Product Face-Offs
Lexmark X2650
 | |||
| Resolution | 4800 x 1200 ppp | ||
| Speed B&W / color | 22 / 16 ppm | ||
| Ink drop size | picolitres | ||
| Number of cartridges | 4 | ||
| Number of base colors | 4 | ||
 See all specifications | |||
| Scanner / Copier / Fax | Yes / Yes / No |
 Hide specifications | |
Nilofar Hadjanadjiboudine
Test date: September 24, 2008
Test date: September 24, 2008
Scanning and Copying Functions
The X2650's scanner is worthy of comment. It provides neat, sharp scans that are only just a touch too red.
In terms of speed, scanning an A4 page takes around 10 seconds, just a little longer than it does using the competition.
When scanning a 4x6'' photo print, though, the X2650 blows the competition out of the water, digitizing the whole image in 27 seconds.
Thanks to this nippy scanner, this all-in-one does provide good copies, with color copies taking less than a minute and black and white copies taking just 14 seconds.
In terms of speed, scanning an A4 page takes around 10 seconds, just a little longer than it does using the competition.
When scanning a 4x6'' photo print, though, the X2650 blows the competition out of the water, digitizing the whole image in 27 seconds.
Thanks to this nippy scanner, this all-in-one does provide good copies, with color copies taking less than a minute and black and white copies taking just 14 seconds.
The Lexmark X2650 is, logically enough, a replacement for the X2550, and the change in model number has seen a redesign.
Now featuring a white case, this new multifunction is good value, and easy-to-use--to easy, perhaps--and lacks several features found elsewhere, including an LCD screen and a card reader.
Printing Speeds
Lexmark claim that their printer can reach speed of up to 22 pages per minute (ppm), but we couldn't replicate this in our labs.
A more realistic measurement is 4 ppm for color printing and 5 ppm for black and white documents.
Activating draft mode, which gives perfectly acceptable documents, brings speeds up to 17.5 ppm using our test document.
Photo printing is admirably speedy, with the X2650 spitting out a full color 4 x 6'' print in around 40 seconds and 1 minute 50 seconds for an A4 photo.
These kinds of speeds are normally seen on printers that are twice as expensive, but don't be fooled into thinking you're getting a good deal: the quality belies the price point.
Quality
Office printing is very good, with sharp details and deep blacks.
As we found in our speed tests, the draft mode will be useable for all but the most important of documents, even though it does feature visible ink droplets in places.
For everyday use, it can certainly replace standard mode to save a little ink.
.jpg)
As for photo printing, the results are less satisfactory. Ink drops are too apparent if the black photo cartridge isn't used--trouble is, it's sold as a separate option, rather than coming included.
No matter how many cartridges we tried, we couldn't get rid of streaky lines across photo prints.
Cartridges
Based on these findings, our clearest recommendation has to be not to buy this printer.
And, if you're reading this, Lexmark, please try and make it clear to your punters that multifunctions like the X2650 are only so cheap because they're so inefficient in terms of their use of ink that you're sure to rake it in later on with cartridge sales.
While cost per page varies according to how much you actually pay for your cartridges where you are, the short lifespan on these all-in-one cartridges makes them very expensive. When printers like the HP C4480 can do so much better, there's no excuse.
Now featuring a white case, this new multifunction is good value, and easy-to-use--to easy, perhaps--and lacks several features found elsewhere, including an LCD screen and a card reader.
Printing Speeds
Lexmark claim that their printer can reach speed of up to 22 pages per minute (ppm), but we couldn't replicate this in our labs.
A more realistic measurement is 4 ppm for color printing and 5 ppm for black and white documents.
Activating draft mode, which gives perfectly acceptable documents, brings speeds up to 17.5 ppm using our test document.
Photo printing is admirably speedy, with the X2650 spitting out a full color 4 x 6'' print in around 40 seconds and 1 minute 50 seconds for an A4 photo.
These kinds of speeds are normally seen on printers that are twice as expensive, but don't be fooled into thinking you're getting a good deal: the quality belies the price point.
Quality
Office printing is very good, with sharp details and deep blacks.
As we found in our speed tests, the draft mode will be useable for all but the most important of documents, even though it does feature visible ink droplets in places.
For everyday use, it can certainly replace standard mode to save a little ink.
Sample of color graphics/text test document. Click to compare with other products in this comparison.
As for photo printing, the results are less satisfactory. Ink drops are too apparent if the black photo cartridge isn't used--trouble is, it's sold as a separate option, rather than coming included.
No matter how many cartridges we tried, we couldn't get rid of streaky lines across photo prints.
Cartridges
| Cartridge | Lifespan (A4 pages) |
| 14 (black) | 175 |
| 15A (color) |
150 |
Based on these findings, our clearest recommendation has to be not to buy this printer.
And, if you're reading this, Lexmark, please try and make it clear to your punters that multifunctions like the X2650 are only so cheap because they're so inefficient in terms of their use of ink that you're sure to rake it in later on with cartridge sales.
While cost per page varies according to how much you actually pay for your cartridges where you are, the short lifespan on these all-in-one cartridges makes them very expensive. When printers like the HP C4480 can do so much better, there's no excuse.
-
Good quality office printing
-
Great scanner
-
Poor photo printing without extra cartridge
-
Very high cost per page
Don't fall into the trap of the X2650, which Lexmark are practically giving away in some markets. The cartridges have so little ink them you'll have to spend a fortune replacing them, and even then, the prints that you'll make on it won't be very good.
Check out all of our High Tech offers: TV, Computing, Camera, Gaming, Telephony, Blu-Ray DVD on Pixmania
