HP launches quicker, quieter laser printers

New chemistry, new design and new thinking that's the promise of HP's bright-eyed new generation of laser printers HP.

The new chemistry comes in the form of reimagined toner, dubbed ColorSphere 3, with a hard shell to protect the integrity of the toner. This, HP claims, means more of the toner remains useable during the cartridge's life, with conventional toner vulnerable to degradation.

This also means the cost per page will reduce by nine per cent as HP is able to pass on efficiencies.

Because the toner doesn't need to heat up as much, HP has also reduced the time it takes for the first page to appear. Even from standby, it's promising that pages can appear in less than 10 seconds.

The new design is obvious as soon as you lay eyes on the printers, with a shiny white finish that HP's designers have shaped to fit into modern office design.

They're also up to 40 per cent smaller than previous HP designs, in part because the toner cartridges are now much more compact. We found, listening to the printers in action, that they're also quieter than previous LaserJets, with HP claiming this is due to a number of design enhancements.

Another irritation consigned to history is the shaking of cartridges and removal of strips you simply place the new toner cartridge into place and the protective lid is forced into the body of the cartridge.

HP is launching with a range of four lasers, from the small-office-friendly Colour LaserJet Pro M252 and Colour LaserJet Pro MFP 277. These will cost 150 inc VAT and 230 inc VAT respectively.

HP has larger workgroups in mind with the HP Colour LaserJet M552 and M553, with groups of between five and 15 users that print up to 6,000 pages per month. Prices start at 372 inc VAT.

All the printers will be available to buy from the 1st of April 2015.