Sharp AR-162S Toner Cartridges

Sharp AR-162S Printer Review

With a compact frame and simple controls, the Sharp AR-162S multifunction laser copier will appeal to buyers in tight spaces, but its speed of 16 pages per minute may disappoint. Buyers shouldn't expect a lot of paper capacity, even with upgrades, but the low cost of Sharp AR-162S printer toner makes it worth a look.

The AR-162S is ready to get started quickly, with a warm up time of only 30 seconds, and it can handle a surprisingly large workload for such a small device, with a maximum monthly duty cycle of 20,000 pages per month. The real disappointment comes from its 250-sheet paper tray, with a small 50-sheet bypass tray adding very little to its capacity. Two additional trays can be added for a total of 800 sheets, but many buyers won't like the extra cost involved.

The unit is limited to a 600 dpi resolution, which is good enough for standard office printing, but isn't as sharp as the 1200 dpi models that are available for a little more in price. The lower resolution does save money by using less Sharp AR-162S toner for each page, however, and the unit's power save mode kicks in automatically to save energy.

Speaking of toners, the replacement process is simple, and each Sharp AR-162S toner cartridge can last for around 16,000 pages, so it will also be infrequent. Shopping for Sharp AR-162S toner cartridges from third-party sellers will trim costs even lower, helping to significantly reduce the cost per page.

The Sharp AR-162S is a bit too slow and its capacity a bit too small for a busy office, but it may appeal to individuals or buyers in a micro office. Expansion options are available, but they won't make up for its general lack of speed.