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Brother DCP-T236 specifications and in-depth review

Brother DCP-T236

Manufacturer: Brother

The Brother DCP-T236 is a compact multifunction inkjet printer designed for everyday document and photo tasks in home or small office environments. It handles printing, copying, and scanning within a single unit, and its borderless printing capability allows output without white margins, which is useful for photo prints and creative documents. The printer connects wirelessly via Wi-Fi, making it accessible from multiple devices without the need for a physical cable.

On the technical side, the DCP-T236 uses an inkjet mechanism rather than laser, with a maximum print memory of 64 MB. It accommodates up to 150 sheets in its single input tray and holds up to 50 sheets in the output tray. The built-in flatbed scanner supports standard document scanning, though duplex scanning, ADF, and scan-to-PDF are not available on this model. Connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and a single USB port, with no Ethernet, Bluetooth, or NFC support. The unit weighs 6,300 g and has a volume of approximately 19,797.96 cm³, reflecting its moderately compact footprint.

Pros
  • Supports color printing, making it suitable for both document and photo output
  • Borderless printing allows edge-to-edge output without white margins
  • Built-in Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) enables wireless printing without a physical cable connection
  • The flatbed scanner provides a stable scanning surface for books, photos, and loose sheets
  • Adjustable copy density gives users control over the lightness or darkness of copied pages
  • A 150-sheet input tray reduces how often paper needs to be reloaded
Cons
  • No duplex printing means double-sided pages must be flipped and fed manually
  • Duplex scanning is not available, requiring each side of a document to be scanned separately
  • Scan-to-PDF is not supported, adding extra steps when saving scanned files in that format
  • No AirPrint, Wi-Fi Direct, or Mopria support limits wireless printing options for mobile and cross-platform users
  • The absence of an ADF makes scanning or copying multi-page documents a slower, manual process
  • No Ethernet port means the printer cannot be connected to a wired network
Who is this for?

This printer is a reasonable fit for home users or light office environments that need basic print, copy, and scan functionality without complex requirements. The flatbed scanner and color inkjet output make it practical for occasional photo prints, everyday documents, and simple copying tasks. Its Wi-Fi 4 connectivity and 150-sheet input tray suit users who want wireless access from a desktop or laptop without frequently reloading paper, and the borderless printing support adds value for those who occasionally print photos or creative materials.

Who is this NOT for?

Users with higher-volume or more demanding workflows will likely find this printer limiting. The lack of duplex printing and duplex scanning makes it inefficient for offices that regularly handle double-sided documents, while the absence of an ADF means multi-page copying or scanning requires manual page-by-page feeding. It is also a poor match for users who rely on mobile or platform-specific printing protocols such as AirPrint, Mopria, or Wi-Fi Direct, and those who need to scan directly to PDF or use OCR will need to look elsewhere for those capabilities.

General info:

printer functions Print, Copy, Scan
audible noise 55 dB
feeder tray capacity 150 sheets
output tray capacity 50
Has an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) ✕
number of input trays 1
volume 19797.96 cm³
height 148 mm
thickness 343 mm
width 390 mm
Is a flatbed scanner ✓
Has a multi-feed detection ✕
weight 6300 g

The Brother DCP-T236 handles three core functions — print, copy, and scan — within a single unit, making it a versatile choice for everyday document tasks. It features a flatbed scanner and a single input tray with a 150-sheet feeder capacity, while the output tray holds up to 50 sheets at a time. The printer does not include an automatic document feeder or ultrasonic multi-feed detection. In terms of physical dimensions, it measures 390 mm wide, 343 mm deep, and 148 mm tall, with a total volume of approximately 19,797.96 cm³ and a weight of 6,300 g. Operating noise is rated at 55 dB.

Print quality:

Can print in color ✓
Can print duplex ✕
Is a laser printer ✕
Has adjustable copy density ✓

The Brother DCP-T236 is an inkjet printer — not a laser model — capable of producing full color prints. It also supports adjustable copy density, allowing users to control the lightness or darkness of copied output. Duplex printing is not available on this unit, meaning pages must be flipped manually for double-sided output.

Scan quality:

scans documents to PDF ✕
Has an Auto Scan Mode ✕
Has a duplex scanning feature ✕

The scan capabilities of the Brother DCP-T236 are fairly basic — it does not support scan-to-PDF, meaning scanned documents cannot be saved directly in PDF format from the device. There is also no Auto Scan Mode or duplex scanning available, so both sides of a document must be scanned separately and manual intervention is required to initiate each scan.

Connectivity:

supports Wi-Fi ✓
supports AirPrint ✕
supports Wi-Fi Direct printing ✕
supports Mopria ✕
has an external memory slot ✕
Has Bluetooth ✕
supports Ethernet ✕
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
works with Alexa ✕
compatible with Google Assistant ✕
USB ports 1
has NFC ✕

The Brother DCP-T236 connects wirelessly via Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and includes a single USB port for wired connections. Beyond these two options, the printer's connectivity is limited — there is no Ethernet port, Bluetooth, NFC, or external memory slot. Wireless printing protocols such as Wi-Fi Direct, AirPrint, and Mopria are not supported, and the unit is not compatible with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant.

Features:

has borderless printing ✓
has a touch screen ✕
maximum print memory 64MB
Has a dedicated smartphone app ✕
Has an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) ✕
Has a page preview screen ✕
printer memory 64MB
Has a Skip Blank Page function ✕
Can synchronize your documents with a USB drive ✕
Has an answering machine ✕

Among its notable features, the Brother DCP-T236 supports borderless printing, allowing output without white margins along the edges. The printer is equipped with 64 MB of memory, which also serves as the maximum print memory. However, the feature set is otherwise fairly stripped back — there is no touch screen, page preview screen, or dedicated smartphone app. Optical character recognition, a skip blank page function, and USB document synchronization are all absent, and the unit does not include a fax answering machine.

Final Verdict

The Brother DCP-T236 is a straightforward inkjet multifunction unit that covers the essentials — color printing, flatbed scanning, and copying — in a compact, wirelessly connected package. Its borderless printing support and adjustable copy density add a degree of practical flexibility for home users handling everyday documents and occasional photo output. That said, the absence of duplex printing, ADF, scan-to-PDF, and broad mobile printing protocol support means it is best suited to light, low-complexity tasks rather than demanding or high-volume workflows. For users whose needs align with its capabilities, the DCP-T236 delivers a functional and uncomplicated experience; those requiring more advanced scanning or printing features will need to consider a more capable model.