Testing from PC Labs' Intel Core i5, Windows 10 ($1,299.99 at Amazon UK) (Opens in a new window) testbed PC, I used a similar (MS Word) text file and timed the S3845cdn at 33.3ppm duplex and 34.7ppm simplex.Īs it's almost 10ppm faster than Dell's 24ppm rating, the duplex number is higher than expected here, but I ran the documents several times to make sure. To come up with these ratings, printer makers typically use lightly formatted text documents with about 5 percent coverage on the page. The only two physical buttons are Home and Power.ĭell rates the S3845cdn at 36 pages per minute (ppm) in simplex (one-sided) mode, in either black-and-white or color, and 24ppm in duplex (double-sided) mode. Setting up security, as well as many other walk-up functions (such as making copies, and scanning to and printing from cloud sites, network sites, and USB thumb drives) are handled from a 5-inch capacitive touch screen, which comprises the entire control panel. Security features abound, including Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for data encryption, Secure Print for assigning PINs to print jobs, a secure embedded Web server, OpenManage Printer Essentials (OMPE) for fast setup and fleet monitoring, and even a lock slot on the paper drawer(s) to prevent tampering. (Opens in a new window) Read Our HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One Printer Review The 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) is single-pass, meaning it can scan both sides of a page simultaneously. If that's not enough, you can add another 550-sheet drawer ($185.99) to increase capacity to 1,250 sheets. The S3845cdn's standard paper capacity is 700 sheets, split between a 550-sheet drawer and a 150-sheet multipurpose tray. Overall, mobile device options are more than adequate. Just as Canon and a few other printer makers have done lately, Dell has instead developed its own apps, such as Dell Document Hub and Dell Open Print Driver, for mobile connectivity, among other things. The last two are peer-to-peer protocols that allow you to print from your tablet or smartphone without either it or the printer being part of a network. Mobile connectivity options include Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and Mopria, and missing are Wi-Fi Direct (except through the Wireless Card add-on) and near field communication (NFC).
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( See how we test.) To use 802.11 Wi-Fi, you'll need to buy the $59.99 Dell Wireless Card from Dell's site and plug it into the back of the printer. Out of the box, you can connect it only via Ethernet or USB cable. Getting it from the box to a sturdy table or printer stand requires two reasonably healthy people (and/or a hoist). Design and Featuresĭell's matte-black S3845cdn ($1,299.99 at Amazon UK) (Opens in a new window) measures 23.6 by 17.4 by 21.2 inches (HWD) and weighs a stout 85.8 pounds. For these reasons, the S3845cdn is strong enough overall to replace the ProXpress C3060FW as our Editors' Choice for medium-to-heavy-duty micro and small-office AIOs.
And though it has a high sticker price, if you use it in the high-volume role it's capable of filling, it may save you a lot of money. Its print speeds and output quality are comparable to those of the Editors' Choice Samsung Multifunction Printer ProXpress C3060FW ($1,299.99 at Amazon UK) (Opens in a new window), and its running costs, especially for monochrome pages, are significantly lower. The Dell Color Smart Multifunction Printer S3845cdn ($999.99) is the first color laser all-in-one printer (AIO) we've reviewed from Dell in some time.
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