Lexmark X746de Toner Cartridges

Lexmark X746de Printer Review

The Lexmark X746DE is a versatile multifunction color laser printer for fast-paced workgroups, and its touchscreen interface is impressive, though its tall design could be awkward in some office spaces. It can print up to 35 pages per minute, and has a darkness control to conserve Lexmark X746DE printer toner.

Lexmark decided to separate the printing and scanning sections of the device more than you would find with the average multifunction laser printer, and it ends up being a little tall. This also put the control panel lower than some users might like. The improvements over the X746 base model include automatic duplexing and the large 7-inch e-Task color touchscreen interface.

The touchscreen is a very intuitive way to control the device, however, providing large icons that are easy to tap, and even audible feedback for different operations. The machine starts out with a paper capacity of 650 pages, which includes a 100-sheet multipurpose feeder, but can be upgraded to a maximum of 4,300 sheets.

The X746DE can save users money in a number of ways. It can digitize faxes automatically rather than printing them, and redirect them to email or a file. Duplexing can save paper by printing on both sides, and there are energy saving settings as well as a Toner Darkness Control setting that reduces the amount of Lexmark X746DE toner applied to the page.

While it can extend the life of Lexmark X746DE toner cartridges, replacement toners are quite expensive, which is one of the more disappointing aspects of the device. Even with page yields of 7,000 for each color, Lexmark X746DE toner cartridges are more expensive than those of many of its competitors.

It is nice to see a manufacturer focused on saving users money, and the duplexing and energy-saving features of the X746DE should be applauded. Unfortunately, its high operating costs may nullify this advantage, making competing models a better buy.