The HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw is a fast, versatile color laser printer that is perfect for home offices, small businesses, and workgroups that need to print high-quality color documents quickly and efficiently. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the print speeds of the M283fdw and how it compares to similar models.
Print Speed Overview
The M283fdw is rated to print at speeds up to 28 pages per minute (ppm) when printing in black, and up to 28 ppm when printing in color. This makes it significantly faster than inkjet printers, which generally max out at 15 ppm or less for black and 6-8 ppm for color. It also outpaces lower-end color laser printers that print at speeds of 18-22 ppm.
Here is an overview of the M283fdw’s print speeds:
| Print Mode | Print Speed |
|---|---|
| Black (Normal) | Up to 28 ppm |
| Color (Normal) | Up to 28 ppm |
| 2-Sided Black | Up to 25.5 ipm |
| 2-Sided Color | Up to 25.5 ipm |
As you can see, the print speed is the same whether you are printing in monochrome or in color. The two-sided print speeds are also quite fast at 25.5 images per minute.
First Page Out Time
Another important speed measurement is first page out time. This refers to how fast the printer can complete the first page of a print job from ready mode. The M283fdw has a first page out time of just 7.9 seconds for black and 8.1 seconds for color.
This is very fast and means you’ll be able to get printouts started right away without much waiting. It outperforms most consumer-grade inkjet printers which have first page out times of 10 seconds or more.
Print Speed vs. Print Resolution
An important caveat is that the rated print speeds are based on default print quality settings. If you increase the print resolution, then the print speed will decrease accordingly.
Here’s a look at how the print speed is affected by different print resolutions on the M283fdw:
| Print Resolution | Black Print Speed | Color Print Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Draft (300 x 300 dpi) | Up to 28 ppm | Up to 28 ppm |
| Normal (600 x 600 dpi) | Up to 28 ppm | Up to 28 ppm |
| Best (1200 x 1200 dpi) | Up to 13 ppm | Up to 13 ppm |
As you can see, while the draft and normal resolutions allow the full rated print speeds, stepping up to the best quality slows the printer down to about 13 ppm. This is because the higher 2400 dpi resolution requires more processing and pass-throughs to achieve the higher dot density.
Comparison to Other Printers
Compared to other similarly priced color laser printers, the M283fdw has very competitive print speeds. Here’s how it stacks up against some of its major competitors:
| Printer | Black Print Speed | Color Print Speed |
|---|---|---|
| HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw | 28 ppm | 28 ppm |
| Brother HL-L8360CDW | 33 ppm | 33 ppm |
| Canon imageCLASS LBP654Cdw | 27 ppm | 27 ppm |
| Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5290 | 24 ppm | 24 ppm |
As you can see, the M283fdw holds its own against the competition, with print speeds equaling or exceeding most models. Only the Brother HL-L8360CDW is noticeably faster at 33 ppm. However, the Brother printer lacks certain features like NFC tap-to-print and may have higher long-term supplies costs.
Print Speed for Documents vs. Photos
The rated print speeds of the M283fdw apply to normal office document printing. But what about printing high-resolution photos? The printer is capable of excellent photo output, but photo printing will inevitably be slower.
Exact print speeds for photos can vary greatly depending on the size and specific image. However, as a rough estimate you can expect 4×6 inch photo prints to take about 45-60 seconds each at the Best quality setting.
Speed Considerations by Document Type
Print speeds may also vary depending on the type of document you are printing. Here are some guidelines:
- Text documents with little graphics will print at the fastest speeds.
- Documents with a mix of text, graphics, and images will print moderately fast.
- Large, graphics-heavy files like brochures may print slightly slower.
- High-resolution photo printing will be the slowest.
However, in all cases the M283fdw will still be significantly faster than basic inkjet printers. Even photo printing is fairly quick at about 1 minute per 4×6 photo.
Supports High-Speed Interfaces
To achieve fast print speeds, the printer relies on a 610 MHz CPU and 256 MB of memory. But it also helps that the M283fdw supports high-speed USB and wired network connectivity:
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0
- 10/100/1000 Ethernet
These allow much faster data transfer between your computer and the printer compared to slower USB 1.0 or wireless networking.
Print Job Management Features
To help you manage high-volume printing, the M283fdw includes several features:
- 50-page Automatic Document Feeder – Lets you quickly scan or copy multi-page documents without having to load them one page at a time.
- Dual-sided Printing – Automatically prints on both sides of the paper to save paper.
- 150-Sheet Output Tray – Large output capacity so you don’t have to empty it as frequently during big jobs.
- Optional 500-Sheet Paper Tray – Expandable paper capacity to minimize reloading.
Speed Recommendations
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw lives up to its promise of fast, high-volume printing. Here are some tips to get the most out of its speedy performance:
- Use the Draft or Normal setting for documents to maximize speed.
- Allow extra time for large, graphics-heavy print jobs.
- Stick to plain paper for fastest printing. Glossy paper may require slower speeds.
- Connect via USB or Ethernet for faster data transfer.
- Add extra paper trays for large print jobs.
Conclusion
With print speeds up to 28 ppm in both black and color, the M283fdw is one of the fastest printers in its class. It outpaces inkjet printers and can match the speed of more expensive color laser models. And while high-res photo printing is slower, it still produces a finished 4×6 photo in under a minute. So if you need a speedy, reliable color printer for your home or small office, the M283fdw will provide crisp, professional-looking documents and photos with minimal waiting.
