HomeComputingPrinterBrother DCP-T426W Review: Shockingly Low Cost Per Page

Brother DCP-T426W Review: Shockingly Low Cost Per Page

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Brother DCP-T426W is a low-cost color ink tank A4 printer for homes and students. It prints up to 16/9 ipm (mono/colour), supports borderless, and includes Wi-Fi with Wireless Direct. There’s no ADF or auto-duplex, and it doesn’t support AirPrint on Apple devices.

Key specs at a glance DCP-T426W

  • Type: Color inkjet, refillable ink tank, A4, 3-in-1.
  • Engine: Piezo printhead (210 black nozzles; 70×3 colour). Memory 64 MB. Noise ~53.5 dB(A).
  • Speed: Up to 16 ipm mono / 9 ipm colour (ISO/IEC 24734); FPOT 6.5 s mono / 10.0 s colour.
  • Paper: 150-sheet tray + single-sheet manual feed; borderless up to A4.
  • Connectivity: USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct; Mopria.
  • Warranty (India): 1 year or 30,000 pages on-site. MRP ₹15,590.

What’s good in DCP-T426W

  • Very low running cost with 7,500 black and 5,000 colour quoted yields.
  • Borderless printing up to A4; compact footprint; 150-sheet tray.
  • Wi-Fi Direct and Mopria support for quick Android printing.

What’s missing in DCP-T426W

  • No automatic duplex; manual duplex only. No ADF for scanning stacks.
  • No AirPrint; iPhone/iPad need Brother iPrint&Scan app.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very low running costs
  • Borderless up to A4; compact, easy refills
  • Wi-Fi Direct and Mopria for quick Android prints

Cons

  • No auto-duplex; no ADF for stacks
  • No AirPrint; extra app needed on iOS/macOS users need drivers

Price in India and who should buy DCP-T426W

On Oct 11, 2025, we found street pricing around ₹10,799 on Flipkart against an MRP of ₹15,590. If you print a few dozen to a few hundred pages a month assignments, tickets, forms this is the sweet spot. If you need auto-duplex or an ADF for scanning stacks, step up a tier.

Mini case: A student printing ~100 pages a month will refill black roughly once every 6–7 months at OEM yields and see sub-₹0.10 mono pages (math below).

DCP-T426W: Print speed, quality, and paper handling

Brother quotes 16 ipm mono and 9 ipm colour, with first page out at 6.5 s (mono). That’s fine for home use. The tray holds 150 sheets, and the printer supports borderless printing for A4 and typical photo sizes handy for project charts or 6×4 photos. There’s no auto-duplex, so two-sided jobs take manual flips.

Connectivity and OS support

You get USB, Wi-Fi, and Wireless Direct. Android is easy via Mopria or Brother iPrint&Scan. On Apple devices, there’s no AirPrint on this model; use Brother’s app on iPhone/iPad or install Brother’s drivers on macOS. Supported OS spans Windows 7–11 and current macOS releases.

Does the DCP-T426W support AirPrint?
No. Brother’s support site states this model does not support AirPrint. Print from iPhone or iPad using the Brother iPrint&Scan app instead, or print from a Mac using Brother’s drivers. If you need native AirPrint, look at higher models like DCP-T525W.

DCP-T426W: Cost per page explained with ISO yields and MRPs

Brother quotes 7,500 pages black and 5,000 pages per colour (C/M/Y) using its methodology based on ISO/IEC 24712 test patterns (note: not ISO/IEC 24711). Official India MRPs we can cite today: BTD60BK often listed at ₹660, BT5000C/M/Y at ₹490 each.

Formula
Cost per page = Bottle price ÷ quoted yield.

Math (rounded):

  • Black mono: ₹660 ÷ 7,500 ≈ ₹0.09/page.
  • Colour composite: (₹490 ÷ 5,000) × 3 ≈ ₹0.29/page.

These are estimates. Real costs vary with coverage, paper, and maintenance cycles.

Cost-per-page table

TypeBottleMRP (₹)ISO patternYieldCost/page
BlackBTD60BK66024712-based7,500~₹0.09
Colour (C/M/Y)BT5000C/M/Y490 each24712-based5,000 each~₹0.29 (composite)

Setup and maintenance tips

  • Run a nozzle check after unboxing and whenever colours fade.
  • Print at least one colour page weekly to keep tanks flowing.
  • Keep the printer covered; avoid dusty, hot spots.
  • Use OEM inks during warranty.
  • If banding appears, do a gentle cleaning before a deep clean to save ink.
    These align with Brother’s manuals and general inkjet best practice.

Common questions

Does it have auto-duplex?
Manual duplex only; no automatic two-sided.

Is there an ADF?
No, it’s a flatbed only.

Borderless A4?
Yes, plus common photo sizes.

Wi-Fi Direct?
Yes.

AirPrint?
Not supported; use Brother’s app on iOS.

Warranty in India?
1 year or 30,000 pages on-site.

Final Verdict

If you want a cheap-to-run home printer for assignments and everyday colour, the DCP-T426W delivers. Just accept the trade-offs: manual duplex, no ADF, and no AirPrint. If you need automatic duplex/ADF or native Apple printing, consider stepping up within Brother’s T-series.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does DCP-T426W have an ADF?
No; it’s a flatbed.

What’s the quoted yield?
7,500 black, 5,000 per colour (24712-based).

Which inks does it use in Brother DCP-T426W?
BTD60BK (black), BT5000C/M/Y (colour).

Can it print borderless photos in Brother DCP-T426W?
Yes, including A4 and common photo sizes.

Supported OS in Brother DCP-T426W?
Windows 7–11, macOS 10.13+ to 26.x, Linux.

What’s the tray capacity of Brother DCP-T426W?
150 sheets plus a single-sheet manual feed slot.

Brother DCP-T426W price in India?
Often ₹10.8k–₹13k; we saw ₹10,799 on Flipkart on Oct 11, 2025.

Is Brother DCP-T426W good for students?

Yes. It’s affordable to buy and run, prints borderless A4, and supports Wi-Fi Direct. The trade-offs: no auto-duplex and no ADF, so double-sided notes and bulk scans take longer. iPhone/iPad users must use Brother’s app.

What is the real cost per page?

Using current OEM MRPs, black works out around ₹0.09 and colour about ₹0.29 per page at quoted yields. Actual costs vary with coverage and cleaning cycles.

Does it support automatic two-sided printing?

No. The DCP-T426W supports manual duplex only. If auto-duplex matters, look at higher models with “DW” suffix.

Does it work with iPhone or Mac?

It doesn’t support AirPrint. Use Brother iPrint&Scan on iOS or install Brother drivers on macOS.

Mohammad Kashif
Mohammad Kashif
Senior Technology Analyst and Writer at AdwaitX, specializing in the convergence of Mobile Silicon, Generative AI, and Consumer Hardware. Moving beyond spec sheets, his reviews rigorously test "real-world" metrics analyzing sustained battery efficiency, camera sensor behavior, and long-term software support lifecycles. Kashif’s data-driven approach helps enthusiasts and professionals distinguish between genuine innovation and marketing hype, ensuring they invest in devices that offer lasting value.

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