The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw ($299.99) is a great choice if you require a color laser printer for heavy-duty personal usage or light-duty shared use in a micro office. It has mobile printing, Ethernet and Wi-Fi network connections, and even the ability to print from a USB memory key, in addition to quick speeds and high-quality output. It’s our Editors’ Choice personal or light-duty color laser printer for a mini workplace because of this combination.
The M255dw (at Amazon) main advantage is that it outperforms the majority of its competitors in terms of speed and output quality. That’s a remarkable achievement, given that most color lasers in this price range excel in only one of those areas. When I reviewed the Brother HL-3170CDW ($899.00 at Amazon), for example, I mentioned that while the output quality was lacking, it made up for it with speed. The M252dw is not only speedier than the Brother model, but it also produces higher-quality text, graphics, and photographs.
The M255dw falls short in one area compared to other models in its price range: paper handling. It’s not difficult to find printers with a 250-sheet capacity and a single-sheet manual feed, such as the Brother HL-3170CDW.
Only a 150-sheet tray and a manual feed are available on the M252dw. Even by micro-office standards, that’s fine for most personal use, but it’s a touch low for a shared printer, which is why the M252dw is best left for light-duty shared use. The built-in duplexer, on the other hand, is a useful feature.
Features Of hp color laserjet pro m255dw
Stylish but Sturdy Construction
Almost all recent HP printers have an attractive design, and the hp color laserjet pro m255dw continues this trend. It has a clean design that exudes elegance, especially when using a white color scheme. You may add visual appeal to your desk by combining clean lines with round edges. This printer is a good space saver, measuring 9.7 inches in height by 15.4 inches wide and 16.5 inches deep. The gadget is significantly heavier than its predecessor, the LaserJet Pro M404dw, which weighs only 18.87 pounds.
At first, I assumed the hp color laserjet pro m255dw didn’t have an ADF. However, I discovered that HP cleverly hides the auto document feeder, making it appear much simpler than rival duplex printers. Another feature that appeals to me is the standing display, which appears to be modern and smart. Thanks to a 2.7-inch color graphic panel, you now have complete control.
Printing Specifications for the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
The hp color laserjet pro m255dw is a color laser printer designed to fulfill your business printing demands. Unlike AIO printers, the unit solely has print capabilities. It combines laser technology with ImageRET 3600 resolution technology to deliver breathtaking details and vibrant color. The printer can print at a resolution of up to 600 x 600 dpi, which is sufficient for office documents. The M255dw has a monthly duty cycle of 40,000 pages and a suggested monthly volume of 2,500 pages, according to HP. This printing volume is appropriate for a small to medium-sized office, while it may be too low for a heavy-duty printer.
Print Speed That Is Acceptable
Laser printers can keep up with a quick work pace because of their fast print speeds, which help you save time. This is what I expected from the M255dw until I discovered it wasn’t quite as powerful as I had hoped. The machine can print black and color pages at a speed of 22 pages per minute, which is below average for laser printers. It can also print at a rate of up to 12 pages per minute in duplex mode.
When I printed mono on A5 paper in landscape orientation, I got the best results. It could print up to 38 pages per minute, but only 21 pages per minute for both color and black and white ISO printing. The pace dropped to 5 pages per minute when I changed the position to portrait. I concluded that the M255dw is not a quick printer, yet it may be enough.
Limited Capacity, Double Tray
There are two input trays on the Color LaserJet Pro M255dw.
- The first tray holds one sheet of any type of media, while the second tray holds up to 250 sheets. This paper capacity does not particularly excite me, yet it may be suitable for some users’ daily office printing needs. A 100-sheet output tray ensures that output documents are well-handled.
- This device can print on a variety of media sizes, including A4, envelopes, and bespoke. Glossy paper, photo paper, pre-punched paper, labels, cardstock, and transparencies are just a few of the media types that this printer can handle.
Output Quality of the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw delivers high-quality output, which is more than enough to make your office document look professional and convincing. This laser printer is capable of printing book reports, invoices, and other business documents with ease. How did it function in terms of black-and-white and color printing?
The entry-level laser printer produced excellent and sharp black lettering for high legibility when I printed a black page. I noticed well-formed characters and small fonts that are easily readable. For graphics, streaking and banding were barely evident, thus I believe this output quality is enough for handling business papers.
Thanks to HP ImageRET 3600, a breakthrough technology that aids in color control for crisp, accurate, and exact color combinations, you may achieve crisp, accurate, and precise color combinations. This machine printed images with smooth, vibrant, and bright colors. Color gradients that changed seamlessly for a superb photo printing and creative endeavor were also a highlight for me.
With four-toner cartridges, you’ll have more consumable capacity.
Each color is represented by four toner cartridges in the office laserjet printer (CMYK). The four independent cartridges have more consumable capacity than ordinary cartridges, allowing the printer to print more pages.
It undoubtedly steers you to reduced print costs per page in order to reduce your office expenses.
The HP 206A LaserJet toner cartridge, which has a higher yield, is used in the M255dw. Color cartridges (composite) can print up to 1250 pages, whereas standard 206A black cartridges can print up to 1350 pages.
A 206X cartridge with higher yields and reduced running costs is also available from HP.
The 206X produces up to 3150 black yields and up to 2450 color yields.
Make sure your printer is always ready by checking the ink levels on a regular basis. It won’t be pleasant to discover an empty toner cartridge when you’re on a tight deadline. Fortunately, HP provides easy access to ink levels via the printer’s control panel. Select Supplies from the houses screen. The screen will show you the estimated remaining toner levels, allowing you to plan for a fresh replacement if necessary.
There are numerous connectivity and software options available.
The M255dw is a wireless printer that lets you connect to a variety of different devices, including a PC, a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, and more. Hi-Speed USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi are the standard connections.
It also has Wi-Fi Direct connectivity, which allows you to print directly from your smartphone or tablet. Mobile printing allows you to get the most out of your printer. Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and Mobile Apps can all be used to test the printer’s capabilities. For a more engaging printing experience, HP ePrint is also supported. When it comes to software, the package doesn’t come with a CD, so you’ll have to download it from HP’s official website.
Fortunately, the manufacturer offers a variety of software downloads, including HP Smart, which is the recommended printer driver. To increase the printer’s security, HP JetAdvantage Security Manager is now available. The Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is a beautiful printer that also has a lot of power. This laser printer is built to suit your need for high-quality office printers at a cheap cost of ownership. Having said that, the device is not without flaws. I was able to identify several favorable and negative aspects, which I have outlined below.
Pros of the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
- The construction is both compact and durable.
- The HP M255dw is a space-saving printer with a small design.
- The printer is built to last, with a sturdy design that ensures its performance.
Unlike most ADF printers, the device’s top appears to be considerably simpler. The cumbersome feeder is removed and placed within the body by the manufacturer. This printer has a nice appearance and is suitable for professional use.
Assurance of output quality
The M255dw is a laser printer that produces reliable prints. To make your business document more persuasive, it generates crisp and precise black text as well as color photographs and graphics. This is a dependable business printer that will keep your workgroups running smoothly. Fortunately, it has a large recommended volume and duty cycle to fulfill your medium-load printing needs.
Consumables with a high yield
The high-yield consumables are another feature you’ll appreciate about this printer. Because of the toner cartridge, which has a large consumable capacity for increased yield. The lower the operation cost, the more pages it can print. The M255dw is an excellent printer for any expanding company on a restricted monthly budget, as well as for frugal workgroups.
Cons of the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
Speed is below average.
The fact that this printer can only print 22 pages per minute makes it less appealing. For laser printers, the print speed is below average. It makes you wait a little longer to produce one page, slowing down your productivity. If you wish to utilize this printer, you’ll need to keep track of your time.
Paper tray capacity is limited.
The paper tray capacity of this entry-level laser printer is 250 sheets. For a home office or small workgroup, this may be sufficient. However, if you intend to expand your firm, I’m afraid the printer will be unable to meet your needs. When your printing volume increases, a low-capacity printer forces you to refill the paper every few hours.
The Final Word
For small organizations, the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is an excellent printer model. The entry-level laser printer comes with a long list of capabilities that allow you to print whenever you want. It not only has a sleek and compact design, but it also prints consistently to manage your workplace documents.
The M255dw is an excellent choice if you need a cheap office printer with low operating costs.
The modest print speed is made up for by the excellent output quality.