Review: What does a non-brand-name printer need to get your attention? This is in the price range of some big names, so let’s see how it performs, how well it is constructed, and whether it is worth the money.
What is it
Pantum M7102DW is a multifunctional laser printer, copier and scanner.
What’s in the box
Laser printers, toner cartridges, manuals and instructions.
Hardware specifications
These are the specifications shown in the Amazon description.
- Multifunctional three-in-one ADF (printing, copying, scanning) laser printer. Fast and high-definition printing with black and white printing speed up to 33ppm(A4)/35ppm(Letter). Support a variety of media sizes, the media weight can reach 200g/㎡
- ADF scans the largest. Scan size 216 x 356mm, scan to e-mail, PC, FTP, USB drive. The scanning speed of ADF is as high as 24ppm(A4) / 25ppm(Letter). Use ID copy, N-page copy function to easily copy[A[A[A[A
- Simple one-step wireless installation. Connect high-speed USB 2.0, Internet and WIFI. For printing on mobile devices with IOS and Android systems, Pantum APP is provided.Not compatible with Chrome system
- Separate the drum and toner. The starting ink cartridge capacity is 1500 pages. Drum unit service life 12000 pages (5% coverage based on ISO 19752 standard)
- 1 year standard warranty from the date of purchase. Provide Pantum online customer service.
I will add measurements:
- Front width: 14″
- Side: 13″
- Height: 13.75 inches
Design and features
The M7102DW looks very compact at 14 W x 13 D x 13.75 H. I am used to using 25% larger inkjet printers, so Pantum is a space-saving printer.
Installation and setup
The printed graphics quick start setup instructions are very complete. Although I haven’t set up a printer for several years, I just made an IKEA bed with drawers for a friend who is moving. I think when I have to use them, I have no problem with the graphics direction.
I like the style of description on the “Wifi Connection Guide” table.
The printer is set to hold A5 size paper. When pressed, the small blue button on the back of the paper tray can lengthen the paper tray to accommodate US standard “letter” size 8.5 inches x 11 inches paper.
After extending the paper tray to accommodate letter-size paper, when the paper tray is inserted into the printer, the door on the back of the printer will open, allowing the end of the extended paper tray to protrude from the back.
I was surprised to have to connect My wife’s 2020 model laptop is connected to the printer via a wire (provided) to set up wireless printing for the laptop. Similarly, I must connect a laptop to a printer to set up wireless printing for that laptop. There is no alphanumeric input for the SSID password provided on the keyboard, so I think this is the reason for the initial wired connection.
My Chromebook saw M7102DW on our wifi network, so no wired connection is required in this case. I’m not sure what the warning about “incompatible with Chrome system” in the product description means.Chrome alloyBook It seems to work well with M7102DW.
Test and observe
Color laser printing exists, but it is often referred to as “commercial color”. You may not like the quality of photos printed by most consumer-grade color laser printers. And they are more expensive. Black toner laser printers facilitate fast and economical black and white printing, copying and scanning.
If someone gets the number of pages claimed by Pantum and my inkjet printer cartridge manufacturer, each page of Pantum will be a penny cheaper than my inkjet printer. The math shows that M7102DW is 3 cents per page, and my inkjet (black ink) is 4 cents per page.
To me, the beauty of laser printing and inkjet printing is that if you are a printer that you don’t use often, you won’t clog the print head. The standard toner capacity of M7102DW is 1500 pages. It is said that the drum can print 12,000 pages.
When the printer is in standby mode, it prints a one-page, full-page letter in 22 seconds. I counted the time from pressing the print button on the computer screen to the time when the printed page completely exited the printer. When the printer is not in standby mode, it takes 15 seconds to generate the same letters. Those times are very suitable for my needs. My inkjet printer is a bit faster whether it is on standby or not, but we are only talking about the difference in a few seconds.
Facts have proved that Pantum toner is waterproof. I once had a brand-name laser printer, and the documents it printed would immediately be soiled by a small drop of water or wet fingertips.
I put a tablespoon of water on the document printed by M7102DW and let it sit overnight. Water has almost no effect on the printed toner because it does not run, fade or feather. And I only use cheap multi-purpose inkjet paper.
Pantum scans perfectly and quickly from my Chromebook through my wifi connection to the printer. It will also be scanned and saved to a USB flash drive inserted into the USB port on the front of the printer.
But the Pantum mobile app has problems and needs improvement.
It is difficult for me to use the Pantum mobile app to make Pantum scan. There seems to be a problem with the phone application.
I tried my best and tried to use the mobile app many times, the scanner did not stay connected to the app, or the mobile app would crash, etc. After 5-8 minutes, when I finally get a 3-page document to scan, the results will not be shared to email or any other applications. I switched to my regular inkjet printer/scanner and used the brand’s mobile app to complete the scan and email it in about 3 minutes.
When printing or scanning from my Chromebook, I have no problem connecting to the M7102DW wirelessly. My wife’s iPad can print normally.
Amazon lists the Pantum TL410 standard toner cartridge for $49.99.
The construction quality, installation and surface treatment of the M7102DW are similar to my current and previous printers.
Support, isn’t it?
The Pantum website claims to be accessible within the time frame specified by UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). You must convert. I contacted the support staff via email and asked a question. I never received a reply for more than 3 weeks.
I also tried their online support chat when they claimed to be accessible. After waiting for about 5 minutes, the chat window prompts that chat is unavailable and needs to leave a message. This happened on two different days.
Pantum printers do not seem to have real-time product support.
There are embossed symbols on the four buttons around the “OK” button. I need a flashlight to see them.
what do I like
- The toner seems to be waterproof.
- M7102DW prints and copies at a good speed.
- The size of the device looks very compact, but I have become accustomed to large printers.
- Prints and copies are clear and black.
- M7102DW performs color scanning.
- The one-page “Instruction Manual” and the “Wifi Connection Guide” on the reverse are clear and easy-to-read instructions. The main “Quick Setup Guide” manual should reflect this clarity.
What will i change
- Either be accessible, responsive Product support, or don’t claim support.
- Create clearer setup instructions.
- Create a full-featured mobile phone application that can operate the scanner and printer correctly.
- The button functions on the printer control panel are difficult to recognize because the embossed symbols on them are difficult to see in low light.
- Some English content on the website needs to be corrected.
Final thoughts
The Pantum M7102DW I tested performed well as a printer and copier, and the scanning effect was also very good, except through the mobile app. The lack of real-time email and chat support is a problem. People should weigh all these factors with price, with brand names and their mobile apps and support.
Price: $179.99
Where to buy: Amazon
source: The sample for this review was provided by Pantum.
