Introduction
The Canon imageCLASS MF445dw is a multifunction color laser printer designed for small and home offices. As the name suggests, this printer can print in color, so the quick answer is yes, the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw is a color printer.
Key Features of the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw
The Canon imageCLASS MF445dw has the following key features that make it well-suited for home and small office use:
- Color laser printing technology – Uses laser toner to produce vivid color documents and images.
- Print speed – Can print up to 28 pages per minute in both black and white and color.
- Duplex printing – Has automatic two-sided printing capability.
- Wireless connectivity – Connects via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB.
- Scanner and copier functions – Can scan documents to email, cloud services, USB, etc. and has copying capabilities.
- Large paper capacity – 250-sheet tray and 50-sheet rear tray.
- LCD display – Has a 5-line monochrome LCD display for setup and operation.
With its mix of speed, wireless connectivity, and color/black and white output, the imageCLASS MF445dw is a versatile printer suitable for home and small office applications. The inclusion of scanning and copying functions also helps maximize productivity.
Print Quality of the imageCLASS MF445dw
One of the most important considerations for a color printer is the quality of the output it can produce. Overall, the print quality of the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw is very good for a small office color laser printer. Here are some key print quality features:
- Up to 600 x 600 dpi print resolution – This allows for sharp text and detailed graphics.
- Vivid color reproduction – Using laser toner provides bold, vibrant colors.
- Toner saving mode – Helps conserve toner when printing draft documents.
- Crisp black text – Laser printing provides sharp black text output.
The printer can handle basic office document printing, web pages, photos, and graphics effectively. While the output may not match larger commercial color lasers, the print quality is very competitive for a small office printer at this price point. The scanner can scan at up to 600 x 600 dpi and produces nicely detailed copies and scans.
Color Print Speeds
One of the top selling points of the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw is its fast print speeds, for both color and black and white printing. Here is an overview of the color printing speeds:
- Simplex (Single-Sided) Color Print Speed: Up to 28 ppm
- Duplex (Double-Sided) Color Print Speed: Up to 14 ipm
These speeds are fairly quick for an office color laser in this class. The simplex speed of 28 ppm beats out many competing models from Brother, HP, and others. The duplex print speed of 14 ipm is also respectable.
These quick print times mean you can efficiently print multi-page color documents, web pages, and other everyday color output. The printer can churn through short memos, invoices, photos, and more with ease. For bulk black and white printing, the speeds are even faster, up to 28 ppm simplex and 14 ipm duplex.
Connectivity Options
The Canon imageCLASS MF445dw provides multiple connectivity choices for set up and use:
- Wi-Fi – Connect wirelessly via IEEE 802.11 b/g/n.
- Ethernet – Plug into a wired network via the 10Base-T/100Base-TX port.
- USB 2.0 – Plug directly into a PC via USB.
- Wireless Direct – Connect mobile devices directly without a network.
Having Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity gives you lots of flexibility in how to use the printer with multiple PCs, networks, and devices. Most small and home office environments will primarily connect via Wi-Fi to print from a variety of devices and locations. But the Ethernet and USB connections help use the imageCLASS with an older wired PC or in a network without Wi-Fi.
Mobile and Cloud Printing
In addition to the basic connectivity options, here are some of the key mobile and cloud printing features:
- Apple AirPrint – Print directly from iOS devices.
- Mopria Print Service – Print from Android devices.
- Canon PRINT app – Print from mobile devices using the Canon app.
- Google Cloud Print – Print from anywhere via the cloud.
Between AirPrint, the Canon PRINT app, and Google Cloud Print, you can easily print to the imageCLASS MF445dw from iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. This wireless printing functionality extends the versatility for users who are on the go.
Print Languages and Operating Systems
The imageCLASS MF445dw supports the following print languages and operating systems:
- PCL5e/6, Adobe PostScript 3 – Standard printer languages for Windows and Mac OS.
- Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10
- macOS 10.10 Yosemite and higher
- Linux
- Chrome OS
This wide OS and print language support allows the printer to be used with everything from Windows PCs to Macs, Chromebooks, Linux computers, and more. The Adobe PS3 print language in particular ensures high quality printing from PostScript-based systems.
Paper Input Capacity
The paper input capacity of the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw consists of:
- 250-Sheet Main Cassette
- 50-Sheet Rear Tray
For a small office color laser MFP, this 300 sheet total capacity is decent. The main cassette handles most of the paper volume needs. Having the rear tray allows you to load specialty paper like envelopes without having to empty the main tray.
The printer also supports legal size paper and envelopes in the main cassette. The maximum monthly duty cycle is up to 40,000 pages per month, which is solid for moderate home or small office use.
Cost Efficiency
For a feature-packed color laser MFP, the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw is priced competitively:
- MSRP: $349
- Typical Street Price: $299
Compared to other color laser printers for small offices, like the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw ($349 MSRP) or Brother HL-L3270CDW ($299 MSRP), the imageCLASS hits a nice balance of value, cost, and features.
Consumables are reasonably priced as well:
| Consumable | Yield | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Canon 737 Black Toner | 3,100 pages | $72 |
| Canon 737 Color Toners (C/M/Y) | 2,300 pages | $89 |
These toner yields give you monochrome cost per page of around $0.02 and color cost per page of $0.14 or less. Very affordable to operate for moderate home and small business printing needs.
Dimensions and Weight
From a physical standpoint, the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw measures:
- 15.7 x 18.1 x 16.2 inches
- Weighs 40.5 lbs
So it has a relatively compact footprint for a color laser MFP with an integrated scanner. Easy to place on a small desk or tabletop without occupying too much space. And at under 41 pounds, it’s light enough for one person to move and set up comfortably.
Key Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Print Technology | Color Laser |
| Print Speed | 28 ppm Color/Black |
| Print Resolution | 600 x 600 dpi |
| Printer Languages | PCL5e/6, Adobe PS3 |
| Paper Capacity | 300 Sheets |
| Monthly Duty Cycle | Up to 40,000 pages |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed, ADF |
| Scanner Resolution | Up to 600 x 600 dpi |
| Copy Resolution | Up to 600 x 600 dpi |
| Fax Resolution | Up to 300 x 300 dpi (Monochrome) |
| Wireless Printing | Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct |
| Mobile Printing | Apple AirPrint, Mopria, Canon PRINT App |
Conclusion
To summarize, the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw is definitely a color laser printer, providing both monochrome and vibrant color output. It combines fast color print speeds up to 28ppm with robust connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and mobile/cloud printing.
The printer produces excellent print quality for everyday documents and images. Convenient scanning and copying functions round out the package nicely for small office needs. When you consider the affordable price along with the features and performance, the imageCLASS MF445dw is an economical choice for those seeking an all-in-one color laser printer for home or small business use.
