Type: color A4 laser multifunction printer
Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax
Connectivity: USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Data storage slots: USB Host
Print speed: 35ppm (mono)
Paper capacity: 250 + 50 sheets
Print quality: 1,200 x 1,200 dpi
Scan quality: 600 600 dpi
Apple AirPrint: yes
Consumables included: 4x toner cartridges (2,100 mono pages, 1,100 color)
Dimensions/Weight: 425 x 461 x 430 mm (WxDxH) / 23.6kg
If Canon’s latest laser all-in-one looks pretty stylish for an office printer, the spec sheet looks even better. With a print speed of 35ppm, auto duplex scanning and a customizable touchscreen, this premium MFP (multifunction printer) is already one of the best laser printers for small and medium-sized businesses. The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw is called the Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw in Europe and as I happen to be testing the UK model, I’ll go with that product name throughout this review, but the US variant is identical aside from the plug.
The Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw is a four-in-one, so it can print, copy, scan and fax and it’s aimed both at the individual and a shared office. Like all the best small business printers, that means it’s compact and thoughtfully designed, while having a rapid print speed and a high recommended monthly duty cycle of 40,000 pages. There’s no inbuilt NFC, but otherwise, this feature-rich desktop printer lacks nothing in terms of connectivity or functionality.
Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw: Design & build
Multifunction laser printers are too often the office eyesore, but not so this classy and compact Canon model. It’s a little smaller than its predecessor and all of its comparable competitors without sacrificing features. The 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) on top is a particularly neat design. Despite the size, there’s plenty of room for paper with the main tray holding 250 sheets and the MP tray and ADF each holding another 50. The output tray can hold 150 sheets which is twice the capacity of the outgoing Canon model. You can also expand the paper input capacity by adding a second drawer beneath the first. The PF-K1 Paper Feeder accessory costs around US$249.99 (£150) and holds another 550 sheets of Letter or A4 paper.
The Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw has the same form factor as just about every other laser all-in-one printer with the ADF on top, a glass scanner beneath this, the main paper in-tray at the bottom and the out-tray in the middle. Canon has improved on its previous design by moving the MP tray to the front for faster loading of special media such as headed letter paper and envelopes.
You’ll find connections for Ethernet, USB and fax modem cables at the rear and a USB Host port conveniently located at the front for walk-up printing from a USB flash memory drive. The 12.7cm touchscreen LCD is also very user-friendly with its tilting panel and customizable display. Overall, the design is excellent and the build quality feels pretty strong too. It already looks like a dangerous rival to the Brother MFC-L8690CDW.
Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw: Features & specifications
The Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw is a 4-in1, which means it can send or receive a fax in addition to duplex printing, duplex scanning and copying. At 35ppm, the print speed for single-sided printing is fast while the first print out time (FPOT) of 7 seconds is similarly impressive. It scans quickly too. But what’s more significant is that it can scan both sides of a document automatically. Single pass 2-sided scanning is a trick only the more expensive machines can manage.
As mentioned, you have plenty of paper capacity here, with the opportunity to expand by adding an optional second in-tray. It can print on any size paper in Letter or A4 format but only up to 200 g/m² in weight. In other words, it can’t print on thick card. It also has decent capacity for toner with the high-yield cartridges being able to print up to 5,500 color pages and 7,600 black. However, the bundled setup cartridges only contain enough toner for 1,100 color pages and 2,100 black. Canon-branded cartridges for this printer are not cheap, so the CPP (cost per page) is slightly above average for this category of laser printer, unfortunately.
The Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw has all the features you could ask of an enterprise-level MFP with the exception of an NFC (near field communication) module. That’s a nice feature to have in a shared office environment where workers can call down personal print jobs using their NFC enabled ID cards, but it’s probably not a deal-breaker for most. Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct and AirPrint compatibility is built, there’s a USB Host port, Ethernet port and a fancy five-inch touchscreen. This interface can be customized so that your most frequently used functions appear on the first page of the menu system.
Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw: Setup & operation
The Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw comes with a very hefty setup guide, but don’t worry, you won’t need it. The toner cartridges come pre-installed, so it’s really just a case of filling the paper tray, plugging in and following the setup instructions that appear on the display. The touchscreen is large so entering your wi-fi password is quite easy. However, it’s also overly sensitive and I found it difficult to scroll through the menu without selecting options by accident.
Laser printers need to get up to operating temperature before they can print, and in this case, that takes 14 seconds, which is about average. Printing and scanning is fast, so it’s a satisfying printer to operate. There’s also a good companion app called Canon PRINT for iOS/Android that simplifies remote printing and scanning via the cloud.
Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw: Performance
The Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw performed very well in all of our tests. I found the given print rate of 35ppm for simplex pages to be pretty accurate. Duplex printing is also fast with the paper being turned quickly and quietly and without any paper jams during the test. Draft mode gives the fastest print speed and uses significantly less toner, but the printouts are so pale, they’re hard to read. In regular mode, both color and monochrome pages print at the same speed, as with all lasers, and both look pleasingly bold and detailed.
Pages of text appear consistently crisp and easy to read at very small point sizes, while mixed color documents really grab your attention with their bright colors and professional finish. Laser printers rarely do justice to photographs, but the Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw fares better than most. Overall, the print quality is very good.
The ADF is also a pleasure to use, thanks to its speed, capacity and its duplex scanning mode. The only slightly irritating thing about the Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw is the sensitive touchscreen which makes it too easy to select the wrong thing. Otherwise, it put in a very strong all-round performance.
Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw: Final verdict
As a compact AOI for the home office, or a speedy do-it-all printer in a shared office, the Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw does not disappoint. One of the best printers of its class, it’s sleek enough to fit conveniently into any stylish office, while having the speed and paper capacity to meet very high print demands. And don’t forget that you can add a second paper tray to boost that capacity by 550 sheets. It’s also bursting with useful features such as automatic duplex scanning and a 50-sheet ADF. The customizable 5-inch touchscreen is a good size, but a little too sensitive, while the inbox startup cartridges are a little light on toner. What really sells this printer though, is its excellent print quality. If you print and scan frequently and you demand a professional finish, then this is the printer for you.
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