Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Brother DCP-J1260W is a compact colour inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans and copies. Brother UK documents wireless and USB connectivity, a 150-sheet input tray and manual two-sided printing. For a UK buyer, the two points that decide whether it fits are its replacement ink (LC521 cartridges) and whether its manufacturer-rated speeds and manual duplexing suit your workload.
This review is built from Brother’s published specifications and supply information. It does not include independent laboratory measurements of print speed, print quality, noise or running cost, so every performance figure below is the manufacturer’s figure and is labelled that way.
What the DCP-J1260W does
The machine handles three jobs: printing, scanning and copying, in colour. Brother’s UK product page describes it as a colour inkjet device for those functions, with wireless and USB connections. Its maximum media size is A4.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBrother’s listing does not mention an automatic document feeder. Plan to scan and copy multi-page documents one sheet at a time.
#1 Best Overall
- UPC: 198828789662
- Weight: 10.450 lbs
Key specifications
| Feature | Brother UK listing | Basis of the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Device type | Colour inkjet multifunction (print, scan, copy) | Product description |
| Maximum paper size | A4 | Product page |
| Input capacity | 150 sheets | Product page |
| Output capacity | 50 sheets | Product page |
| Memory | 128 MB | Product page |
| Connectivity | Wireless and USB | Product page |
| Monochrome print speed | Up to 16 images per minute | Manufacturer figure, A4, based on ISO/IEC 24734 according to Brother’s comparison sheet |
| Colour print speed | Up to 9 images per minute | Manufacturer figure, A4, based on ISO/IEC 24734 according to Brother’s comparison sheet |
| Two-sided printing | Manual | Product page |
Brother’s product page also lists N-up, watermark, ID copy, booklet, print profiles and reverse printing among its print functions.
Print speed: what the figures mean
Brother rates the DCP-J1260W at up to 16 images per minute in monochrome and up to 9 in colour. The ISO/IEC 24734 basis is the standard Brother names in its comparison material for these ratings. Treat both numbers as ceilings measured under the manufacturer’s conditions. Real-world speed depends on document content, print settings, warm-up and whether the job is a single page or a long run. No independent test of these speeds was available for this review.
Rank #2
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
Two-sided printing is manual
The DCP-J1260W does not print duplex automatically. Brother’s UK listing names manual two-sided printing, which means the printer prints one side of the job, you turn the stack over and reload it, and then the second side is printed. The exact prompts and steps vary with your computer’s driver, so check the Online User’s Guide for your operating system before relying on this for long documents.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Paper handling and supported media
The input tray takes 150 sheets and the output tray holds 50. Brother’s listing names plain paper, inkjet paper, glossy paper and recycled paper, and says the machine supports common photo sizes. The listing does not publish a full media weight range, so check the Online User’s Guide if you plan to use card or specialist stock.
Rank #3
- AFFORDABLE ALL-IN-ONE FOR HOME AND HOME OFFICE: Print, copy, and scan on one compact wireless printer designed for everyday home office printing, schoolwork, documents, and reports. Produce beautiful prints for results that stand out.
- EASY TO USE WITH CLOUD APP CONNECTIONS: Print from and scan to popular Cloud apps(2), including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and more from the simple-to-use 1.8” color display on your printer.
- FULL-SIZE FEATURES IN A COMPACT DESIGN: This printer includes automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, a 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)(3), and a 150-sheet paper tray(3). Engineered to print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 9 ppm in color(4).
- MULTIPLE CONNECTION OPTIONS: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB.
- MOBILE PRINTING MADE EASY: Go mobile with the Brother Mobile Connect app(5) that delivers easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device. Monitor your ink usage with Page Gauge to help ensure you don’t run out(6).
For occasional photo printing, inkjet-specific or glossy paper is the supported option named by Brother. Inkjet photo paper is widely available, and it is the category to look for.
Ink: LC521 cartridges and what they cost to run
In the UK, Brother’s materials specify four separate replacement cartridges in the LC521 family. The machine does not use a single combined colour cartridge.
Rank #4
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
| Cartridge | Colour | Standard yield (Brother, ISO/IEC 24711) | Starter cartridge in the box (Brother product page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LC521 black | Black | Approximately 500 pages | 200 pages (manufacturer-stated) |
| LC521 cyan | Cyan | Approximately 500 pages | 200 pages (manufacturer-stated) |
| LC521 magenta | Magenta | Approximately 500 pages | 200 pages (manufacturer-stated) |
| LC521 yellow | Yellow | Approximately 500 pages | 200 pages (manufacturer-stated) |
The yield figures are approximate and are standardised under ISO/IEC 24711, so they are not a guarantee of what any individual buyer will print. The first installation of cartridges also draws extra ink to fill the delivery tubes, so the first cartridges may not reach the standard yield. The starter figures are the yields Brother states for the cartridges supplied in the box, not a promise for replacement cartridges.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Confirm the cartridge code for your region
Brother’s online supply specifications page for this model lists LC531 codes on a regional page, while Brother UK’s product materials specify LC521. Cartridge codes are regional, so UK readers should buy LC521 and readers in other markets should confirm the code on their own Brother supplies page before ordering. Brother’s similarly named MFC-J1260W is a separate model sold in other markets, with its own supplies, so do not use its cartridge information for this machine.
Best Value
- The OfficeJet Pro 8125e is perfect for home offices printing professional-quality color documents like business documents, reports, presentations and flyers. Print speeds up to 10 ppm color, 20 ppm black
- PERFECTLY FORMATTED PRINTS WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 225-sheet input tra
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
- 3 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK WITH HP+ ACTIVATION – Subscribe to Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out. After 3 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled.
Working out cost per page
This review does not state a verified current cartridge price, so it cannot quote a cost per page. To calculate one yourself, divide the local price of a cartridge by its yield. For example, if a black cartridge costs £20 and you use the standard approximately 500-page yield, the figure is £20 ÷ 500 = £0.04 per page for black, before tax and before any colour pages. Check current local prices, because they change, and remember that colour printing uses all three colour cartridges as well as black.
Brother EcoPro
Brother’s UK product page promotes automatic ink delivery and an EcoPro trial. The plan price, eligibility and trial length were not verified for this review, so check Brother UK directly before counting it toward running costs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Connectivity and operating systems
The machine connects by wireless network and by USB. Brother UK’s product summary lists native printing on ChromeOS, support for Windows 11, and macOS support, with AirPrint recommended from macOS 11. Brother refers readers to its support pages for the full current list of supported systems, so check that page for your exact operating system version if compatibility matters to your purchase.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Setup and documentation
Brother’s UK manuals page offers the Quick Setup Guide, the Reference Guide and the Online User’s Guide for this model at no cost. The Online User’s Guide is the most useful reference for manual duplex steps, driver settings and maintenance, and it is the document to use instead of paying for a third-party manual.
Who the DCP-J1260W suits
- Households that need printing, scanning and copying in one compact unit with wireless connection.
- Users who print mostly single-sided documents and occasional colour pages, where a 9-page-per-minute colour rating is adequate.
- Buyers who want a 150-sheet input tray and a supported path to photo and glossy paper for occasional prints.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs automatic two-sided printing for regular long documents, since this model is manual.
- Anyone who scans multi-page originals often, since no automatic document feeder is listed.
- Anyone who needs a verified low running cost. No independent cost-per-page figure is available, so compare cartridge prices yourself before buying.
|
Verdict
|
The DCP-J1260W is a straightforward home all-in-one. It makes sense if you want wireless printing, scanning and copying, you can accept manual duplexing, and you are prepared to buy LC521 cartridges, provided the UK code applies to where you live. Confirm the speeds, yields and running costs against your own use before committing, because the published figures come from Brother rather than independent testing.
Quick Recap
“
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
