Brother 3550 Toner
Intellifax 3550 Toner Cartridges

Brother 3550 Printer Review

The Brother Intellifax 3550 is a very full-featured and affordable fax machine. Its upfront price is low, and Intellifax toner is very affordably-priced. Fax transmission speeds are limited to 14.4 kbps, but its reliability will likely make up for a little lack of speed.

Buyers looking for a very compact fax machine may this model a little bulky. It measures 15.1 inches by 17.8 inches by 9.9 inches, and weighs 18.8 pounds. Paper capacity is 200 sheets, so it won't need to be reloaded often except in the busiest environments. It has a number of useful fax features, such as 100 speed dial locations, 40 one-touch dial locations, automatic redial and even has a phone handset and speakerphone option for operating as a telephone. The 16-character LCD display shows just enough information to get the job done.

Toners are the biggest ongoing expense of any laser unit, so the low price of Brother 3550 toner cartridges makes a big difference in the ongoing cost of ownership. Brother 3550 toner cartridges have a capacity of 2,200 pages, though the Intellifax 3550 toner cartridge included has a capacity of only 1,000 pages, so it will need to be replaced sooner. Finding printer toner is easy, as it shares toners with other fax machines and laser printers.

Compared to other competing models, the Brother 3550 is generally less expensive than most, but some competing models offer faster transmission speeds, up to 33.6 kbps. Buyers should also consider whether it is worth spending a bit more for a true multifunction machine that can handle printing, copying and scanning in addition to faxing.

Overall, home and small office users looking for a reliable dedicated fax machine will find a lot to like with the Brother 3550. It keeps running costs low, and its numerous fax features will appeal to those who like control over incoming and outgoing faxes.