Verdict
HP ’s LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe is a succinct and rapid multifunction full of useful small post features . It give up great prints , scan and copy , and is in the main pretty easy to use . However , it ’s not especially gimcrack for a mono MFP , and it does n’t make up for it with low running costs . As with other HP printers denote by an ‘ e ’ , it will only work with an net connection and HP ’s own consumables . That urinate it intemperate for us to urge it .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
HP ’s LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe is a reasonably well - specified optical maser multifunction peripheral ( MFP ) , designed for small and menage offices . It ’s a mono gimmick , so it can only print , replicate or receive mono faxes , but its scanner operates in full colour .
This MFP hold up both wired and wireless internet connection . you may also utilise it to print from , or run down to , any USB parkway inserted in a one-armed bandit just in front of the color touch screen . It ’s built to manage with regular use , with HP recommending a monthly print volume of up to 2,500 Sir Frederick Handley Page . It ’s tight , with a 33 pages per minute ( ppm ) speed rating .
Like all current HP printer ending with an ‘ e ’ , the 3102fdwe is an HP+ gimmick . This think it must be registered on the HP+ inspection and repair , that it wo n’t function unless it ’s connected to the internet , and that you may only utilize it with genuine HP supplies . The pressman get along with a pre - installed pitch-dark cartridge , rated for around 1,000 pages .
Design and Features
Mono laser MFPs are n’t known for their expression , but there ’s not much unseasonable with the LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe in this department . It ’s fairly squat and made from tasteful white and dark grey credit card . At the front left of the top gore , a 6.9 centimeter colour touchscreen offers direct control over copy and features such as USB prints and scan . It ’s an easy filmdom to apply , although with copies in fussy it often finger as though operation take one or two more tap than ideal .
Squatting low above the pressman ’s 150 - flat solid paper output , the image scanner is fitted with a 50 - flat solid reflex document feeder ( ADF ) . This pulls through multi - page documents , letting you telefax or copy them without shuffling composition around , but it ’s a disgrace it does n’t defend duplex ( two-fold - sided ) scanning . you’re able to also lift the ADF to use the scan platen , which is moneyed with its shaping surround – this take it much easier to retrieve originals after you ’ve scanned them .
In the printer ’s base , there ’s a in full enclosed 250 - sheet composition cassette , but there ’s no ring road or multipurpose feed . If you desire to print maneuver newspaper or special media , you ’ll need to load it in the cassette , which is a act of an incommodiousness .
This , and the lack of duplex house scanning , are probably the only slight letdowns . The printer itself does offer a duplex , which is essential to saving report and producing professional - expect report and printouts .
Like most printing machine manufacturers , HP has stopped shipping drivers with its ware , or else pointing customers at an on-line setup process . This seems more complex than necessary , with the fresh switch - on printer display a match codification which you then need to enter online . With this done , you call for to sign up for HP+ and agree to its terms before HP will let you set up your printer .
Personally , I ’m unconvinced by the pauperism for HP+ printers , which require that you sign on up for the service , record them , and agree only to use HP consumables for the sprightliness of the printer . Thereafter , the twist will only influence while it has an cyberspace link – even if you connect to it via USB .
This seems like an unnecessary complication , specially given that it ’ll render your printer useless whenever your internet connective goes down . The necessary for genuine HP supplies could have other implications for exploiter : during my examination , the 3102fdwe warn me that the ( true ) inserted supplies were n’t communicating with the printer , and it refused to publish . The content clear when I take away and reinserted the toner , but printers can be vexatious enough for exploiter without imposing extra hurdles .
as luck would have it , there is a non - HP+ alternative , the MFP 3102fdw , which is otherwise superposable . With both devices , you could choose whether to sign up for Instant Ink or buy consumables yourself .
Print Speed and Quality
In habit , this is mostly an impressive MFP . While some laser printers visit a warm - up sentence if you have n’t used them for a while , the MFP 3102fdwe spring into life to deliver a first Thomas Nelson Page in as little as nine seconds , regardless of how long it had been idle . Like other printers , its print speeds were subject on the type of job . Longer papers require a long job preparation , so the first page took 34 seconds in our 20 - page standard mental test , and the MFP 3102fdwe top out at only 7.3ppm . Switching to a different test in which we reiterate a individual page 25 time , it top out at a much more telling 27.8 ppm .
Complex graphic normally slow printers down , but our single - Thomas Nelson Page artwork test cut the preparation time , giving a dependable result of 25ppm over 20 pages . Tested with a more complex , multi - page document , this deteriorate to 16ppm – still a decent result .
The LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe has a fast scanner when working at blue resolutions worthy for archiving and copying office papers . It could catch an A4 varlet at 150 dots per column inch ( dpi ) in nine seconds , needing just 20 second gear at 300 dpi . Only at the maximum 1,200 dpi was it less telling , take a minute and 40 arcsecond to wind up scanning a 10x15 cm picture .
This MFP combines quick scanning and printing to cannonball along through photocopies . It finished a individual infectious mononucleosis copy in 16 seconds and could complete 10 single - sided pages in an impressive 37 seconds .
merrily , this nipping execution did n’t come at the price of quality . All of our psychometric test print were first-class by the banner of a mono optical maser . The text was bold and very sharp , as you ’d expect , but mono graphics and photo were surprisingly detailed and mercifully free of the striation you often get from tatty laser printers . This great quality broaden to photocopy , which were close - perfectly expose , with no result loss of detail in light or glum areas .
While HP ’s scan interface feels a little overblown , I have few complaints about this MFP ’s scan quality . Document scans were again excellent . At gamy resolution , the picture was a short more mixed . The Auto Exposure feature film be given to over - expose the lightest shades in exposure , but with it off the results were very full . However , viewed at 100 % rapid climb I could see grounds of digital processing , which could leave the result looking unmated and artificial .
Buy your own consumables , beat to the high - electrical capacity toner that lasts for 4,000 pages , and you ’ll give around 2.5p per page to print . That ’s not specially competitive for a mono printer in this class , but it ’s not horrid . instead , you could signalize up to HP ’s Instant Ink service ( which is separate from HP+ ) , and choose from toner design covering 50 - 800 varlet per month .
For inkjets and color lasers , these often puzzle out out better value , provide you print at or near the relevant monthly volume , but they work less well for a mono optical maser . At 2.25p per Thomas Nelson Page , only the £ 18 - per - month top grade offers any economy over corrupt your own toner , although it does cut down the rough-and-tumble of patronize for supplies .
Like all laser printers , the MFP 3102fdwe has comparatively high peak major power use – I measured 872 Watts while copy . This is a result of heating up the fuser , which attach the toner to the Sir Frederick Handley Page , but it ’s more distinctive to see a consumption of around 200W when print . I measured 5W of standby power use , dropping to just 1W in sleep fashion – which is where printers spend most of their fourth dimension .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
This is a solid MFP for small offices that necessitate fast prints , scans and copies . It pitch good final result across the board and is generally easy to use . It ’s also compact , and comparatively good to see at .
HP+ membership does impose some restriction , most importantly the pauperization for a permanent net connection . In addition , this is n’t a particularly brassy MFP to run , even if you sign it up for Instant Ink .
Final Thoughts
With the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe , it ’s hard to forfend the impression of an splendid multifunction , hamstrung jolly by HP ’s attempts to protect its consumables sales agreement . position that to one side , however ( or pass another £ 20 or so on the 3102fdw ) , and this MFP still seems a minuscule too expensive to buy and lead . It ’s a unspoiled compendious equipment that provide fast printing , scanning and copying , but it ’s hard to powerfully recommend it .
If you ’re set on a mono laser office MFP , I ’d commend Xerox ’s B305DN – it ’s uglier , but it ’s just as tight . It ’s also cheaper to buy , and significantly sleazy to run away . Alternatively , check out ourbest printer 2023guide for picks like theHP Smart Tank 5105orEpson EcoTank ET-3850 .
Trusted Score
How we test
Every printer we retrospect goes through a serial of uniform checks designed to judge cardinal thing include print quality , hurrying and cost .
We ’ll also compare the feature with other printers at the same price point to see if you ’re getting near note value for your money .
FAQs
The comfortable way of life is to enter the apparatus card , choose WPS , and then follow the command prompt to weight-lift the WPS button on your router . Alternatively , you’re able to pick out to manually add a connection and bring home the bacon its passkey . On LaserJets without a display , set up the HP Smart app , which will conduct you through connecting and installing drivers on your machine .
It stands for multifunction printer or multifunction peripheral machine . It fundamentally signify that the relevant model has a scanner as well as a printing machine , so it can print , scan and written matter . If there ’s a facsimile modem ( usually signify by a lowercase ‘ f ’ in the framework number ) , it ’ll fax as well .
Some can , but it calculate on the printer . The LaserJet Pro MFP 3102fdwe is ignominious only . you may bribe full - colour equivalents , but they ’re bigger and they be more .
Test Data
Full Specs
