HP LaserJet CP1020 Toner Cartridges

HP CP1020 Printer Review

The HP LaserJet CP1020 is a fairly basic color laser printer, but it is fast enough and compact enough for a low-volume personal user, at up to 17 pages per minute in black and 4 pages per minute in color. Lack of networking options helps keep its price down, though the cost of HP CP1020 printer toner can add up.

The CP1020 sports a compact size of 9.9x15.7x15.8 inches and a weighs of just 26.7 pounds without the LaserJet CP1020 toner installed. The input capacity of 150 sheets is a little underwhelming, with no upgrade options available for the future. Since this model includes only a USB connection and no networking, its capacity is probably a good fit for an individual with moderate printing needs.

Reviews found the CP1020 to have excellent color graphics output, though photos and text were a little less impressive than similar models in its class. It is certainly a quality upgrade for business documents compared to the average inkjet, but some users might find it lacking in output quality. First page out times are on the slow side as well, at 15.5 seconds for black and a glacial pace of 27.5 seconds for color.

Lack of automatic duplexing is a minor gripe, but some buyers may miss this feature. Those who think they may want to share the machine over a wired or wireless network might want to consider upgrading to the CP1025nw model.

With four individual HP CP1020 toner cartridges to replace, users who do a lot of color printing may find running costs to be high, as they will be replacing toners more frequently. Remanufactured HP CP1020 toner offers a cost-saving alternative, and is available from third-party vendors. Each color LaserJet CP1020 toner cartridge supplies up to 1,000 pages, while the black supply can reach up to 1,200 pages.

While its speed and paper-handling are limited, the CP1020 might hold some appeal for personal users who don't need network support. If buyers can afford its operating costs, it should do well under moderate workloads.