The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is a high-performance color laser printer designed for busy offices and demanding workloads. Offering vibrant, high-quality prints in mere seconds, this robust printer boasts impressive speed and expansion options to adapt to evolving business needs. While ideal for professional settings, its versatility extends to home offices, functioning as a rapid photo printer, label maker, and a reliable solution for school projects and general printing tasks. Considering the investment involved in a durable, high-quality color laser printer, this review examines the Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw’s performance, features, and cost-effectiveness to determine its suitability for various printing needs.
The Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw's 50-sheet multipurpose tray is convenient for envelopes and labels.
Design and Build
The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is a robust print-only model, standing 15 inches tall with a footprint of 16.8 by 16.9 inches. Weighing 35.5 pounds, it strikes a balance between stability and manageability, being lighter than many all-in-one units with automatic document feeders (ADFs). For those requiring ADF functionality, Canon’s Color imageClass MF753Cdw is a comparable multifunction option.
Canon’s design choices lend the LBP674Cdw a sleeker appearance than traditional boxy printers. The front is an inch shorter than the back, creating a slightly aerodynamic profile. This design also improves visibility of the top panel. A five-inch adjustable color touchscreen simplifies setup and maintenance, while a discreetly placed USB-A port behind a tilt cover on the opposite side facilitates walk-up printing. The front panel opens easily for toner cartridge access, though the printer ships with starter cartridges pre-installed. A 250-sheet main paper tray and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray for envelopes and labels complete the practical design.
Printing Performance
Canon's Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw delivers speed without sacrificing quality.
The Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is undeniably fast, producing the first page in just 7 seconds. Sustained print speeds reach an impressive 35 pages per minute (ppm) for both color and monochrome documents. Despite this rapid output, the print quality remains exceptional. Color graphics are rendered without lines, gradations are smooth, and photo prints exhibit vibrant colors and impressive detail, although borderless printing is not supported. For superior photo quality, a dedicated inkjet photo printer remains the optimal choice. Monochrome printing is equally impressive, with sharp graphics and crisp text, even at small font sizes, ensuring high-quality output for technical documents, specifications, envelopes, and labels.
The Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw has great photo quality for a color laser printer.
Special Features and Usability
The Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw shows thumbnails to simplify flash drive access.
The LBP674Cdw features a convenient USB-A port for walk-up printing, with security features to restrict access to authorized users. The large color touchscreen displays the contents of a connected flash drive, including thumbnails for easy navigation and printing without requiring a mobile app.
Software and Compatibility
The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw connected to Wi-Fi quickly for fast color prints from any device.
Setup is straightforward, with on-screen instructions guiding users through the process. Wi-Fi connectivity is seamless, and the Canon Print mobile app quickly detects the printer. The Remote UI, accessible via a web browser, offers convenient access to printer settings, and setting up the admin code and PIN during initial setup is recommended. The LBP674Cdw is compatible with Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android, supporting Wi-Fi, USB-B, and Ethernet connections.
Price and Running Costs
The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw has a list price of $630, often discounted to $550 or less online. While more expensive than some competitors like the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw, the Canon offers a superior user experience with its large color touchscreen. Toner costs are a significant factor in long-term ownership. High-capacity toner cartridges offer the best value. Canon’s 069H Black toner provides 7,600 sheets for $184 (2 cents per page), while the standard 069 cartridge yields 2,100 sheets for $98 (4 cents per page). High-yield color cartridges cost $226 for 5,500 sheets (12 cents per page), and standard color cartridges cost $116 for 1,900 sheets (18 cents per page). The included starter cartridges have a lower yield (approximately 1,100 pages for color and 1,200 for black).
Conclusion
The Canon Color imageCLASS LBP674Cdw is a high-performance color laser printer delivering exceptional print quality and speed. Its robust build, versatile features, and expandable options make it a suitable choice for demanding office environments and home offices alike. While the initial cost is higher than some competitors, the investment is justified by its performance and features. However, exploring alternative options is recommended to ensure the best fit for specific needs and budget.
