Lexmark E120n - DigitalVersus

Lexmark E120n


OYYY	102.70
Printerland	102.71
PrinterBase	102.71
E-buyer	105.48
Amazon Marketplace UK	108.00
Misco UK	112.69
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Resolution	600 x 600 ppp
Speed B&W / color	19 / NA ppm
Ink drop size	NC picolitres
Number of cartridges	NA
Number of base colors	NA
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Scanner / Copier / Fax	no/no/no
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Vincent Alzieu
Test date: December 31, 2008

Disappearing act

The E120n is wi-fi, but a non-wireless version exists too. The Lexmark E120 (without the "n" at the end)is significantly cheaper but is slowly disappearing from store shelves and you are more likely to come across the wireless model only.

Twice the price of other laser monochrome printers, the E120n offers Ethernet connectivity for an office or home network. Epson has such an option too, but at a price that is double of this one. The output of this printer is good (19 ppm , which is impressive for an entry level model) and quality is above average.
Lexmark chooses to lower artificially the price of its printer by providing a toner that will only last for 500 pages. A regular toner would take you through 2000 pages. The buyer often fails to check this detail: the price of the missing 1500 pages is not taken into account but will appear quickly in running costs as you have to by the consumable sooner. Epson’s model comes with a toner that lasts for 3, 000 pages at the same price.

Speed and quality
The quality of print for text is excellent. Have a look yourself here, it is perfect (3x magnification) and slightly better than what you get from Epson and Canon.

Compare the Lexmark E120n to other printers in our Product Face-Offs.

Letters print out the sharp both on white or colour background and there is no dottiness. Contrast however could be higher. Photos and business graphics came out a bit darker than what we expected, but we must admit we are being slightly difficult here. …Text prints well (see face off), and counts among the best.

Cost per page
It is quite outrageous that the starter toner cartridge should only cover 500 pages instead of 2000. Lexmark will argue that it would be impossible to offer a printer at that price. Once the starter toner needs changing, you can choose between two toner cartridges, 16SE and 36 SE. Both last 2,000 pages but the first one is cheaper because it is part of Lexmark's return programme. The return programme obliges you to use the cartridge only once and to return it to Lexmark for recycling. The other cartridge can also be collected and recycled for free within the programme.

cartridge	lifespan(pages)
Lexmark 0012016SE	2,000
Lexmark 0012036SE	2,000

Cartridge lifespan - ISO test for office

When using the substantially cheaper return programme cartridge, the cost per page on this printer falls into the average price of a laser copy. Canon is more expensive, while Epson is cheaper.