Epson MX20DN review
Epson's latest mono MFP is certainly compact but is it good enough and cheap enough to earn a place in your office? Kat Orphanides finds out in our review.

The real appeal of a mono laser printer is in how cheap it is to run. The MX20 isn't the cheapest, at 1.7p per page ex VAT even if you buy high-yield 8,000 page recycling program toner cartridges, but its Total Cost of Ownership is gratifyingly low. The only other consumable you have to worry about is a 165 Maintenance Kit every 100,000 pages. If you just print 100 pages per month, you can spend less than 400 over three years, including the printer's purchase price. Heavy users, who print 3,000 pages per month, will go through 2,384 over three years. However, the sweet spot is held by medium users - those who print around 750 pages every month. They'll spend just 859 over three years. We'd advise extending Epson's one-year onsite warranty to three years, too.
Verdict
If you're after a reasonably priced mono network MFP that doesn't cost too much to run, can handle a decent number of pages every month and quickly produces good quality prints, you can do much worse than the MX20DN. Its clunky physical interface and the quality of its photo mode put it out of contention for our highest rating, but it's earned a solid five stars.
PERFORMANCE
Mono costs: 1.7p
Normal speed: 25.9ppm
Scan speed: 2.6spm
SPECIFICATIONS
MANUFACTURER Epson
Model Aculaser MX20DN
Maximum native print resolution 1,200x1,200dpi
Maximum enhanced print resolution 1,200x1,200dpi
Maximum optical scan resolution (output bit depth) 600x600dpi (24-bit)
QUOTED SPEEDS
Quoted speed, A4 28ppm
TESTED PRINT SPEEDS
First page from sleep 22s
Two greyscale 10x8" photos - total time 9s
Six greyscale 6x4" photos - total time 14s
TESTED SCAN SPEEDS
Full scan area preview 8s
A4 document at 150dpi/300dpi 20s/23s
TESTED COPY SPEEDS
Single A4 page, default quality 8s
10 A4 pages (many to many), default quality 38s
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
Standard interfaces USB, 10/100 Ethernet
Optional interfaces None
Dimensions (HxWxD) 448x494x430mm
Weight 18.4kg
Noise 69 dB(A)
Duty cycle (pages per month) 20,000 pages
Power consumption standby 10W
Power consumption idle 10W
Power consumption active 847W
PAPER HANDLING
Maximum paper size Up to A4
Maximum paper weight 220gsm
Standard paper inputs (capacity) 1 (300)
Maximum paper inputs (capacity) 4 (800)
Output tray capacity 150 sheets
Duplex Yes
Automatic Document Feeder capacity 50
COPY FEATURES
Maximum number of copies 999
Maximum copy resolution 1,200dpi
FAX FEATURES
Maximum mono fax resolution N/A
Maximum memory capacity (mono pages) N/A
GENERAL
Technology Mono laser
Language(s) Emulations: PCL6, PCL5e, Genuine PostScript 3TM, PDF1.6, ESC/Page(B/W), FX, ESCP2, I239X
Supported operating systems Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Server 2003/Server 2008, Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
Memory, standard (max) 256MB (512MB)
Other features and options None
BUYING INFORMATION
Price inc VAT £394
Consumable parts and prices 8,000 page C13S050582, £147; 3,000 page C13S050583, £84; 8,000 page C13S050584, £136; 3,000 page C13S050585, £79; 100,000 page Maintenance Unit C13S05119, £165
Price per A4 page inc VAT 1.7p
Price 2nd paper cassette inc VAT 250-sheet C12C802641, £116
Capacity of supplied black toner (pages) 2,000 pages
Estimated total ownership cost - three years' light use (3,600 mono pages) £315
Estimated total ownership cost - three years' medium use (21,000 mono pages) £859
Estimated total ownership cost - three years' heavy use (108,000 mono pages) £2384
Warranty duration and terms One year onsite
Supplier www.printware.co.uk
Details www.epson.co.uk
Part code C11CA95001BX
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