05.Print costs compared
Printer cost tables
| |
Print cost |
| Brand/model (in alphabetical order) |
New toner cartridge ($) |
Claimed number of pages/cartridge |
Measured number of printouts |
Toner cost per page (c) |
| Brother HL-2040 |
62.64 |
2500 |
3506 |
1.8 |
| Brother HL-2070N |
62.64 |
2500 |
3638 |
1.7 |
| Canon Laser Shot LBP-3000 |
78.3 |
2500 |
2373 |
3.3 |
| Canon Laser Shot LBP-3200 |
90.3 |
2500 |
3235 |
2.8 |
| Epson EPL-6200L |
184.8 |
3000 |
3306 |
5.6 |
| HP LaserJet 1020 |
92.09 |
2000 |
2622 |
3.5 |
| HP LaserJet 1022 (Q5912A) |
92.09 |
2000 |
2514 |
3.7 |
| Konica Minolta PagePro 1350W |
99 |
3000 |
3600 |
2.8 |
| Lexmark E120n |
109 |
2000 |
2545 |
4.3 |
| Lexmark E250d |
149 |
3500 |
5410 |
2.8 |
| Samsung ML-2010 |
98.21 |
3000 |
4065 |
2.4 |
| Samsung ML-2571N |
98.21 |
3000 |
3876 |
2.5 |
| |
Table notes
The price per page was calculated by dividing price of the cartridge by the number of standard pages the cartridge printed.
We ignored early warnings that the toner cartridge may be running low.
At this point, we removed the toner cartridge, shook it, replaced it and continued printing until it ran out or the pages became streaky.
Our costings are based on the price paid for a new toner cartridge in April 2007.
Green scene
All of the printers, except Samsung, include recycling documentation with the toner cartridges or on the manufacturers’ websites. In addition, Brother, HP, Lexmark, Konica Minolta and Canon are affiliated with the Planet Ark cartridge recycling program.
For more on recycling, go to www.recyclingnearyou.com.au.
The Canon Laser Shot LBP-3000 and both the HP printers had the best standby energy scores and cost less than $4 a year on standby. The Epson is the most expensive to keep on standby and costs just over $9 a year.
However, none of the printers achieved a one watt standby power rating, which is a target set by the International Energy Agency. Australia has agreed to support the One-Watt program in order to reduce standby power usage in the future. A printer is on standby when it’s turned on, but not actively printing.