Lexmark B3442dw Review, Pros, and Cons

Lexmark, one of the world’s leading printer manufacturers, has rolled copious laser printers to the market. Focusing on business orientation, their products are dependable to improve work productivity for offices and workgroups in various scales. And when it comes to the business printer for small workgroups, the Lexmark B3442dw is a great model to count on.

The entry-level monochrome laser printer is specifically designed for small offices and workgroups, so it is reliable to handle the low print volume. As with other Lexmark’s laser printers, the B3442dw has the ability to deliver terrific output quality for representative business documents. Full-spectrum security is one of the best features you can find in this machine.

Smart Space-Saver with Compact Construction

I don’t have much to say about the build and construction. The B3442dw appears sleek and stylish, thanks to round edges and monochromatic nuance that accentuate its modern look. I only took a few seconds before coming to the conclusion that the printer is designed with robust construction to meet your work pace. And it’s true, I found the machine didn’t rattle when doing its job.

The B3442dw is a brilliant space-saver, thanks to a small and compact design that won’t make your office look cramped. Measuring 8.7 inches by 14.5 inches by 14.3 inches and weighs 20.6 pounds, this printer can sit nicely on your desktop. The small dimensions remind me of the Lexmark MB3442adw, which has exactly the same body measurement and weight.

Behind its small size, the B3442dw is a full-featured laser printer to optimize your printing task. It comes with an integrated automatic document feeder that is embedded on the top of the device. Still on the top, you can find a 2-line APA monochrome LCD display that allows you to take full control to the device.

Lexmark B3442dw Print Functionality

This model comes with print only functionality. Being a printer with single functionality, the B3442dw can optimize its print performance to deliver the best result. Personally, I always love printers with a single capability so it can focus on the printing task.

The machine features monochrome laser printing technology that supports up to 600 x 600 dpi. It is also supported by image enhancement technology of 2400 Image Quality. For optimized print result, the printable area is set to be 0.2 inches of left, right, top, and bottom edges.

Equipped with an automatic document feeder, the B3442dw supports duplex printing. It enables you to print duplex or 2-sided documents effortlessly. No more interfering with the process and you can do other tasks for better time efficiency.

Amazing Print Speed

Do you have a pile of documents to print but don’t have much time? Then you need a reliable printer with impressive print speed. The B3442dw is a machine you can count on, thanks to its impressive print speed that helps improve your time efficiency and work productivity.

Lexmark rates this printer at 42 pages per minute for simplex and 18 sides per minute for duplex. This speed rating is so amazing that you don’t need to wait for a long time. I should say that the B3442dw is a good printer that won’t make you wait.

Lexmark B3442dw Input Capacity

Despite the printer being addressed for small offices and workgroups with low print volume, it is equipped with generous input capacity. You can take benefits from a 250-sheet input tray and 100-sheet multipurpose feeder. That means the printer is able to handle up to 350 sheets. This capacity is more than enough for everyday printing, so you don’t need to reload the paper again and again.

What makes it better? In case a 350-sheet of total capacity is not enough, feel free to make an upgrade. Lexmark offers optional paper handling that offers additional input capacity of 550 sheets, allowing the machine to handle up to 900 pages. The supported paper weight ranges from 16 pounds to 32 pounds for standard tray and up to 58 pounds for multipurpose feeder.

Additionally, Lexmark’s B3442dw is rated at 8,000 pages per month with a maximum monthly duty cycle up to 80,000 pages. This print volume is way more than acceptable for a small office and may be just right for medium scale business. And when it comes to supported media types, this machine can handle plain paper, envelopes, paper labels, and specialty media.

Lexmark B3442dw Output Quality

Well, this is the most exciting part of a review. I have a lot of things to say about this printer’s output quality but I am going to make it short and concise. The B3442dw is specifically designed as a monochrome printer, which means it doesn’t have other jobs than printing your documents. The best part of having ‘print only’ functionality is that the machine can focus on its job.

This printer is able to deliver output quality that exceeds my expectations. The characters are well-shaped and it doesn’t have any difficulties in printing characters in small size. When printing using this machine, I noticed highly legible text with sharp black color. This promising output quality is more than enough for formal business documents.

And then I tested the machine for gradients and fills. Much like the previous test, this printer delivered an amazing print result with minor streaking and slight banding. Overall, I really love the way it handles the printing tasks and offers high print quality.

Laser Cartridges and Print Cost

The B3442dw uses Black High Yield Return Program Toner Cartridge that prints up to 3,000 pages. This is the standard cartridge that comes with each product package. If you need a replacement, Lexmark provides you with an Extra High Yield cartridge that yields up to 6,000 pages. But in case your print volume is relatively low, you can also opt for cartridges that print up to 1,500 pages.

Being a laser printer, the B3442dw is equipped with an imaging unit. This model uses an imaging unit that manages to print up to 40,000 pages.

How about the print cost? Like other Lexmark laser printers, this model comes with a relatively expensive running cost. If you use the highest yield cartridge, you should spend around 2.1 cents per page. This may be a small amount of money but when you have a pile of documents to print, you will end up spending hundred or thousand dollars for the print cost.

Standard Connectivity and Security Features

The standard connectivity brought by the B3442dw includes Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi. These interface options are limited and it lacks Wi-Fi Direct, which is commonly found in modern printers. And yet, you can still enjoy Apple AirPrint and AirScan for the supported mobile connectivity.

Although it offers limited connectivity options and mobile connectivity, security features are an aspect to highlight from the B3442dw. It boasts a comprehensive approach including SNMPv3 and 802.1x Authentication to ensure the security of your information and document over the network.

Lexmark B3442dw Pros and Cons

No matter what, Lexmark’s B3442dw is not a perfect machine without drawbacks. It comes with many aspects to love, and yet it also comes with weaknesses to take into considerations. Check out the following likes and dislikes before making a purchase.

Lexmark B3442dw Pros

• Terrific print quality

First thing first. Lexmark’s B3442dw is one of few printers that deliver terrific print quality. As your office documents play a major contribution in maintaining the business, this is a machine that you can trust to handle printed files.

• Impressive print speed

If you don’t like waiting, this model is ideal for you. With the ability to print up to 42 pages per minute, you don’t need to spend time in front of the printer. This model supports time efficiency to improve your productivity in the office. With the B3442dw, even your pile of documents will be ready in a few minutes.

• Expandable input capacity

How many sheets do you use each day? As with other Lexmark printers, this model features expandable input capacity. Amazingly, you can upgrade the capacity up to 900 sheets! Whether you have low or high print volume, this is a printer you can count on.

Lexmark B3442dw Cons

• Lacks of connectivity

Among few things you will dislike about this printer is limited connectivity. I couldn’t find many options when it comes to connectivity except Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet. Don’t expect Wi-Fi Direct or NFC from this printer as you will end up being dissatisfied. So if you need a printer with myriad connectivity choices, the B3442dw is surely not for you.

• Expensive running cost

Again and again, expensive running cost becomes a drawback for this Lexmark printer. Even though there is only a few cents of difference, it will be troublesome if you print hundreds or thousands of documents. Simply multiply the number and you will get a surprising amount of money. It is not too much to say that the total running cost allows you to buy another new printer.

Conclusion

After revealing the specs, features, and things to like and dislike about the printer, I come to the conclusion that the Lexmark B3442dw is a monochrome laser printer that works well in your office. It has the ability to deliver excellent output quality. It also has many other features to upgrade your printing experiences such as expandable input capacity and high print volume.

Are you searching for a dependable business printer with flexible print volume? Then the B3442dw can be a good choice. But if you need one with various connectivity options and cheap print cost, this model might not be friendly to you.