Xerox Phaser 7100/N

Bottom Line

The Xerox Phaser 7100/N color laser printer combines very good graphics quality, reasonably fast speed, and versatile paper handling with the ability to print on paper up to tabloid size. Despite its
not-so-impressive duty cycle, reviewers say it's still suitable for small to midsize office settings and work groups.

Performance

Great output in a hurry. The Xerox Phaser 7100/N color laser printer may seem a bit pricey for typical office use, but for work environments that need a printer that can handle up to A3 tabloid-size paper (11 by 17 inches), it's a pretty good value. Output quality is solid overall and, notably, graphics and photos output is above average for a color laser printer. Print speed is above average as well; the printer churns out 7.6 pages per minute (PPM) in PCMag.com's demanding benchmark tests, which reviewer Tony Hoffman says is pretty good considering the rated maximum speed (black-and-white text only) of 30 PPM. The printer ships with a 250-sheet main paper tray and a 150-sheet second tray; both can handle tabloid-sized paper. The rated maximum duty cycle is less than that of some business-oriented color laser printers, but at 52,000 pages per month, it's still enough to handle all but the busiest offices.

Features and Design

Plain and relatively feature-free. The Xerox Phaser 7100/N looks quite plain with its blue-and-white, boxy aesthetic. Measuring 16 inches by 21.2 inches by 19.7 inches, it's too big to share a desk with, and it'll take at least two people to move its 97-pound chassis. Still, it's not overly massive and looks decent enough in most office settings. Aside from the ability to handle tabloid-sized paper, the lineup of standard features is pretty short. There's no automatic duplexing, though an otherwise identical version of the printer, the Xerox Phaser 7100/DN, adds that feature -- and around $200 to the price tag. Ethernet networking is built in, but if you want to go wire-free, a wireless Wi-Fi adapter is available for around $220.

Durability

Xerox fares well in owner reviews. Currently, there aren't enough user reviews to determine a pattern of long-term reliability or owner satisfaction for the Xerox Phaser 7100/N. However, judging from reviews of other Xerox Phaser models, the company seems to garner relatively strong ratings from customers, albeit with a few consistent gripes regarding customer service. The 7100/N comes with a one-year warranty.