Xerox Phaser 3260 Printer: In-Depth Review and User Opinions

The Xerox Phaser 3260 is a monochrome laser printer designed for small business and home office use. It offers basic print, copy and scan functionality in a relatively compact desktop form factor.

With a print speed of up to 30 pages per minute, the Phaser 3260 is fast enough for moderate volume printing of documents and web pages. It uses a single cartridge toner system that combines the toner and drum in one user-replaceable unit for simplified maintenance. Connectivity options include USB, Ethernet and wireless networking for flexible setup.

Overall, the Phaser 3260 provides an affordable option for black and white printing, copying and scanning for small offices and workgroups that don't require color output. Its combination of speed, low operating costs and network connectivity make it a practical choice for basic business printing needs.

Print Quality

The Xerox Phaser 3260 is a monochrome laser printer, so it does not print in color. However, the print resolution is excellent at 1200 x 1200 dpi for crisp, sharp text and images.

The printer is relatively fast, able to print at speeds up to 27 pages per minute for black and white documents. While not the fastest laser printer on the market, the print speed is sufficient for most small office needs.

The print engine uses laser technology to fuse toner onto pages, resulting in professional, high-quality output. Text is extremely sharp, even at small font sizes, making this printer well-suited for printing documents with a lot of text. Fine details and lines are accurately reproduced.

Overall, print quality from the Xerox Phaser 3260 is very good for a monochrome laser printer in this price range. The resolution and print engine allow it to produce crisp, professional documents. While it may not match large enterprise printers, the print quality exceeds what you would expect for the price.

Connectivity

The Xerox Phaser 3260 offers a good range of connectivity options. It has built-in Ethernet and WiFi capabilities, allowing you to connect it to your network via a wired or wireless connection.

Setting up the wireless connection is straightforward - simply enter your WiFi password on the printer's touchscreen display and you'll be connected. It supports the latest WiFi standards up to 802.11n, providing fast and reliable wireless performance.

The printer also supports wireless printing directly from mobile devices using the Xerox Print Service plugin. You can print from your smartphone or tablet by installing the plugin and connecting your mobile device to the printer over your WiFi network.

In addition, the Phaser 3260 is Apple AirPrint enabled. This allows you to print directly from Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and Macs without needing to install drivers. As long as your Apple device is connected to the same network as the printer, you can print seamlessly.

With its wired and wireless connectivity options, as well as support for printing from mobile devices, the Xerox Phaser 3260 gives you flexibility in how you connect it and offers convenient printing from PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets.

Print Volume

The Xerox Phaser 3260 is built to handle moderate monthly print volumes. According to Xerox, it is recommended for print volumes between 2,000 to 15,000 pages per month. This makes the Phaser 3260 well-suited for small offices or workgroups with light to medium print demands.

The printer comes with a duty cycle of up to 50,000 pages per month. However, printing at max capacity on a consistent basis is not recommended as it will lead to faster wear and tear. The monthly recommended volume is a better guideline for typical usage. Exceeding the recommended 2,000-15,000 pages per month may impact the lifetime of the device.

For users with print volumes higher than 15,000 pages per month, a heavier duty printer would be a better choice. The Phaser 3260 is not designed for large or enterprise level workloads. It's ideal for smaller businesses, home offices, and personal use where monthly print volumes fall within the 2,000-15,000 page recommended range.

Paper Handling

The Xerox Phaser 3260 has excellent paper handling capabilities. It comes with a 250-sheet main paper tray that can hold letter, legal, or A4 size paper. There is also a 1-sheet bypass tray which allows you to print on thicker media like cardstock up to 32lb.

The main paper tray is adjustable, so you can load different paper sizes in it. The maximum paper capacity is 251 sheets. This includes the main tray which holds up to 250 sheets, and the bypass tray which holds 1 sheet.

The printer supports paper sizes from 3 x 5 in. to 8.5 x 14 in. It can print on media between 16lb bond to 32lb bond. Having the ability to print on heavier cardstock paper up to 32lb from the bypass tray makes this printer suitable for printing brochures, invitations, and other creative applications.

Overall, the paper handling capacity and flexibility of the Xerox Phaser 3260 is excellent for a printer in its class. The dual trays, adjustable main tray, and support for heavier cardstock make it a versatile choice for both office use and creative projects.

Operating Costs

The Phaser 3260 has very competitive operating costs compared to other printers in its class. Here are some of the key factors:

Toner Costs

The printer uses a high-yield toner cartridge that lasts up to 8,000 pages. Replacement high-yield cartridges cost around $55, which works out to just under 1 cent per page for toner. This is very economical compared to many color laser printers.

Power Usage

The 3260 has an instant-on fuser so there is no warm-up time or wasted energy. In power save mode it uses less than 3W. Overall power usage is efficient thanks to the simple monochrome design.

Cost Per Page

Factoring in toner and power usage, the cost per page works out to under 2 cents for basic black and white printing. This makes the 3260 very affordable for high volume printing. Many comparable color lasers have a cost per page closer to 5-10 cents.

The operating costs of the Xerox 3260 make it a great choice if you do a lot of black and white printing. The toner lasts a long time and is inexpensive to replace. Power usage is efficient. And the cost per page is very low compared to other printers.

Design and Build

The Xerox Phaser 3260 has a stylish and compact design that doesn't take up much desk space. It measures 14.6 x 14.2 x 7.5 inches and weighs just 16.5 pounds, so it's easy to move around if needed. Despite its small footprint, it has a 250-sheet paper tray capacity.

The printer itself runs quietly at just 51 dBA during printing. This is quieter than your average conversation and won't disturb you or others around the printer. The minimalistic design features a clean front panel with just a few buttons and an LED screen.

Overall, the 3260 is thoughtfully designed for the home or small office. It has a small, quiet, and unintrusive presence. The sturdy build quality and easy mobility make it convenient to place wherever needed.

Setup and Use

The Xerox Phaser 3260 is designed to be easy to set up and use right out of the box. Initial setup is straightforward, requiring only connecting the power cable, USB cable, and installing the toner cartridge.

Driver installation is hassle-free, with the printer walking you through the process of downloading drivers from Xerox.com and getting connected over USB. It automatically detects the right drivers for your operating system.

Once set up, the Phaser 3260 is simple and intuitive to operate. It has a 2-line LCD display with navigation buttons that make it easy to access printer menus and settings. There are also LED status lights that keep you informed of the printer's status at a glance.

Printing from Windows or Mac is very simple - just select Print and choose the Phaser 3260 as your printer. There are basic print settings available like print quality, paper size, orientation etc. For more advanced users, the drivers provide access to settings for print resolution, toning, color adjustments, and more.

Overall, the Xerox Phaser 3260 focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It's straightforward to get up and running, while still providing customizable options for more experienced users. The intuitive controls and LCD display make it easy to operate and manage printing day-to-day.

Security Features

Xerox has built a number of security features into the Phaser 3260 to protect sensitive documents and data.

The Phaser 3260 allows you to set up password protection on the device. You can password protect the ability to change any settings, which prevents unauthorized users from altering configurations. There is also the option to set up password protected printing, which requires entering a PIN code at the printer before documents will print.

Secure print is one of the most useful security capabilities. When you send a print job, it will hold at the printer until you physically go to the device and enter your PIN code. Only then will your document be printed. This prevents sensitive documents from sitting unattended in the output tray for anyone to access.

You can also utilize the encrypted hard drive option if your organization handles especially sensitive data. This will encrypt all data written to the hard disk drive installed in the Phaser 3260.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Compact and lightweight design makes it easy to place the printer anywhere
• Automatic 2-sided printing helps save paper
• Fast print speeds up to 27 ppm black and white
• 250-sheet input tray capacity
• LED toner lasts longer than standard toner
• Ethernet and wireless connectivity for flexible setup

Cons

• No color printing capabilities
• Small 2-line LCD display isn't intuitive
• Maximum monthly duty cycle of 15,000 pages may be limiting for high volume use
• Only compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems
• Lack of ADF for scanning multiple pages

Overall, the Xerox Phaser 3260 is a reasonably priced monochrome laser printer well-suited for home offices or small businesses with light to moderate print volumes. Its compact size, fast speeds, standard duplexing, and wireless networking make it a flexible option. The main limitations are no color, small display, and lower monthly duty cycle compared to higher end models. For those seeking an affordable, entry-level monochrome laser printer, the Xerox Phaser 3260 hits a sweet spot on features and price.