HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color Multifunction Laser Printer

The HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color Multifunction Laser Printer is a slow and steady color multifunction laser printer whose results are impressive, if not speedy. It gets up to 12 pages per minute (black) at its top speed, but normal speeds will get you somewhere around seven. Its handy and large touchscreen and wireless / wired networking are pros for offices, but its slow speed and lack of an automatic duplexer make it less than perfect for office environments.

Like others in the LaserJet Pro line, the HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw is no speed demon. It's about as fast as the HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw, a relatively low-end monochrome and single-function laser printer. That means expect first pages out in about 30 seconds, and then an average of about seven seconds per page from there on. In draft mode you'd probably do a few seconds better, with not terrible results--that is, if you can figure out where something like "draft" mode is. There didn't seem to be any way to change the quality of the printed page using the Properties tab that opens when ready to print.

The print quality was uniformly excellent, no matter what was printed. Text at all sizes was sharp and clear, as it should be with a laser printer. Colors looked particularly good on pages with heavy color graphics. Even an 8x10 photo printed out on plain paper looked remarkably good. Monochrome pages had good, deep blacks, unlike some others I've seen where there's an almost greenish hue to black graphics.

The single paper tray handles only 150 sheets. That's disappointing for an office laser printer, especially when the fax has a 250-page memory. Even more disappointing is that duplex printing is manual rather than built in, and I couldn't locate an available duplexer on HP's site, which would suggest that it's not even an option. HP has built an "Eco-Print" mode into its software to help you save paper by duplex printing; but if you've got to open the paper tray each time and flip pages, it's much less likely to happen.

Happily, there was little page curl even on graphics-laden pages. That's great news because page curl can really make a finished product look amateurish.

The CM1415fnw has a few very helpful features. Its touchscreen is very large (3.5 inches), colorful, and easy to use. Wireless was easy to get going and the printer had no issues in connecting to my wireless network. Wired networking and USB 2.0 connectivity is also possible.

One thing to keep in mind about this printer is that it is enormous and weighs in at around 50 lbs. So make sure you have a dedicated corner to put it in (and a helper to assist you with getting the box inside).

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.