Buy the XM2701. The LX3817 drops three things that make a first machine easier, and on October 3, 2026 it was only about $9 cheaper on Amazon. The LX3817 has no automatic needle threader, no one-step buttonhole and, as its manual shows, no separate stitch length or width dials. The XM2701 has all three. It's also Amazon's top-selling sewing machine, with 5,000 bought in the past month.
Quick picks
| Buy this one | Brother XM2701 | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Only if it's clearly cheaper | Brother LX3817 | Amazon |
Side by side
| XM2701 | LX3817 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brother status (Oct 3, 2026) | Current | Current |
| Built-in stitches | 27 (63 stitch functions) | 17 |
| Buttonhole | 1 one-step, auto-size | 1 four-step |
| Needle threading | Automatic threader | Manual |
| Stitch length control | Dial, up to 4 mm | Preset by pattern (1.6 to 4 mm straight) |
| Stitch width control | Dial, up to 5 mm | Preset by pattern (zigzag 1.8, 3.3 or 5 mm) |
| Feet in the box | 6: zigzag, buttonhole, zipper, button sewing, blind stitch, narrow hemmer | 4: zigzag, buttonhole, zipper, button sewing |
| Other extras | Twin needle, extra spool pin, darning plate | Darning plate, instructional CD |
| Max speed | 800 stitches per minute | 850 stitches per minute |
| Free arm / drop-in bobbin / LED light | Yes / yes / yes | Yes / yes / yes |
| Bobbin | SA156, Class 15 type | SA156, Class 15 type |
| Amazon, Oct 3, 2026 | 5,000 bought last month; 4.6 stars, 19,262 ratings | No recent sales figure shown; 756 ratings |
Specs from Brother's product pages for the XM2701 and LX3817, plus the operation manuals and included-accessories sheets on support.brother.com, all read October 3, 2026.
This is a spec review: Brother's pages and manuals plus the Amazon listings. We didn't sew on these machines. How we research.
The three differences that matter
1. No length or width dials on the LX3817
This is the one most comparisons miss. The XM2701 manual describes two dials besides the pattern selector, one for stitch length and one for stitch width, so you can lengthen a straight stitch for topstitching or narrow a zigzag for a seam finish.
The operation manual Brother links for the LX3817 works differently. Each length is its own spot on the pattern dial. Center-needle straight stitch comes at 1.6, 1.8, 2, 3 or 4 mm, and there's one left-needle straight stitch at 2.5 mm. The zigzag comes in three fixed widths (1.8, 3.3 and 5 mm), and the satin stitch has three length positions. That covers basic seams and hems. It doesn't let you fine-tune.
2. A four-step buttonhole instead of one-step
The XM2701 sews an auto-size buttonhole in one go: put the button in the foot, pull down the buttonhole lever and sew. On the LX3817 you turn the dial through four steps by hand (one side, bar tack, the other side, bar tack), and the manual has a fine-adjustment screw for when the two sides don't match. It works. It's slower, and it's where first buttonholes go wrong.
3. Manual threading
Brother lists the LX3817's needle threading system as manual. You push thread through the needle eye yourself. The XM2701's automatic threader does it with a lever. If your eyesight or hands make threading fiddly, that alone decides it.
What's the same
Both are current Brother models with a free arm for cuffs and sleeves, a jam-resistant drop-in top bobbin and an LED-lit work area. Both use SA156 bobbins (our bobbin lookup explains the Class 15 family). Brother lists neither with a wide table, a start/stop button or needle up/down. The LX3817's 850 stitches per minute against the XM2701's 800 isn't a difference you'll notice at a beginner's pace.
What either machine will sew
Both boxes come with 90/14 needles (three on each, per the accessory sheets), and that size handles medium-weight cottons, which is what most first projects use. The XM2701 manual's fabric chart gives the rest of the picture: smaller needles for thin fabrics, a ball point needle for jersey and other knits, and 90/14 to 100/16 for thick fabrics like denim. It also warns against thread of weight 20 or lower, so neither machine is meant for heavy upholstery thread.
In practice that means hems, mending, pajamas, pillow covers, tote bags and quilt blocks are fine on either one. Stacked denim seams and canvas are slow, hand-wheel work on both. If heavy fabric is the plan, look at our heavy-duty sewing machine guide instead. Our needle size chart matches needles to fabrics in more detail.
The XM2701 has one more practical edge here. Its box includes a twin needle and a narrow hemmer foot, which make neat double-stitched hems on T-shirts and rolled hems on lightweight fabric. The LX3817 box has neither.
The machines
Brother XM2701
It costs a little more than the LX3817 and fixes every weak point listed above. The 19,262 ratings also mean a big pool of tutorials and owner answers when something goes wrong. Our full XM2701 review covers its limits too: no wide table, and a 5 mm maximum stitch width.
- Stitches27
- Buttonholeone-step
- Threaderautomatic
- Length/widthdials (4 mm / 5 mm)
- Feet6
- Statuscurrent
Why it stands out
- Automatic threader and one-step buttonhole
- Real stitch length and width dials
- Six feet, including blind stitch and narrow hemmer
Think twice if
- You want satin stitches wider than 5 mm (look at the XM3700)
Brother LX3817
A simple machine for hems, mending and straight seams, and it does those fine. The case for it is price, and on the day we checked the gap was under $10. The Amazon listing is thin (one bullet, sold as "Brother Intl") and showed no recent sales figure, so check the seller and the box contents before you order.
- Stitches17
- Buttonholefour-step
- Threadermanual
- Length/widthpreset by pattern
- Feet4
- Statuscurrent
Why it stands out
- Fewer controls to learn
- Same drop-in bobbin and free arm as the XM2701
Think twice if
- You'll sew buttonholes, since there's no one-step option
- You want to adjust stitch length freely
- Threading needles by hand bothers you
If you're thinking of stepping up instead
The XM2701 is the floor, not the ceiling. These are the next Brother models up, all current per Brother's data.
| Model | What you gain over the XM2701 | Amazon, Oct 3 |
|---|---|---|
| XM3700 | 37 stitches; 7 mm width and 5 mm length per Brother. One fewer foot (5). | 1,000 bought last month |
| GX37 | 37 stitches, 7 mm width, 6 feet | 5,184 ratings |
| CS5055 | 60 stitches, 7 one-step buttonhole styles, LCD | 1,000 bought last month |
The whole range, with discontinued models, is in our Brother sewing machine comparison chart.
Bottom line for your cart
Pay the extra few dollars for the XM2701. Only buy the LX3817 if you find it at a meaningfully lower price and you'll never sew a buttonhole. Still deciding between brands? Our best sewing machine for beginners puts the XM2701 next to Singer and Janome options.
Sources: Brother product pages for the XM2701 and LX3817; operation manuals and accessory sheets on support.brother.com (XM2701, LX3817); Amazon listings and prices checked October 3, 2026. Prices change, so the buttons show the current price on Amazon. How we research · Affiliate disclosure