Brother MFC-J6960DW vs MFC-J6940DW – What’s Changed?
Brother Australia has officially introduced the new MFC-J6960DW as the next-generation replacement for the highly successful MFC-J6940DW A3 Business Inkjet multifunction printer.
At first glance, the two printers look very similar. Both are designed for business users needing A3 print, scan, copy and fax functionality with low running costs and strong office productivity features.
However, the new MFC-J6960DW represents an important evolution in Brother’s A3 business inkjet strategy.
Quick Overview
| Feature | MFC-J6940DW | MFC-J6960DW |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | Previous Generation | New Generation |
| Main Positioning | A3 Business Inkjet | A3 Business Inkjet |
| Paper Trays | Dual Tray | Dual Tray |
| Print Speed | Up to 28ppm | Up to 31ppm |
| Duplex A3 Printing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Duplex A3 Scanning | ✔ | ✔ |
| Wireless Networking | ✔ | ✔ |
| MAXIDRIVE Engine | Gen 1 | Updated Generation |
| Target Market | SMB / Office | Modern SMB / Workgroup |
| Product Status | Entering EOL / Clearance | Current Model |
Why Did Brother Replace the MFC-J6940DW?
The MFC-J6940DW was one of Brother’s most popular A3 business inkjet printers in Australia thanks to its combination of:
- Low running costs
- A3 duplex print and scan
- Dual paper trays
- Strong reliability
- Affordable operating costs
However, business printing requirements continue to evolve.
Brother’s new-generation A3 inkjet lineup focuses more heavily on:
- Higher productivity
- Improved business positioning
- Enterprise-ready deployment
- Enhanced connectivity
- Faster print performance
- Long-term business scalability
The MFC-J6960DW is designed to continue the success of the J6940DW while modernising the platform for future office environments.
Performance Improvements
Faster Print Speeds
The new MFC-J6960DW increases print speeds to up to 31 pages per minute, compared to 28ppm on the previous-generation J6940DW.
While the difference may appear small on paper, the improvement becomes noticeable in:
- Large multi-page office documents
- High daily print environments
- Multi-user office workgroups
- Continuous business printing tasks
Improved First Page Out Time
The newer generation also improves overall responsiveness, helping offices reduce waiting time for short print jobs.
Business Positioning Has Changed
One of the biggest differences is not just hardware — it is how Brother now positions the product.
The older MFC-J6940DW was largely positioned as a general business A3 multifunction printer.
The new-generation lineup now separates products more clearly into:
- Standard business models
- Enterprise/channel models
- INKvestment ultra-high-yield models
The MFC-J6960DW now sits more clearly as the core dual-tray business workgroup model within Brother’s updated business inkjet ecosystem.
Design and User Experience
Brother has also refined the overall business-oriented design language of the new series.
Compared to the older J6940DW, the new MFC-J6960DW feels more enterprise-focused with:
- Cleaner interface design
- More modern touchscreen experience
- Improved office integration
- Updated connectivity workflows
- Enhanced wireless functionality
Running Costs and Ink System
Both printers are designed to deliver low running costs compared with many traditional colour laser printers.
Brother continues to position its business inkjet platform as an alternative to colour laser printing by offering:
- Lower power consumption
- Lower maintenance requirements
- Lower colour cost per page
- Reduced heat generation
- Quiet office operation
For many offices printing colour documents regularly, Brother business inkjet printers can offer significantly lower operating costs over time.
Should You Still Buy the MFC-J6940DW?
Yes — especially if you can still find clearance pricing.
The MFC-J6940DW remains an excellent A3 business multifunction printer with very capable specifications.
For many small businesses, schools and home offices, the real-world difference between the two generations may not justify paying a significantly higher price for the newest model.
However, if you are:
- Deploying new office infrastructure
- Planning for long-term support
- Building a multi-user environment
- Wanting the latest generation platform
- Seeking the newest Brother business ecosystem
Then the MFC-J6960DW becomes the more future-proof investment.
Final Verdict
The Brother MFC-J6960DW is not a radical redesign — and that is actually a good thing.
Brother has taken a highly successful A3 business inkjet platform and refined it for the next generation of business users.
For businesses already familiar with the MFC-J6940DW, the transition to the new MFC-J6960DW should feel very natural while offering improved productivity, stronger positioning and better long-term platform support.
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