Lexmark  - Lexmark MC3224adwe

Lexmark

Lexmark MC3224adwe: the entry-level 4-in-1 color laser printer

Aprox. 245€

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The Lexmark MC3224adwe is an entry-level 4-in-1 color laser printer. On paper, it seems equipped to seduce professionals, but does it really meet their expectations?

Positive points

Good print speeds.

Convenient screen and navigation.

Bad points

Very high cost per page.

Imposing template.

Our review

Presentation

The Lexmark MC3224adwe is a 4-in-1 color laser printer, which therefore performs scanner, copier and fax functions in addition to printing. Launched at around € 390, it can already be found on the Internet for less than € 200, making it one of the cheapest color laser printers on the market.


Presentation

Ergonomics

With its imposing dimensions (41.1 x 39.4 x 34.4 cm), it will be better to provide space for the Lexmark MC3224adwe. Its mass is not to be outdone with 19.4 kg on the scale. Fortunately, nothing like the control panel or the paper tray sticks out of this plastic block.

The printer has an automatic two-sided printing function and a paper tray with a capacity of 250 sheets. Manual sheet feed is also possible on the front.

For scans and copies, which it is capable of ensuring in color, the Lexmark MC3224adwe benefits from an automatic document feeder (ADF) with a capacity of 50 sheets, which the Lexmark MC3224dwe does not benefit from - also fax function - but otherwise identical in every respect.

The Lexmark MC3224adwe benefits from a fairly standard connection with USB and Ethernet. It is also possible to print wirelessly, by connecting the printer to a Wi-Fi network.

Main Menu 4 pictures

Lexmark MC3224adwe touch interface

The 2.8 "non-tilting touch screen (7.1 cm diagonal) fulfills its functions quite well and shows a pleasant reactivity for this type of product.


Ergonomics

Consumption

The power consumption of the Lexmark MC3224adwe is measured in standby with 0.9 W read. In printing, our power meter was packed with about 420 W raised once stabilized, but this high consumption is typical of laser printers.

On the noise side, the Lexmark MC3224adwe is once again in the middle with peaks raised to 55 dB at 1 m from the printer. This value is not staggering and quickly stabilizes at 50 dB in printing, but the MC3224adwe will still be heard in an open space, for example.


Consumption

Cost per page

The cost per page is one of the decisive points in the purchase of a printer, and in particular of a laser model which is intended for the most intensive uses. Unfortunately, the Lexmark MC3224adwe does not shine in this area. It is even quite the opposite since we have calculated a cost per page of 23.3 euro cents (€ 0.233) in color and 5.3 euro cents (€ 0.053) in black and white, almost the double the average of laser printers. As for the black toner supplied, it only prints 750 pages against 500 pages for the included color toners.

Each of the four toners is available in two different references. Some are part of the Lexmark Return Program (LRP) and are therefore sold for less. In exchange, the customer agrees to return the used toner free of charge to Lexmark, which is responsible for recycling it.


Cost per page

Scanner and copies

The Lexmark MC3224adwe uses a scanner with a maximum resolution of 600 x 600 pixels in black and in color. It is associated with an automatic document feeder. With the paper positioned on the scanner glass, scans require only 8 small seconds for an A4 document at 100 dpi. Copies take slightly longer with 13 seconds in black and white and 14 seconds in color. Fast, the scanner of the Lexmark MC3224adwe is also convincing by the satisfactory quality of its renderings.


Scanner and copies

Office

Office automation is one of the Lexmark MC3224adwe's key areas of expertise for laser printers. It is quite fast, with 13 pages per minute (p / m) in color and 20 p / m in black and white. In automatic duplex mode, this speed is halved at 10 p / m.

The renderings are fairly well made and their quality will be perfectly suitable for office use. However, you should not expect very faithful colors. We thus measured a delta E of 8.4, showing a fairly pronounced color drift, although in the average of laser printers. In this case, it is the fidelity of blue that sins the most.


Conclusion

If the Lexmark MC3224adwe had everything to suit the most intensive uses thanks to its good print speeds, it was not to mention its high cost per page that spoils the party. The latter, which does not fit into the final mark of the Lexmark MC3224adwe, makes investing in a Canon G7050 more interesting from 1,500 pages printed in color. Beyond that, the inkjet printer without cartridges will cost you much less thanks to its included ink and its cost per page almost 30 times lower than that of the Lexmark. What to think about giving up the advantages of a laser printer.


Specifications