Despite the popularity of electronic document management, the rejection of printing is not visible even in the distant future. Printers were, are and will be popular devices. And, noticing the prospects, Huawei created their own MFP PixLab X1. What is an MFP? It’s simple, it’s two in one – a printer with a built-in scanner and, accordingly, a copier.
Appearance
Huawei did not experiment with the design, but preferred the strict style inherent in office equipment. A nice finishing touch, the effect of a floating scanner, achieved by mounting the upper block on hidden black supports. The case is made of matte plastic with a rough texture. This one does not get dirty or scratched, the emphasis is on practicality.
The control panel has somewhat departed from the ideas of practicality. It is glossy and strewn with LED indicators, some of which are also touch buttons. The possibilities are minimal, and the controls are simple. I chose the number of copies, pressed “Start” – copying started. There is support for duplex printing, by the way, it is automatic here, but more on that later.
Print and Scan
Monochrome laser printing is great for documents – text, tables and graphs. A color image will also be legible, thanks to a sufficient amount of grayscale, but there is not much point in this. By default, PixLab X1 gives a print resolution of 600×600 DPI, but this can be increased to 1200×600 DPI. Let me remind you that the typographic standard is half as much – 300 DPI. From sending a document to print to a finished page, it takes no more than 8.5 seconds, and in total PixLab X1 can print up to 28 pages per minute. Our hero does not overheat and does not spoil the paper, although this sometimes happens with other laser printers.
Advantage of Huawei printer in automatic two-sided printing. When sending a print job in the settings of the same Word, it is enough to select two-sided printing, and the printer will do the rest. This is much more convenient than remembering how to flip sheets for manual duplex printing.
The closed tray holds 150 pages. Before use, the tray will need to be adjusted to the paper size, as the printer supports several options. The variety is relatively small: A4, B5 JIS, A5 (SEF), B6 ​​JIS (SEF), A6.
Please note that when the tray is extended to A4 format, a plastic casing comes out from the back of the printer. It should be considered when installing the MFP in a limited space.
The scanner, unlike printing, supports color and has the same resolution: 600×600 DPI at standard quality and 1200×600 DPI at high quality. The quality is really good, with PixLab X1 I scanned most of the family archive from the film photography days. Scanning A4 at the highest quality takes a minute, lowering the quality speeds up the process. When scanning documents or books that are not very thick, the scanner lid hinges are raised slightly to ensure even pressure. A trifle, but very useful, but not in all models.
Of the chips, I note the copying of cards or business cards. If you scan, for example, a driver’s license, the printer will allow you to run both sides of the document, and then independently select the borders and arrange them on one sheet. All this in automatic mode after pressing the Card Copy button on the control panel.
Cartridge maintenance and replacement
The pre-installed X-15000 drum cartridge yields 15,000 pages. The drum cartridge is located inside the case under a kind of hood and you need to have certain skills to replace it.
That is why the developers of Huawei PixLab X1 added a separate F-1500 toner cartridge to the design, which is easy to replace. It’s small, predictably rated at 1,500 pages, and sits behind a hinged door. Removal in two movements without the risk of getting dirty on the inside of the printer. As I understand it, initially a dummy was installed instead of the F-1500, since the main drum, according to the company’s calculations, will last for 6 years.
During testing, PixLab X1 was not noticed behind a paper jam, but this is not excluded, especially if the sheets are initially not very smooth. To remove damaged paper, a door is provided at the back that exposes the printing mechanism.
Connecting to a computer or smartphone
The PixLab X1 MFP is part of the Huawei ecosystem and supports Device+ auto-discovery, compatible with Huawei (HONOR) laptops and devices running EMUI 12 or HarmonyOS 2.0. You can also add a printer to the AI ​​Life app manually through any Android and iOS device. Thus, for the first setup, you do not need a computer at all. The connection is made via Wi-Fi or via an Ethernet cable connected to the router.
Through the application, you can start copying and scanning, as well as send documents for printing. If you bring a smartphone with an open picture, a web page or a document from the WPS office to the NFC tag of the printer, the print job will be sent in a couple of clicks.
For conservatives, a USB connection is also provided, the kit even has a suitable cable. However, Windows 10 on my laptop correctly identified the MFP, but could not find a suitable driver. I had to look for the installation file in the old fashioned way. Along with it, a minimalistic Huawei Print utility was installed. It repeats the functionality of the mobile application: it allows you to check the status of the device, start copying and scanning, and also make settings. The utility continues to work even after the printer is connected via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable.
The control panel does not have the usual off button, instead it provides a standby mode when the printer is not in use. For forced shutdown, you can use the toggle switch next to the power connector. By the way, the cable is the usual three-core, and the power supply is built-in.
Review after two weeks of use
Huawei’s debut in the home printing market was a success, PixLab X1 – high-quality MFP, designed for printing documents at home or in the office. By definition, it is not suitable for photographs; after all, it is a laser technology. Of the chips, I note a convenient split cartridge, whose replacement will not be a problem for ordinary users. I also liked the automatic two-sided printing, which helps save paper when it comes to printing drafts. The scanner also did not disappoint, the quality is high, and the scanning speed cannot be called slow.
The key feature of Huawei PixLab X1 is its integration into the company’s developed ecosystem. Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, a handy smartphone app, and a built-in NFC tag make everyday use a lot easier.
Pros:
- high-quality and fast printing;
- drum cartridge for 15,000 prints;
- optional removable cartridge for 1500 pages;
- integration into the Huawei ecosystem;
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB connection.
Minuses:
- when using A4, the dimensions of the MFP increase.
May not like:
- monochrome printing only;
- glossy plastic on the control panel.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
