Brother MFC-L5700DN — Features, specifications, performance

Brother MFC-L5700DN — Features, specifications, performance, and business use

The Brother MFC-L5700DN is a monochrome multifunction laser designed for small- to mid-sized workgroups that need fast, reliable black-and-white printing combined with scanning, copying and faxing. It sits in Brother’s business lineup as a no-nonsense A4 office MFP that emphasizes throughput, low running costs and network manageability rather than flashy consumer extras. Below is a detailed look at its headline features, technical specifications, real-world performance, and where it fits in business environments. 

Key features (what distinguishes the MFC-L5700DN)

• High mono print speed: The unit is marketed with fast monochrome output suitable for busy offices — Brother’s literature lists speeds in the 40 ppm range for the L5700 series, giving quick first pages and steady throughput on standard office documents. 

• All-in-one capability: Print, scan, copy and fax in a single footprint, with an automatic document feeder (ADF) to speed multi-page scanning and copying tasks. 

• Robust paper handling and expandability: A typical out-of-box paper capacity of 300 sheets (250-sheet cassette + 50-sheet multipurpose tray), with options to expand via additional paper trays on some markets, making it easy to support varied office workloads. 

• Cost control: Support for high-yield toner and separate drum units reduces the cost per page and downtime for replacements — an important consideration for sustained office printing. 

• Network and management features: Built-in Ethernet (and model variations with wireless) plus standard management protocols and drivers allow IT teams to integrate the MFP into existing print fleets and monitoring tools. 

Detailed specifications (compact reference)

• Printer type: Monochrome laser multifunction (print / scan / copy / fax). 

• Print speed: Up to 40 pages per minute (model/region variations may list up to 42 ppm for closely related models; check your vendor listing). First page out in a matter of seconds. 

• Print resolution: Up to 1,200 × 1,200 dpi (engine resolution/quality modes variable by driver). 

• Scanner: Flatbed plus 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF); scan up to 24 images per minute (or higher depending on settings) and optical scan resolution up to 1,200 × 1,200 dpi (interpolated values often higher). 

• Memory / Processor: Typically shipped with sufficient RAM for office jobs (e.g., 256 MB reported in spec lists) and a modest CPU to keep throughput steady for common office tasks. 

• Paper capacity: Standard 300 sheets (250-sheet cassette + 50-sheet MP tray); expandable with optional 250-sheet trays to reach larger totals in high-demand environments. 

• Duplex: Automatic two-sided printing supported.

• Interfaces: USB 2.0 and wired Ethernet (10/100Base-T); some sibling models add Wi-Fi. 

• Duty cycle: Rated for a high monthly print volume (Brother lists large monthly duty figures for this class of device; check exact limits in your regional datasheet). 

• Consumables: Standard and high-yield toner cartridges available (high-yield replacements reduce per-page costs markedly). Drum unit separate from toner. 

(If you need an exact spec line for procurement paperwork I can extract the full technical table from Brother’s PDF/manual and format it into a one-page spec sheet.)

Performance — speed, quality, and reliability

Speed and throughput

Brother designed the MFC-L5700DN to prioritize steady office throughput. With rated speeds around 40 ppm, the device performs well for typical black-text documents, manuals, invoices and reports. The combination of a fast warm-up/first-page time and consistent ppm makes it suitable for small group printing where users expect near-instant responses for single-page jobs and reliable bulk printing for multi-page jobs. For very large daily volumes, consider higher-tier production models, but for many offices this model hits the sweet spot between speed and cost. 

Print quality

Monochrome laser engines like the L5700DN produce crisp text and solid greyscale output. At 1,200 dpi engine resolution the printer renders fine type and line art cleanly; for most business uses (contracts, forms, drafts) the output is indistinguishable from higher-end workhorse devices. Because it’s a mono laser, photo or halftone reproduction is not a priority, but document clarity and legibility are excellent. 

Scanning and ADF

The 50-sheet ADF plus flatbed makes the device flexible: you can scan single pages or batch multi-page documents without a separate scanner. Scan speeds advertised in the product literature (roughly two-dozen images per minute in typical modes) translate to efficient digitization workflows for paper records. OCR via bundled or third-party software turns scanned pages into searchable PDFs for document management. 

Reliability and maintenance

Brother’s business lineup is engineered for continuous office use: separate drum and toner units, serviceable parts, and a clear maintenance schedule make routine upkeep straightforward. Many buyers report long service life under normal office conditions. Regularly stocking replacement toner and drum units and monitoring pages printed will avoid downtime. 

Connectivity, security, and management

The L5700DN integrates via USB or Ethernet and supports standard network printing protocols. For businesses, this means easy sharing in Windows, macOS and Linux environments using Brother’s drivers or universal PCL/PS drivers. On the management side, SNMP and web management pages allow IT staff to monitor status, update firmware, and configure security settings.

Security features in this class typically include secure printing (job release/password), network protocol control and the ability to restrict access by user or group. For regulated industries, pair the MFP’s built-in controls with network monitoring and print-audit solutions. 

Software and ecosystem

Brother supplies drivers and utilities for common OSes and also supports third-party document capture and management solutions. Button-based scan presets, automated file naming and direct scan-to-network/folder features simplify routine workflows. For larger fleets, Brother’s management tools (and industry standard solutions) enable toner tracking, usage reporting and centralized configuration. 

Ideal business use cases

• Small to medium workgroups: Teams of 5–20 users that need reliable mono printing, occasional high-volume runs, and integrated scanning/faxing. 

• Finance, legal, and administration: Offices that prioritize document clarity, fast contract and form printing, and secure job release. 

• Healthcare and education departments: Where quick black-and-white printing and scanning into electronic records is commonly required (pair with secure workflows for privacy). 

• Retail or branch offices: Sites that need dependable monochrome printing with low operational overhead and easy network setup. 

Deployment tips and total cost considerations

1. Choose the right consumable mix: Using high-yield replacement toner and tracking usage reduces cost per page. Because drum and toner are separate, you avoid unnecessary drum replacements when changing toner. 

2. Plan paper handling: If you expect heavy mailroom or production printing, add optional trays to increase capacity and minimize user intervention.

3. Service plan: For mission-critical environments, consider a service contract that covers parts and labor for faster repairs and predictable budgeting. 

4. Integrate with DMS: Use the scanner’s ADF and network scanning features to feed documents directly into your document management or records system; enable OCR for searchable archives. 

Pros and cons (quick summary)

Pros:

• Fast, steady monochrome printing for busy offices. 

• All-in-one functionality with a useful ADF for document workflows. 

• Cost-efficient consumable options and separate drum/toner design. 

Cons:

• Mono only — not suitable where colour output is required. 

• USB 2.0 / wired Ethernet typical; wireless depends on the regional model (some siblings add Wi-Fi). Confirm the exact connectivity you need before buying. 

• For very high daily volumes a heavier-duty production device may be more economical. 

Conclusion

The Brother MFC-L5700DN is a pragmatic, business-focused monochrome MFP that balances speed, low running costs and multifunction capability. For offices that primarily print and manage black-and-white documentation, its combination of fast ppm, ADF scanning, expandable paper handling, and cost-saving consumable options makes it a strong contender. It isn’t designed to replace production printers in print-heavy environments nor to deliver colour output, but in its intended role—as a reliable workgroup MFP—it delivers excellent value and predictable performance. If you’d like, I can produce a one-page procurement spec sheet, a side-by-side comparison with a competing model (e.g., HP LaserJet or Lexmark equivalent), or pull the exact consumable SKUs and price estimates for your country/region.