Sharp AR-163 Toner Cartridges

Sharp AR-163 Printer Review

As a digital laser copier, the Sharp AR-163 is already impressive, with a very compact footprint and speeds of 16 pages per minute. Add in its printing and faxing capabilities, and the option for network printing as an upgrade, and you have a very appealing device for a small office. The 1200 dpi print quality and affordable Sharp AR-163 printer toner supplies are just icing on the cake.

The machine itself measures 18.5x23.3x21 inches, with a weight of just less than 70 pounds, even with the Sharp AR-163 toner installed. Even at such a small size, users get a 30-sheet feeder and a flatbed scanner, and the unit can handle media up to 11x17 inches in size. The paper capacity starts out a bit small, with only a 250-sheet main tray and a 100-sheet manual feed tray. Upgrades are available for up to 850 sheets total.

The small control panel is tucked into the design right in front of the unit's output tray, which could make it a bit difficult to read for some users. The copy resolution of 600 dpi might be seen as a bit of a downside, but the quality will be sharp enough for everyday documents and the print resolution can reach 1200 dpi for sharper results.

The large capacity of Sharp AR-163 toner cartridges ensures a low cost per page, and toners are easy to replace. With a yield of around 16,000 pages for each black Sharp AR-163 toner cartridge, a small office can go a long time between replacements.

The speed of the Sharp AR-163 might not be overly impressive, and its initial paper capacity is a little small. With three functions in one small package, however, and such affordable supplies, it is worth consideration for a small office that can afford to upgrade it in a few years.