HP LaserJet Pro MFP M428fdw
VS.
HP LaserJet MFP M234dw
Last updated September 2023
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M428fdw
9.2
HP LaserJet MFP M234dw
8.5
Beautiful printer, and beautiful copies!
October 22, 2020
I love my HP M428fdw printer! I purchased this one a year or so ago, and it churns out copies or documents faster than you can imagine. I had an older but excellent Brother printer that needed a new drum (which was a good investment; it still works), but that also lacked a USB port which has become essential for my work. After researching dozens of options, I settled on this HP model. Here's what I love: Literally lives up to the word "laser" in its speed. Spits out the work almost before your finger leaves the print button. The touch screen is a great feature, and lets you choose what you want to do with documents you put in the feeder. You can NAME documents you scan to your USB drive! How cool is that? The USB port is in the FRONT, not hidden in the rear. I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to hide those things (especially on black printers) but this one is easy to find. If a manufacturer needs to have a rear port, fine, install two of them. The printer is white, and looks beautiful on its stand. I personally find darker colors depressing in my work area. The printer has all the latest bells & whistles for wi-fi, etc. I have not used some of the features yet, so I cannot comment on them. Things I'd change: If you replace the toner, you have to replace the drum as well. This is needlessly expensive and almost kept me from buying the printer (the USB port, its placement in the front of the unit, and the color of the printer were among the deciding factors). The drum and cartridge that came with the unit are still putting out great copies (even though there's an alert that toner is getting low). I never replace toner until I absolutely have to; I purchased the replacement (high volume) cartridge/drum when I bought the printer, just to have on hand and it's still in its box. It appears the HP laser printer will produce a lot of good copies with its original toner before you have to invest in the toner unit. The cost of the toner (which requires buying the drum, too) is the reason for only four stars. I'd have rated it 4-1/2 if that option were possible, because I really do love the printer and all its features.
Fairly simple install if you use ethernet
August 16, 2023
Some HP printers require the user to install using their smart app for installation. I was able to connect via ethernet, pressed the i button to print the information page that has the ip address, then I typed in the ip into the web browser to manage it. I went to System > Administration and checked for updates since mine did not have the most recent 20230307 firmware. The firmware has "dynamic security measures" which will block non-HP cartridges unless it has HP chip or circuitry. I went to HP's website and downloaded the Feb 8, 2023 Full 188MB driver. During the software installation the screen went blank, so I let it sit for several minutes to no avail. Eventually I clicked the X to cancel, but it offered a link to install the driver, and the install was successful. I completed a scan using the HP scan app and printed a test page. Print jobs seem fast, and the printer itself is a relatively compact design. Overall this is a fantastic all-in-one laser that gives the user the ability to do a conventional install without the added hassles of HP smart.
