Diversification is the byword of the future, regardless of the context you consider. Entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk are revered for their cross-discipline knowhow and expertise. Kids are also being taught the value of being able to think outside the box and combine multiple disciplines because it fuels innovation. However, when it comes to our equipment, we want more specialisation. From this perspective, the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is a wonderful device. The HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is a member of the HP LaserJet Pro M400 series that consists of three other models.
These are the HP LaserJet Pro M402d, HP LaserJet Pro M402n, and the HP LaserJet Pro M402dw. Each of these printers is a monochrome laser single-function printer. This means that it is a laser-class printer that can only print in black and white. The features on the M400 series are such that it is most suitable as a workhorse for a small workgroup or office. Which model suits you best will depend upon your specific requirements. Here’s our review to help you decide.
Strengths of HP LaserJet Pro M402dn
The output quality of the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is one of its strong points. It is a monochrome laser printer that means that it won’t really be used for printing graphics or photos. This is a good thing because this device excels in printing text only. The text output is crisp and clear even in lower fonts. The maximum resolution that this device is capable of is 4800 x 600 dots per inch (dpi).
We described this device as a workhorse for a small workgroup or office. The title workhorse automatically suggests that this device can handle high volume printing for the market segment mentioned. This device’s total paper handling capacity fits the requirements of this segment. The HP LaserJet Pro M402dn comes standard with a total paper capacity of 350 sheets divided between a 100-sheet multipurpose tray and a 250-sheet paper drawer. Furthermore, this paper capacity can be augmented with the optional paper tray capable of holding 550 sheets taking the total paper capacity to 900 sheets.
The total paper capacity of the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is supported by its maximum monthly duty cycle of 80,000 pages. To print in higher volumes, you also need a good print speed or you’ll be waiting forever for your print job to be complete. You won’t have to wait long with the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn because it boasts of a maximum print speed of 38 pages per minute (ppm). This is well on the higher side of the accepted print speed spectrum for this market segment. Another very useful feature of the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is its automatic duplexer. With this automatic duplexing capability, you can print on both sides of a page. This is helpful because it will help you save money on paper.
Weaknesses of HP LaserJet Pro M402dn
The listed cost of the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is slightly on the higher side just like its running costs. If you visit the HP website, you’ll find this device valued at more than $300. You can find it for a lower price, however, if you shop around. On the internet, and indeed on our own website, you’ll find this device listed for lower than $240 which means savings of 20%. The story with the running cost of the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is similar. If you use genuine cartridges made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) then you’ll end up paying about 3.9 cents for every page you print. You can cut this cost down to about 2.9 cents per page if you choose to use generic or compatible cartridges.
Connectivity is also an aspect where the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is found wanting. The various models of the M400 series differ heavily in terms of connectivity options available to you. For example, the HP LaserJet Pro M402d model only offers USB 2.0 as the connectivity option.
The model we’re reviewing here i.e. the LaserJet Pro M402dn has an Ethernet port in addition to USB 2.0. However, the reason why we see connectivity as a limitation of this device is that it neither offers the wireless option nor the Wi-Fi direct option. You can still benefit from the mobile compatibility of this device provided you use the Ethernet option to connect to it. This opens up multiple printing options such as the usual Google Cloud Print, Air Print, Mopria, and the HP All-in-One Remote App. You’ll also be able to use the OEM’s proprietary ePrint Enterprise App and the HP ePrint App. Additionally, HP ePrint via email will become an option too provided you’ve enabled the HP Web Services and registered your device with HP Connected.
In case wireless connectivity is a deal breaker for you, don’t worry. You can always choose to go for the model HP LaserJet Pro M402dw. The last model of HP LaserJet Pro M402n is the same as the M402dn except for the fact that it lacks the automatic duplexing capability.
Key Features of HP LaserJet Pro M402dn
The HP LaserJet Pro M402dn is also a compact device, especially if you compare it to its competitors. It measures only about 216mm in height, 357mm in depth, and 381mm in width. Despite being compact, it does weigh a bit much at 8.9 Kg. The dimensions of this device will change if you opt for the additional paper tray mentioned above in the first section. Getting that extra tray installed will mean the addition of another 131mm to the device’s height and 3.5 Kg to its weight.
The device has a 1200 MHz processor which is supplemented by a 128MB RAM. The print engine, thus, is capable of delivering good first print out times. From the ‘Ready’ mode, this device delivers the first print in 5.7 seconds while from the ‘Sleep’ mode, it takes about 8.1 seconds.
On the top and to the side, a control panel graces the HP LaserJet Pro M402dn with a two-line backlit display screen measuring 4.55 cm x 1.35 cm. This screen is accompanied by some buttons and two LED indicator lights. The buttons on the control panel are for ‘Back’, ‘Cancel’, ‘Menu’, and ‘OK’ while the indicator lights denote ‘Attention’ and ‘Ready’.
The device also offers optional job storage capability if you use the external rear host USB Port. The job storage memory capacity of this device starts with a minimum of 16 GB. The HP LaserJet Pro M402dn comes with a 12-month onsite warranty which entails your device being fixed in your office or home.
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