Lexmark S515 Ink Cartridges

Lexmark S515 Printer Review

The Lexmark S515 is a 4-in-1 inkjet device that can multitask jobs such as scanning to email, printing in monochrome or color, copying important documents and faxing over the office network. Maximum print speeds of up to 35 pages per minute for monochrome documents and 30 pages per minute for color make the S515 slightly quicker than most models in its class of multipurpose printers. Considering its very low price tag, this machine's inclusion of higher-end features like a versatile control panel and the option to choose from a variety of connection options make it one of the top picks among comparable small and home office units.

The one area the S515 falls slightly behind its competition is its media handling, which includes only one input tray that can support a limited maximum of 100 pages. While an additional bypass or multipurpose tray would have been a nice touch, the unit does benefit from its inclusion of a 35-sheet automatic document feeder for dedicated scanning and faxing.

The real draw to this device is its built-in 2.4-inch color touchscreen LCD, which is not typically seen among units in its price range. This display will allow users to quickly access frequently used features, as well as track a documents progress and select its destination. The device's ample connectivity is also one of its highlights, providing users Wi-Fi and a convenient front USB slot to walk-up and print documents from or scan them to their personal flash drive. In addition, the rear USB port provides a direct connection to a user's PC and the ethernet interface enables sharing documents over the office network.

The S515 is best suited to handle light-duty small offices because it has a maximum monthly duty cycle of 7,000 pages. Monochrome projects have a sharp output and resolution of 2400x1200 dpi that is good enough to support internal documents but not necessarily good enough to hand to a client. Color documents tested to print above par with a high-quality resolution of 4800x1200 dpi using Lexmark S515 printer ink.

The unit's 4-color Lexmark S515 printer ink cartridge system includes individual cyan, magenta yellow and black standard supplies that can last up to 200 pages each. If users find these standard supplies don't meet their printing demands they have the option to purchase high-capacity replacements, which can last up to 700 pages for each color supply and 745 pages for the black Lexmark S515 ink cartridge.

Unless small or home offices are looking for a device that comes equipped with more robust media handling, the S515 is an attractive solution for those with multifunction needs. This unit is also one of the most affordable and straightforward solutions among similar inkjet printers, providing a user-friendly LCD and wireless printing capabilities to make it easy to use.