Brother HL-5470DW review
A solid choice for a small business or workgroup, but Samsung's cheaper ML-3710ND performs just as well
Specifications
mono laser, 38ppm print speed, USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless, 245x371x384mm
In use the HL-5470DW is comfortably as fast as Brother says it is. While it recorded just under 30ppm on our text test, which includes the time taken to prepare the print job, once it started printing it actually reached 39.5ppm. It was a similar story with our mixed graphics test, the complexity of which caused only one tiny mid-job hesitation. In contrast, we were slightly disappointed by the printer’s leisurely 14-second time to first page, although this did remain constant whether it was warm from a previous job or stone cold after a couple of hours’ sleep. It was also slow to print photos at the maximum 1,200 dots-per-inch resolution, but at the default 600dpi they were produced much more quickly.
Brother’s print driver is clear and easy to use
We’ve no complaints about this printer’s excellent black text quality, but it’s not the best mono laser for business graphics or photos. Even at its top resolution, graphics exhibited some fine banding and comparatively crude half-toning in which there were visible patterns. The printer’s paper-handling is good, however: both paper trays clearly indicate the correct alignment, and envelopes were printed perfectly. Overall this is a good printer, but the Samsung ML-3710ND is at least its equal. Samsung’s printer is also cheaper to buy and run, so it remains our choice in this class.
Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Rating | *** |
| Maximum native print resolution | 1,200dpi |
| Maximum enhanced print resolution | 1,200dpi |
Quoted Speeds | |
| Quoted speed, mono A4 | 38ppm |
| Quoted warm-up time | 5s |
| Quoted time to first page, mono | 9s |
Tested Speeds | |
| Mono page from sleep time 1.0 | 14s |
| Letter, time to first page 1.0 | 14s |
| 25-page mono document – total time | 0:0:51 |
| Time for 24 pages mixed greyscale 1.0 | 53s |
| Time for two greyscale 10x8in photos 1.1 | 27s |
| Time for six greyscale 6x4in photos 1.0 | 43s |
Physical and Environmental | |
| Standard printer interfaces | USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless |
| Optional printer interfaces | none |
| Size | 245x371x384mm |
| Weight | 10.5kg |
| Noise (in normal use) | 59dB(A) |
| Duty cycle | 50,000 pages |
Paper Handling | |
| Maximum paper size | A4/legal |
| Maximum paper weight | 163gsm |
| Standard paper inputs | 2 |
| Standard paper input capacity | 300 |
| Maximum paper inputs | 3 |
| Maximum paper input capacity | 800 |
| Output tray capacity | 150 sheets |
| Duplex (code, cost if option) | Yes |
General | |
| Printer technology | mono laser |
| Language(s) | PCL 6, BR-Script 3, IBM Proprinter XL, Epson FX-850 |
| Supported operating systems | Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.5.8, Linux CUPS/LPD/LPRng |
| Standard printer memory | 128MB |
| Maximum printer memory | 384MB |
| Other laser features and options | none |
Buying Information | |
| Price | £261 |
| Price of 2nd paper cassette | £109 |
| Capacity of supplied black toner | 3,000 pages |
| Capacity of supplied drum(s) | 30,000 pages |
| Estimated mono TCO – three years light | £356.88 |
| Estimated mono TCO – three years medium | £452.51 |
| Estimated mono TCO – three years heavy | £1442.89 |
| Warranty | one year RTB |
| Supplier | http://www.lambda-tek.com |
| Details | www.brother.co.uk |
Tested Print Speeds | |
| Time for two greyscale 10x8in photos 1.1 | 27s |
| Time for six greyscale 6x4in photos 1.0 | 43s |
