Lexmark Z715 Ink Cartridges

Lexmark Z715 Printer Review

The Lexmark Z715 is an extremely affordable color inkjet printer for photos and light-duty printing. It is aimed at the budget-conscious home or small office user, and it has fairly fast print speeds for the price, at up to 17 pages per minute black and 10 pages per minute color. Using high-yield Lexmark Z715 ink cartridges offers the most economical printing cost, but all printer ink is expensive, which is why many opt for laser printers.

Despite its low upfront price, Lexmark Z715 ink cartridges are more costly than those of most competing models. This makes it pricier to operate on a cost per page basis, reducing its overall value. Separate photo and black Lexmark Z715 ink cartridges are required for the best quality photos and black text, adding to the cost. Some units have individual tanks for each color, like Canon CLI-221M ink, which can cost even more. The machine measures 9 inches by 19.5 inches by 11.7 inches, so it has a small enough footprint for most tight office spaces, though it tends to be a bit larger than some of the competition.

Although it is billed as a photo printer, the fact that it requires a photo cartridge to produce the best photo prints is disappointing, especially when competing models don't have this requirement. Otherwise, print quality is solid, with a maximum resolution of 4800 by 1200 dpi. The included software supports both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, and setting up the drivers and software is quick and simple. It connects via USB 2.0, and there is an optional network upgrade available, though it is pricy.

In their review of the Lexmark Z715 inkjet unit, PC World praised its low price and ease of use. They also found it simple to set up. They found its print quality disappointing, however, and mentioned that competing models offered better printer ink quality and speeds for the same price.

Overall, the Lexmark Z715 is a solid inkjet unit, but it offers little more than the basics. Buyers may want to look for a product with less expensive printer ink costs.