The HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw presents a formidable mixture of options, efficiency, and output high quality for its $229 checklist worth. If it had a decrease working value, it might even be in rivalry for an Editors’ Alternative nod for a cheap mono laser all-in-one (AIO) printer. As it’s, relying on how a lot you print, you might be higher off with a higher-priced printer that has a decrease value per web page—the HP LaserJet Tank MFP 2604sdw being an excessive instance, due to its bulk toner. For sufficiently light-duty printing, nevertheless, the M234sdw can simply be a sensible choice. If you happen to do not want colour output, it could even be a more sensible choice than a less-expensive inkjet, which may waste a variety of your time and ink cleansing clogged nozzles when you depart it sitting unused for too lengthy.Design and Software program: A Good Mono LaserLike different cheap HP mono laser printers we have reviewed lately, together with the 2604sdw, the M234sdw is notably straightforward to arrange. And at simply 21 kilos and 11.6 by 16.5 by 21.1 inches (HWD) it could match even in places of work the place area is tight. Setup requires little past loading paper, plugging within the energy twine, and optionally plugging in a USB cable or an Ethernet cable, which I used for testing. It’s also possible to join by Wi-Fi. The toner cartridge is already contained in the printer as shipped, without having to organize it.
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Software program set up requires going to HP’s web site and following just a few on-screen directions to obtain and set up the printer driver and utilities. Along with a typical print driver and the HP Scan app, which allow you to print and scan with out being linked to the web, the software program additionally contains HP Good, which serves as a cloud-based print and scan app.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
If you happen to select to make use of HP Good, you have to set it up individually on-line by making a free account that connects to the printer. It’s also possible to set up the app on some other Home windows, macOS, Android, or iOS machine after which hook up with the printer by the HP Good cloud-based part.
Though the printer itself is proscribed to printing, scanning, and copying, HP Good provides HP’s Cell Faxing, which helps outgoing faxes solely. Cell Faxing does not depend on the printer in any method, however you have to have purchased a printer that helps HP Good to make use of it. Be aware additionally that the fax function, together with all the opposite HP Good options, is a free service. HP was contemplating turning it right into a paid subscription at one level however has dropped these plans.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
Paper dealing with for printing is appropriate for light-to-moderate-duty use in a micro or residence workplace. The 150-sheet tray can deal with as much as legal-size paper, and the printer helps computerized duplexing (two-sided printing). The tray additionally presents each entrance and prime covers that flip open, making it straightforward to refill, insert just a few sheets of a unique sort or measurement paper on prime of the stack, or swap out paper completely when wanted.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
HP provides the really useful month-to-month most as as much as 2,000 pages. If you happen to want preserving paper refills all the way down to as soon as per week, nevertheless, 600 sheets per thirty days could be the proper ceiling, or rather less than 1,200 pages for duplex printing, to account for some pages printing on just one facet of the sheet.Paper dealing with for scanning might be a deal killer if you have to scan duplex pages. The letter-size flatbed is supplemented by a 40-page computerized doc feeder (ADF) for as much as legal-size paper. Nonetheless, duplexing is proscribed to scanning one facet of every web page at a time. HP Scan will information you thru scanning one facet of a stack of pages utilizing the ADF and flipping it to scan the opposite, however then you must rearrange the pages within the scanned file your self.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
One other potential problem is working value, which is a bit larger than for many of its competitors at 3.7 cents per web page for the high-capacity cartridge (and quite a bit larger than the associated fee for the tank-based 2604sdw, however extra on that later). The drum is a part of the toner cartridge, so when evaluating with printers that provide decrease per-page toner prices however separate imaging models, as with the Canon imageClass MF264dw II, for instance, you should definitely add the per-page value for the imaging models as nicely. As we focus on intimately in The way to Save Cash on Your Subsequent Printer, the quantity to concentrate on is the overall value of possession—not the preliminary worth or working value alone.Testing the LaserJet MFP M234sdw: Sophisticated ComparisonsTo choose the M234dw’s efficiency in context, I in contrast it with the HP 2604sdw, the Canon MF264dw II, and the Brother MFC-L2820DW XL, three opponents that every provide completely different strengths.For simplex printing of our 12-page Phrase file, all 4 fashions intently matched their rated speeds for pages 2 to 12, which places the Brother printer in first place. The M234sdw and MF264dw II tied for second, with the 2604sdw in a definitive final place. For first web page out (FPO) time, nevertheless, the MF264dw II was quickest, with the opposite three tied for second, taking 3 seconds longer.
For real-world use, that interprets to the Canon printer being noticeably quicker than the opposite three printers for one- and two-page information, however not by a lot, with the others basically tied. On the full 12-page size of our Phrase check file, the Canon printer’s quick FPO time let it tie the Brother printer for first place, with the M234sdw coming in slower sufficient to note, however not sufficient to matter, and the 2604sdw slower nonetheless. If you happen to print paperwork within the vary of 40 pages or extra, nevertheless, the Brother printer’s benefit over the remaining might be much more vital, whereas the M234sdw and MF264dw II must be basically tied for second place.When printing the Phrase file in duplex, the relative speeds modified considerably, apart from the 2604sdw nonetheless being the slowest. For pages 1 and a pair of (the primary sheet out), the MF264dw II was sufficient quicker than the others, at 12 seconds, to make it noticeably quickest for brief paperwork. The MFC-L2820DW got here second at 16 seconds, and the 2 HP printers basically tied for final place at about 20 seconds. For pages after the primary sheet, the M234sdw and MF264dw II basically tied for quickest, with the Brother printer in third place. The longer the doc, the extra benefit the M234sdw and the Canon printer can have.
The relative speeds additionally modified considerably when printing the remainder of our enterprise functions suite. The MF264dw II’s first place on all the suite, which incorporates the Phrase file, is primarily because of its quick FPO time. Nonetheless, the opposite three printers all match for FPO time. Amongst these three, the M234sdw was quickest or tied for quickest for each Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF file, whereas the MFC-L2820DW got here in final or tied for final on most. If it weren’t for its quick pace for the Phrase file, it might have are available in final on the enterprise functions suite total as an alternative of third.
For photograph printing, the M234sdw averaged 14 seconds for a 4-by-6-inch photograph.Textual content high quality for the M234sdw is simply in need of prime tier for a mono laser. Excluding an italic font, which was simply readable at 5 factors, all of the fonts we check that will probably be utilized in enterprise paperwork have been simply readable at 4 factors, and it took a glance by loupe to see some minor flaws in kind in some fonts at that measurement. One of many extremely stylized fonts in our exams with heavy strokes was simply readable at 8 factors. The opposite handed that bar at 10 factors.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
Graphics are a bit decrease high quality for a mono laser than textual content total, however nonetheless adequate for many functions. Some gradients confirmed slight posterization (shading altering all of the sudden the place it ought to change steadily), and a few stable fills and gradients confirmed what appeared like a classy type of dithering that may produce a marbled impact at some grey ranges. Some graphs have been additionally darker total than they need to be and confirmed some delicate banding. Nonetheless, skinny strains held nicely, together with in our graph with a black background, and not one of the graphs misplaced any info.Images have been additionally a contact darker than they need to be and confirmed some minor dithering. Nonetheless, they held shadow element nicely and have been at the least appropriate to be used in a trifold brochure or the like.Verdict: A Good Alternative for a Mild-Obligation NicheThe key query to ask when you’re contemplating the M234sdw is whether or not you print sufficient that it may cost a little much less to purchase a dearer printer with a decrease working value. In that case, think about any of the opposite fashions talked about right here. Along with a decrease value per web page, all three provide larger paper capability, with a 250-sheet fundamental tray in every case, and when you discover them at a reduction, they could even value much less to purchase. Between them, the MF264dw II comes closest to matching the M234sdw for options, and it delivers the quickest pace for duplex printing, nevertheless it additionally has the very best working value of the three. The MFC-L2820DW has the subsequent highest working value and is the one printer talked about right here that features faxing. The 2604sdw is the slowest within the group however presents an astoundingly low 0.6-cent value per web page.That stated, if working value will not be a problem, the M234sdw is straightforward to advocate for a micro or residence workplace, thanks largely to scoring higher for textual content high quality than the Canon and Brother printers and higher than the 2604sdw for efficiency. It is also a bit smaller than the opposite three, making it a contact much less imposing sitting in your desk. The mixture could make it a sensible choice for light-duty printing in a micro or residence workplace.
Professionals
Prints, scans, and copies
150-sheet paper tray
Switching paper sorts is straightforward
40-sheet ADF for scanning at as much as authorized measurement
Automated duplex (two-sided) printing
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The Backside Line
The HP LaserJet MFP M234sdw laser printer presents stable efficiency and output high quality, however its excessive working value makes it finest suited to light-duty use even by residence workplace requirements.
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