Dell C1765nfw Pro Reviews

For a reasonably priced laser-like MFP, the Dell 1765nf provides a lot of value. While small office/home office centric, it is a useful device even for general home use. Output quality is very good. The C1765nf not only prints copies at a reasonable and useful speed, but the ADF make copying or faxing multipage documents a breeze. Two things this particular model lacks are Wi-Fi connectivity and a duplexer. The C1765nfw model provides Wi-Fi connectivity as an option to the standard USB and Ethernet, which adds about $30 to the price, but automatic duplexing is not available on either model. What to watch out for is the type of paper you’ll be using. Dell warns against using paper intended for inkjet printing, and most coated papers, like photo paper, are also a no-no.

When we first started researching this review, Dell was offering the C1765nfw on its site for $179, which we thought, considering its exceptional print, copy, and scan quality, was a fair price. That price changed to $299.99 after a day or two, though. Considering that you can buy a much more modern, feature-rich MFP, such as HP’s LaserJet Pro 200 Color MFP M276nw (which we found for as low as $349.99 at a few online outlets) for not a lot more money, we think that $300 is a bit pricey for what you get. That’s our main concern with this MFP. It can’t print or scan two-sided pages automatically, and it’s slower than most other competing models—not to mention its relatively high cost per page. Its support for cloud and mobile-device printing is limited, and the control panel is last-generation (maybe even a generation removed). Most makers of laser and laser-class printers have released newer, more feature-rich, and more robust models recently, but this Dell model rehashes much of an MFP that the company has been selling for over two years now. Our take? The C1765nfw is a workable little printer, and it delivers great print quality, but it’s too little for too much. It makes sense to us only at a greatly reduced price, so if you’re considering it, keep an eye out for a price reduction like the one we saw.

A compact LED all-in-one with faultless print and scan quality, but it isn’t the most feature-packed

A decent colour LED MFP that's spoiled by huge running costs

The C1765nfw's print engine is LED based, using light-emitting diodes rather than lasers as its light source. LED printers, though, share many of the characteristics of lasers and are considered laser class. They tend to be smaller than true lasers, however, and the C1765nfw is no exception. It measures 13.3 by 16.1 by 14.9 inches (HWD), very compact for an MFP, and it weighs 34 pounds. You may well feel comfortable sharing a desk with it, depending on the size of your desk and your space needs.

The Dell C1765nfw has good connectivity plus above average speed and picture quality but has design idiosyncrasies, lacks a few important features and toner is pricey.