Lexmark Intuition S505 Ink Cartridges

Lexmark S505 Printer Review

The Lexmark Intuition S505 may seem basic upon first glance, but its sleek build gives way to a useful 3-in-1 design that places much of its focus on photo-centric features. The S505 is also surprisingly robust considering its low price tag, printing at maximum speeds of 33 pages per minute for monochrome documents. Having the quickest speeds in its class of inkjet printers and using long-lasting Intuition S505 printer ink will allow the device to support busy home offices with a variety of projects.

With a weight of only 11 pounds and a compact size of 18x14x7 inches, the S505 is light enough to be fairly easily transported and compact enough to share a desktop with a user's PC. Not that user's will necessarily need their computer, since it can function as a standalone copier and includes memory reader slots that enable PC-free photo printing straight from compatible camera cards. Built-in Wi-Fi also means users can print documents from a different room if needed, as well as scan jobs to multiple locations wirelessly.

The option to enhance and preview photos prior to printing is provided with its 2.4-inch color display located on the front control panel. This panel is also equipped with a 4-way pad to navigate through menus, an LED that will indicate when Lexmark S505 printer ink has expired, and a power button.

One useful feature this device lacks is an automatic document feeder, which is a standard fixture on many multifunction units to provide continuous scanning. The machine is also a little light in terms media handling, incorporating only a single input tray that can store a maximum of 100 pages. Users with frequent medium-volume printing needs will have to replenish this tray often.

This unit's highlight is its lab-quality photos, which print with clarity and a sharp resolution of 4800x1200 dpi using color Intuition S505 ink. Monochrome text projects are very high quality, with a crisp resolution 2400x1200 dpi.

The device uses individual cyan, magenta and yellow Lexmark S505 ink cartridges that have a standard yield of 200 pages each, as well as a black supply that can last 170 pages. The option to purchase high-capacity supplies will help users increase their productivity, with each color Lexmark S505 ink cartridge yielding 600 pages and the black supply lasting approximately 510 pages.

There's little fault to find with the S505 because it includes a solid feature set despite its inexpensive asking price, such as flexible connectivity and a useful control panel. Although it could have benefited from a larger media handling, this inkjet printer is still among the top picks in its class of all-in-one home units.