OKI describes the OKI C321DN as a “digital 4 LED full-colour electrophotographic printer”. Yes, we know it’s a mouthful. Let’s just say that the OKI C321DN is a colour laser printer that is specifically designed for home offices, micro offices, and small offices that don’t expect to do a lot of printing.
Technically speaking, however, it is worth noting that this is a LED printer and not a laser printer. This simply means that the printer uses LED’s in place of a laser to provide the heat needed to meld toner to paper. The reason why LED printers are considered to be laser printers is simply that the rest of the technology is identical.
If you read our review of another model in the OKI C300 series i.e. the OKI C331DN, then you would already know what these printers are capable of. The OKI C321DN is actually an upgrade on the earlier model OKI C301DN and the mid-range entrant in the entire series with the OKI C331DN being the top end.
There are not many differences between the OKI C321DN and the OKI C301DN but the ones (RAM for example) that are there do make the former a better option than the latter. As it is, we recommend going for OKI C321DN and giving the OKI C301DN a pass, if you get an option.
Are there better options for home and small office use in the market? Well, there’s no knowing what would be ideal for your specific needs. Even so, we can help you make a good choice with this OKI C321DN review.
Strengths of OKI C321DN
What attracts most people to the OKI C321DN is its initial cost. This is one of the cheapest printer models in the market in its specific segment. Since individuals, micro offices, and small offices tend to be cash-strapped, this printer’s very low initial cost appeals to them especially. However, it isn’t just the price tag. It’s what is available at that price tag.
Consider the fact that automatic duplexing is a standard feature in this printer. This feature can be crucial for cash-strapped users because it will help them save paper, which can be costly. Another feature designed to make this printer pocket-friendly is the Eco Mode. When in the Eco Mode, the printer adjusts the fuser temperature as well as the print speed in a way to make the printer use less energy and help the environment. Another cost and environment saving feature in this printer is the auto-off mode.
Without the Eco Mode, you’ll find this printer to be very fast when compared to other printer models in its segment. The OKI C321DN is formally rated at 22 pages per minute (ppm) for monochrome prints and 20 ppm for colour prints.
The aforementioned OKI C331DN is slightly better with speeds of 25 ppm for monochrome and 23 ppm for colour. When it comes to paper handling, the OKI C321DN actually blows all competitors out of the water. The total paper capacity of this printer is 350 sheets which can be divided into a 250-sheet paper tray and a 100-sheet multipurpose tray. Since this printer is for home and micro offices, OKI didn’t think it needed to provide any additional, optional paper handling. For instance, the OKI C331DN is designed for larger offices so it comes with an optional 530-sheet paper tray.
Regardless of whatever the features of a printer are, its core purpose is to deliver good prints. The OKI C321DN delivers on that front with some of the best text quality, we’ve ever seen. Even the graphics weren’t so bad. So, if you want a printer for mostly printing text, you should definitely consider this printer. Formally, it is rated to produce prints to a maximum resolution of 1200 x 600 dots per inch (dpi).
Weaknesses of OKI C321DN
The primary weakness of the OKI C321DN also lies in its print quality. Like all laser or LED printers in the market, the OKI C321DN fails to print images to a decent quality. While the images being printed are recognisable, they aren’t good enough to be used for any formal purpose. However, if image printing is important for you, then you should probably look at inkjet printers anyway.
There are some other key absences when it comes to the OKI C321DN too. For instance, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) hasn’t provided Wi-Fi connectivity in this printer, which could be a problem if you expect to have a dynamic office. Since Wi-Fi isn’t available, mobile printing isn’t either which is a serious limitation in today’s world. You’ll only be able to connect to this printer through either USB 2.0 or Ethernet.
Finally, the biggest problem with the OKI C321DN is its high running cost. With a genuine cartridge, you can expect this printer to give you a page for about 26.9 cents. This is much higher than the 22 cents per page cost of the OKI C331DN with genuine cartridges. While the high running costs can be a major turn-off for many buyers, it is worth pointing out that running cost only comes into play with high volume printing. If you’re only going to print on an off and on basis, then you’re actually better off considering the one time cost.
Besides, you always have the option of using generic cartridges from Inkjet Wholesale which, by virtue of being so cheap, can take the running costs really down. With decent generic cartridges, for example, the OKI C321DN will churn out pages at a cost of only about 23 cents per page.
Key Features of OKI C321DN
We feel a small word on the build quality of this printer is also warranted. The OKI C321DN is a compact and strong printer that can be placed on a medium sized desk. The OKI C321DN actually measures about 410mm wide, 504mm deep and 242mm high. This means that this is a fairly flat printer.
What you do need to be careful about, though, is the sturdiness of the desk you put it on. The OKI C321DN may not look it but it is quite heavy, coming in at a solid 22 Kg. As a result, you can’t put it on basic shelves and weak desks. You need something strong enough to take that weight.
Even though this printer is designed for low volume use, it still has a very significant maximum monthly printing capacity.
The OKI C321DN’s monthly duty cycle is 30,000 sheets per month, which is more than enough for most businesses. Incidentally, the OKI C331DN’s monthly duty cycle is 45,000 sheets per month.
The control panel of this printer is easy to use and boasts a fairly intuitive menu system. The information is displayed on a two-line LCD screen that measures about 5 cm. The printer comes standard with a 128MB RAM. The OKI C331DN actually comes standard with smaller RAM of 64MB but in that model, you have the option of upgrading up to 640MB.
Leave a Reply