Multifunctional devices - a short review of six models

Modest equipment

Printers as such practically extinct, their place was taken by versatile multifunctional devices.In budget models, we cannot count on very rich equipment: for connectivity with a computer or smartphone, Wi-Fi and a USB socket, Bluetooth module or a second USB socket for connecting a USB memory or a digital camera in this price class must not yet be expected.To scan or copy, we need to put each card separately - automatic pulling of the sheets is provided only by clearly more expensive devices.

Dwa gniazda muszą wystarczyć: zasilanie i USB. Do tego dochodzi łączność bezprzewodowa przez Wi-Fi

Manufacturers even save on a paper feeder: a simple tray at the back must be enough, in which the paper is covered with dust if the printer is not used for a long time.Only Canon Pixma TS5350 and HP Envy 6020 have a closed feeder at the bottom, which houses 100 A4 sheets without exposure to dust.In other printers, the paper should be removed from the printer, when it is unused for a long time, because dust particles could disturb the work of printing nozzles and paper pulling system.

Another non-obvious aspect: the display with the printer menu settings only offer Canon Pixma TS5350 and Epson Expression Home XP-3100, which is not a special nuisance in the case of working with a computer, but it bothers if we only need to quickly copy something: without display the menu cannot be displayed, for exampleChange the size of the copy and this one leaves the printer on a scale in size of the original.Canon Pixma TS5350 and Epson Expression Home XP-3100 can also reduce a copy without PC even four times or enlarge it.

Wyświetlacz jak w Canonie Pixma TS5350 ułatwia obsługę

If we need a fax, then we need to buy an older multifunctional device, all six tested models do not have this functionality.Today, however, hardly anyone uses fax.

Brak wyświetlacza jak w XP-2100? Wtedy kopiowanie bez peceta uda się tylko bez zmiany rozmiaru

A large selection of models

Six tested printers are available in various variants, Canon has three (Pixma TS3450: black, white, black and white) or four colors (Pixma TS5350: black, white, pink, light green).Epson and HP offer models

With a very similar designation, for example Expression XP-3105 or HP Envy 6030, which are available for purchase in hypermarkets at a lower price and more modestly equipped.Before buying, check thoroughly whether the level of equipment is sufficient.

They cost little, they print well ...

The most important criterion for assessing the printer is the quality of the print.If someone bothers himself and instead of a quick email sends a letter, he rightly expects the text printed on paper to have excellent sharpness.The best work is done here by Canon and Epson models, printouts from both HP printers do not achieve this level of focus.Also in the photographic printing criterion of the Canon device they are the mountain in both the visual test and in laboratory measurements.Both HP models do not keep their pace in terms of sharpness, and Epson, printing photos, exaggerate with contrast.In addition, the Expression XP-3100 scored a slip-up in the measurement of color fidelity, falling out in this criterion the worst in the test.This is a serious disadvantage especially for photographers who want to see the same colors as on the monitor on prints.

... and they scan very well

Inexpensive multifunctional devices also convince during scanning: all tested devices obtained a very good rating in this category, but with the result of 4.5 the weakest was HP Deskjet 2720. The best in scanning were EPSON XPRESSION Home XP-2100, Canon Pixma TS3450 and HP Envy 6020.Built -in scanners are generally prepared for larger formats (A4 or similar) and therefore do not have particularly high resolutions.Only the Expression XP-2100 with the result of 1149 PPI (pixels on inch) reached more than 1000 ppi, the second highest resolution of 726 PPI had Expression XP-3100.

For larger formats, much lower resolutions such as in Canon and HP models (484 to 543 PPI) are usually sufficient.In the case of photos, a smartphone with a special scanning application is an alternative to a hardware scanner.

Scanning in the application

Photomyne

He scans photos, improves them and automatically cut them.If we use a lot, we need a subscription.

Adobe Scan

Application intended for scanning documents.Free basic functions, export to PDF only in subscription.

Filmbox

The application of the same company as Photomyne, but for negatives, intensive use requires subscription.

Inexpensive devices are not in a hurry

The main difference in relation to more expensive multifunction devices is the printing pace, tested devices do not like rush.In the case of text prints, this is not of special significance, the black and white text of the text lands on the tray in five seconds, with time eight seconds only both HP models were slower.You can also quickly print longer texts: a printout of six pages took printers from 35 to 41 seconds.

In the case of a color printing, it is a little different: here Canon and Epson printers clearly distance both HP models (see frame below).The HP printing controller, which in the world used by Komputer Świat in the test of maximum print quality, works extremely slowly.The difference is particularly large in the case of pages with colorful graphics: here both Epson devices needed less than a minute.When printing on Deskjet 2720 and ENVY 6020, the user had to wait for the result for up to 14 minutes.

Jeśli ma być kolorowo, to Epson drukuje drogo, a HP powoli. Modele Canona pracują tanio i szybko

Lots of noise when printing

In the home office it is very troublesome: all six printers make a lot of noise.Even the quietest printer, Expression XP-2100, makes noise at 11.5 Sona.The loudest was HP Envy with a result of 14.2 Sona, because of this the printers should be as far as possible from the workplace.It is best to configure such a USB printer and then use it via Wi-Fi.

Before configuring, users should check in the instructions whether the software must be installed before connecting the printer.If the manufacturer predicts, then users should stick to this order, otherwise it may happen that Windows will recognize the device and install their own controller, which, in comparison with the manufacturer's driver, can sometimes offer fewer functions.Quite without a controller, printing and scanning are done using a smartphone or tablet via AirPrint or Mopria.

AirPrint is used by iPhones and iPad users, Mopria allows you to control multifunctional devices also to users of Android devices.All six candidates support both these technologies.Those willing can install the device manufacturer's manufacturer application on a smartphone or tablet - these usually offer even more functions and are easier to use.When scanning, multifunctional devices make much less noise than when printing - no wonder, because for this purpose the device must only move the scanning line under the glass on a glass counter.If we scan a lot, we should keep in mind the farther scanning as much as possible.The most quiet does the Expression XP-3100-with 3.5 Sona volume is over 2 Sony quieter than the most famous Deskjet 2720 in this criterion.

Niebieskie podświetlenie w HP Envy 6020 to kwestia gustu, ale podajnik na papier jest praktyczny: mieści do 100 arkuszy, dobrze chroniąc je przed kurzem, a drukarka zajmuje mniej miejsca. HP mieści się również w skromnym budżecie

Printing can be expensive

The calculation of multi -functional devices manufacturers is that they earn little on the device, but quite a lot on ink, especially for color printing.Expensive black and white prints have gone to the past: costs for ink range from 12.5 grosze (Canon Pixma TS5350) to 20.4 grosze (HP Deskjet 2720), to this you only need to add paper.Colorful pages and photos are much more expensive.Both Canon models are also the cheapest here, one page in color costs in both 35 groszy.You have to pay from 78 groszy (Deskjet 2720) to PLN (Expression XP-3100).

In the case of printing photos, the differences are even larger: a photo in standard format costs 73 grosze in Pixma TS5350, and in Pixma TS3450 82 grosze.In both HP models you have to pay 1.19 zlotys (Deskjet 2720) and 1.26 zlotys (ENVY 6020).The most expensive are both Epson printers with a price of about PLN 5 per photo.

HP printing costs can be reduced by subscribing to ink, which costs from 4.99 zlotys a month.When deciding on such a solution, we should start with a not very high subscription, because the conclusion of a higher subscription is possible immediately, while switching to a lower subscription is only possible with the next settlement month.This solution is convenient, because new cartridges are regularly delivered to the house, generally a lot before the old ones are exhausted.In this way, the user will never stay without ink with the printer.For the system to work effectively, the printer requires internet access.The user must also create an account for each printer that allows you to track consumption.Epson also offers a subscription model, but unfortunately does not provide such a service in Poland.Canon does not offer a subscription to ink at all and does not plan such a delivery model in the future.

It is good if the printer and cartridges are inexpensive, but on one item users should not save: devices must be constantly connected to the power supply.By pulling out the plug, we risk that the next time you will need to rinse the head, which in the long run may be a lot of burden the budget by rapidly exhausting the cartridges.Fortunately, energy consumption in stand-by mode is moderate-the most economical are HP printers with energy costs just over PLN 10 a year.

Ink: cheaper in subscription?

HP (Instantink) also offers ink subscriptions: here the user pays a monthly lump sum, receiving a permanent number of pages for it.If we print more, we will pay 4.99 zlotys for each starting ten pages.Unused pages can be saved - up to three times a monthly subscription.The subscription pays off to users printing many in color, because the pages are settled regardless of the content.Printing texts in black is not cheaper.

Koszt na miesiąc	Stron na miesiąc	Koszt za stronę
4,99 zł	15 stron	33 grosze
15,99 zł	50 stron	32 grosze
25,99 zł	100 stron	26 groszy
61,99 zł	300 stron	21 groszy
129,99 zł	700 stron	19 groszy

Summary

Dublite victory for Canon: Pixma TS5350 (PLN 400) wins thanks to the right proportions of quality, speed and good equipment.Pixma TS3450 (PLN 370) has fewer tools and for this reason he must settle for a second place, but it wins in the category of price -quality relationship.In Epson printers (places 3 and 4), color loyalty could be higher and the print costs lower.HP models close the test table - in the occupation of higher places, the low pace of color print has been disturbed.

Below you can check the current offers for the tested devices:

You can find more tests and guides in the latest numbers of Komputer Świat and the Nendarious: