivity, this printer is an outstanding choice that we can wholeheartedly recommend.

If you’ve decided the Brother MFC-J4335DW 4-in-1 Inkjet Printer is the right fit for your home or office, you can check its current price and purchase it here.