HP isone of the best printing machine brandson the market , so you already know the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw has good build quality and customer support . However , we test each new model to gauge its mark performance , people of colour truth , ease of use , and long - condition note value .

I put the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw through its paces to identify any troublesome details and find out if it merit a place on our list ofthe dependable color laser printer .

Specs

Design

HP ’s Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is a succinct printer , measure 15.4 by 16.5 inches and standing 10 inches marvelous . That mean it might meet better in a small workspace than many colour optical maser printers . It ’s also idle than most , librate a little over 30 pounds .

It has a minimalist plan with a white body and dark gray accents that will help it blend in with any interior decoration . A two - inch monochrome display is adjust at a fixed 30 - degree angle on the top right . That cook it convenient for use while standing or sitting . alternatively of a touch screen , HP gave the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw push button - clitoris navigation .

The bottom composition tray holds 250 sheets and has intelligibly label guides . A single - weather sheet medium time slot offer well-off admittance for label and envelopes . It ’s not as commodious as a tray that can hold a stack of labels at once .

Simpler conception are common withlow - cost printers . Performance , quality , and supply costs are more crucial when you ’re looking for a budget solution .

Printing performance

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is fast , rolling through up to 26 pages per minute when publish long documents or multiple copies . For undivided page , I could pick up my print within 11 second . That ’s faster than the first Sir Frederick Handley Page out ( FPO ) speeds of many color laser printers that are more expensive .

Color documents bet great , with no stria in charts or block of color . school text is clear even in fine print and monochrome is sharp and sour . Pictures are unspoilt , but not as nice as the photo quality I relish whenI review HP ’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301dw . That ’s a more expensive pressman , so skilful carrying out is expected .

The Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is n’t a photo printer and shadow lack detail , but it handles the task well for a laser printer . Inkjet still beats optical maser technologywhen you require to be print pictures with photographic quality .

Software and compatibility

Setting up the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw was aboveboard , but slow . HP ’s release piloting and fare layout are surprisingly awkward . For example , the arrow buttons do n’t wrap around when determine the escort and time .

To get to 55 bit past the 60 minutes , alternatively of clicking up a few times , I had to repeatedly adjure down . Scrolling also requires contract down multiple time . A military press and hold up feature or wraparound when moving the diametric instruction should have been implemented . Wi - Fi countersign entry is time - consuming , so practice the WPS clit option if your router supports it .

After setup was complete , I print a photo and noticed an coalition issue . The magenta toner was too low on the page proportional to cyan , yellow and black , creating a three-fold - exposure effect . I checked the menu to find if there was a calibration or conjunction option to compensate the upshot . Calibration did n’t help and the print quality troubleshooting pageboy only helps with streak .

In the terminal , I had to supervene upon the magenta toner cartridge to work the problem . Luckily , I had a compatible HP 218A cartridge on hand . After the trade , the colour alinement was double-dyed . I checked on-line seller reviews and found this is n’t a common issue . However , it foreground the limited card alternative and navigation difficulties underlying to the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw .

In day-after-day use , the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is quick and reliable when printing from my Windows PC and MacBook . The HP Smart mobile app supports iOS and Android , but I discover in advance options open in a web browser that required inscribe a PIN codification from inside the printer ’s front venire .

Price

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw leaning for $ 339 . I have seen it as low as $ 259 , which is a more intriguing fling . As a fast , in the main reliable colour laser printer , those are reasonable purchase toll . The greater headache could be long - term cost of toner .

The starter cartridges let in with the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw are a bit light , containing enough toner for about 600 fatal and 500 color pages . For comparison , Brother ’s $ 300 HL - L3280CDW includes much more toner , enough for 1,000 black and 1,000 color pages .

When it ’s metre to refill toner for the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw , high - electrical capacity cartridges offer significant delivery in long - term costs .

A standard black ink magazine typically yield 1,300 pages and has a price of approximately 5 cents per page . A high - capacity cartridge is deserving the extra disbursal if your budget allows , since it can produce up to 3,200 pages , trim the cost per Sir Frederick Handley Page to 3 penny .

For colour documents , the preservation are even more meaning . A standard color cartridge can print 1,200 pages at a price per varlet of 20 cent , while a high - yield toner cartridge can stretch to about 2,500 Page at 14 cent per Thomas Nelson Page .

Is this the printer for you?

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is a fast color laser pressman with good quality for a low - price home billet printer , but there are in effect choice . HP ’s awesomeColor LaserJet Pro 4201dw can be find for as scummy $ 399 , just $ 60 more than the retail terms of the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw .

Canon ’s imageClass MF654cdw includes an robotic written document feederso you’re able to scan , imitate , and photographic print — and it cost less . Brother ’s 31 page - per - minute hectolitre - L3295CDWships with enough toner for 2,300 monochrome and 1,200 colouring material page and retails at $ 370 , just $ 30 more than the Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw .

It ’s not that HP ’s Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is a tough printer , but the bunglesome drug user interface and middling expensive price for a budget printer fall short of a model I can recommend .

We have aguide to the good cheap printersthat might help you find what you ’re looking for . Also , check outour listing of the best printer dealsto save more on a great pressman .