Comparison Lab · Ownership economics
The toner math is now complete. Here is what genuine supplies cost, what the separate Brother drum changes, and when the higher-priced printer can—or cannot—catch up.
Current evidence-based answer
At current manufacturer-direct Canadian prices, Canon starts $100 lower and its genuine high-capacity cartridge costs slightly less per page than Brother toner plus the required drum allowance. Brother does not reach a cost break-even in this verified scenario.
Choose Canon if…
Choose Brother if…
Verified genuine-supply model
Prices are Canadian dollars before tax and shipping. Published yields are standardized estimates, not guaranteed real-world output.
Canon
$149.99
Brother
$249.99
Canon
Approx. 700 pages
Brother
700 pages
Canon
Canon 071 H · $127.00
Brother
Brother TN830XL · $117.99
Canon
2,500 pages
Brother
3,000 pages
Canon
5.08¢
Brother
3.93¢
Canon
None—integrated cartridge
Brother
DR830 · $179.99
Canon
Included with each cartridge
Brother
15,000 pages
Canon
Included
Brother
1.20¢
Canon
5.08¢/page
Brother
5.13¢/page
Canon
Leads from purchase
Brother
None at these prices
Ownership-cost explorer
Canon total
Lower cost$657.99
Printer + 4 replacement cartridges
Brother total
$721.95
Printer + 4 toner · 0 replacement drums
At 10,000 pages
Canon costs $63.96 less.
This is a purchase-step model: a full cartridge or drum is charged when the published capacity is crossed, even if some capacity remains at the selected endpoint.
Evidence ledger · verified August 1, 2026
Price sensitivity
Canon 071 H at $127: 5.08¢/page. Brother TN830XL plus amortized DR830: 5.13¢/page. Canon remains less expensive at every volume.
Canon 071 H at $139.99 raises Canon to 5.60¢/page. Brother’s verified supply cost then becomes about 0.47¢/page lower, implying a smooth break-even near 21,400 pages—but cartridge timing makes actual totals uneven.
Decision boundary