Samsung SL-M2825DW Pro Reviews

Other than the Eco mode, which Samsung claims can save up to 20 percent in paper and toner costs, there isn’t anything all that special about the M2825DW. But that’s OK. Just because it doesn’t play music or make snow cones, doesn’t make it a bad printer. If you want lots of bells and whistles, you should look at multifunction printers. But if all you need are nice-looking monochrome prints, two-sided printing, reasonably fast speed, and low cost of purchase and maintenance, it doesn’t get any better than the M2825DW.

We found a lot to like about the Xpress M2825DW. Its text quality is first rate, and not just by the standards of budget lasers, either. Its two "Easy" utilities supply an excellent mix of user-controllable options for preview and printing. Its Eco simulator works and furnishes a good idea of how much you’re saving, as well as real-world tools for conserving. Its speed-test results were competitive, and the CPP, if not stellar, is certainly acceptable for a $150 printer. Perhaps most important, if you own a panoply of devices to print from, its mobile-print support is a strong plus. What’s not to like? The chassis color and shape were neutral factors at best, but the physical design could use some tweaks. A smoother-moving paper drawer that doesn't stick out the back would be our first change, along with a paper-output hopper that matches the capacity of the paper tray. We also don’t like having to separately replace toner and drum, especially on a budget printer like this one. Your view of the Xpress M2825DW will be strongly influenced by your particular needs. If space is tight, or you work a lot with PDFs, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere—perhaps to the faster, lighter Brother HL-2270dw, or the multifunction Dell B1163w. The latter is sleeker, easy to operate, and definitely slower, but with many of the same features (not to mention scanning and copying). But if you don’t mind the occasional tussle with its drawer, this printer does what it does extremely well and quickly in text mode. Throw in being able to send and print itineraries, receipts, and the like from a distance, along with all the configurability of the software, and this plain, swift printer just might be swan enough for you.