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The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw is a four-function color laser printer for offices that value quick, sharp document output: it prints, copies, scans, and faxes, with HP rating black and color printing at up to 26 pages per minute. Its biggest drawbacks are less convincing scans—RTINGS says image processing removes fine detail—and poor photo output. For a small office focused on documents, it is a capable fit; for frequent scanning, photos, or minimizing toner expense, compare alternatives first.
What the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw offers
This review concerns HP’s US model, product number 499Q5F. Similarly named 3301, 3302, 3303, and 3301cdw variants may differ by market and features, so verify the exact model sold in your region.
HP specifies print, copy, scan, and fax functions, a 4.3-inch color display, automatic two-sided printing, a 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF), a flatbed scanner, and two standard paper trays. Listed connections include Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Mopria, and HP’s mobile app. The ADF is simplex: it does not automatically scan both sides of a page.
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How fast does it print?
HP rates the printer at up to 26 pages per minute (ppm) for both black and color letter printing. That figure is measured under ISO/IEC 24734 and excludes the first set of test documents; actual speed varies with the computer, driver, software, and document complexity. HP lists first-page-out times as fast as 10.8 seconds for black and 10.9 seconds for color. Its datasheet rates duplex printing at up to 15.5 images per minute.
#1 Best Overall
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality color documents and reports plus fax. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—next-generation TerraJet toner brings your business to life with more vivid colors
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, fax, auto 2-sided printing, 2-sided single-pass scanning, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray.
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business.
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.
Those are manufacturer specifications, not independently observed results. RTINGS likewise identifies print speed as a strength for document work. In its comparison, the HP’s rated 26 ppm can suit black-and-white workloads better than the Brother MFC-L3780CDW and MFC-L3720CDW, which it describes as slower at 20 ppm for black printing.
Is the HP 3301fdw good for scanning?
It is convenient for routine office scanning, but image quality is a meaningful weakness. RTINGS reports that the scanner’s processing removes fine detail and background elements. The ADF can speed up batches, but it is simplex, so double-sided originals require another pass or manual handling.
Rank #2
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality color documents and reports. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—next-generation TerraJet toner brings your business to life with more vivid colors.
- ORIGINAL HP TONER CARTRIDGES – This HP printer uses Original HP 218A standard and 218X high yield LaserJet toner cartridges.
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray.
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business.
HP’s datasheet specifies scanning up to 20 ppm in black and white and 9 ppm in color. RTINGS describes up to 19 ppm through the ADF with a grayscale preset. These figures refer to different stated conditions and should not be treated as a single guaranteed scan speed. HP lists flatbed optical resolution up to 1200 × 1200 dpi and ADF resolution up to 300 × 300 dpi.
If scanning quality, high-volume document handling, or built-in OCR is central to the purchase, RTINGS favors the Brother MFC-L8905CDW’s scan quality and ADF handling; it also says the Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw produces better-looking scans than the HP. Those are review comparisons, not a guarantee for every workflow or setting.
Rank #3
- INCLUDES 4 STANDARD-YIELD CARTRIDGES: Black (W2180A), Cyan (W2181A), Magenta (W2183A), Yellow (W2182A) for sharp text and vibrant color prints.
- COMPATIBLE HP PRINTERS: Works with HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw; Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw, 3301sdw, 3301cdw Series.
- PAGE YIELD: Black cartridge prints up to ~1,300 pages; each color cartridge prints up to ~1,200 pages (ISO/IEC standards).
- RELIABLE PERFORMANCE: Original HP toner prevents leaks, reduces premature failures, and ensures consistent, professional-quality results.
- SECURITY & SUSTAINABILITY: Tamper-resistant chips protect against malicious code; cartridges meet eco-label emissions guidelines and contain recycled content.
How good is its print quality?
RTINGS rates document printing as outstanding with minor issues, making the 3301fdw much better suited to reports, forms, and business documents than to photographs. It says photos look poor, while noting that this limitation is common among color laser printers. If photo output matters, compare photo-oriented inkjet printers rather than treating this machine as a general-purpose photo printer.
What toner does the HP 3301fdw use?
The printer uses four HP 218-series cartridges. HP’s approximate yields are based on ISO/IEC 19798 continuous printing; actual pages vary considerably with image coverage and other print conditions.
Rank #4
- FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing professional-quality color documents and reports. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
- PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIVITY – Proficiency with every print—next-generation TerraJet toner brings your business to life with more vivid colors
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, auto 2-sided printing, and a 250-sheet input tray
- AWARD-WINNING RELIABILITY – Performance you can count on page after page, and always ready for the high demands of business
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
| Cartridge | Standard HP 218A | High-yield HP 218X |
|---|---|---|
| Black | W2180A — approximately 1,300 pages | W2180X — approximately 3,200 pages |
| Cyan | W2181A — approximately 1,200 pages | W2181X — approximately 2,500 pages |
| Yellow | W2182A — approximately 1,200 pages | W2182X — approximately 2,500 pages |
| Magenta | W2183A — approximately 1,200 pages | W2183X — approximately 2,500 pages |
HP’s support listing reports that the included introductory toner yields approximately 600 black pages and 500 pages for each color cartridge. Those starter yields are lower than the standard replacement-cartridge figures.
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HP identifies this printer as dynamic-security enabled and warns that updates may prevent cartridges using non-HP chips or circuitry from working now or in the future. That is a compatibility caveat, not proof that every third-party cartridge will fail. HP 218A and 218X are the documented replacement families.
Best Value
- INCLUDES 4 HIGH-YIELD CARTRIDGES: Black (W2180X), Cyan (W2181X), Magenta (W2183X), Yellow (W2182X) for sharp text and vibrant color prints.
- COMPATIBLE HP PRINTERS: Works with HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw; Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw, 3301sdw, 3301cdw Series.
- PAGE YIELD: Black cartridge prints up to ~3,200 pages; each color cartridge prints up to ~2,500 pages (ISO/IEC standards).
- RELIABLE PERFORMANCE: Original HP toner prevents leaks, reduces premature failures, and ensures consistent, professional-quality results.
- SECURITY & SUSTAINABILITY: Tamper-resistant chips protect against malicious code; cartridges meet eco-label emissions guidelines and contain recycled content.
Will toner costs make it expensive to run?
The available specifications establish cartridge yields, but not a current cost per page: that calculation depends on local cartridge prices and actual coverage. Before buying, compare current prices for the 218A and 218X cartridges with your expected monthly mix of black and color pages. Higher-yield cartridges may reduce replacement frequency, but the value depends on their price premium and your usage.
RTINGS says the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw and MF654Cdw offer significantly higher toner yields and can have lower ongoing costs, at the expense of slower printing. It also describes the Brother MFC-L8905CDW as offering higher yields and lower recurring costs. These are relative findings from its review, not a current price calculation or ranking.
Who should buy the HP 3301fdw?
HP recommends a monthly volume of 150 to 2,500 pages. Its listed 40,000-page monthly duty cycle is a maximum-capacity figure, not a sensible routine target. The model is therefore best considered by a home office or small business with regular document printing within the recommended range, especially if print speed and all-in-one functions matter.
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- Consider it if: fast color and black document printing, automatic duplex printing, fax, and broad connectivity are useful in one machine.
- Look elsewhere if: you scan large two-sided batches, need strong scan detail or OCR-centered workflows, print many photos, or prioritize lower ongoing toner costs.
RTINGS describes the HP as more compact than the Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw, while saying the Canon feels sturdier. That may help if desk space or perceived build matters, but it does not outweigh the workload-specific tradeoffs above.
Verdict
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw is a strong document-first color laser MFP: its rated print speed, useful office features, and praised document output suit a small office that needs printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. Its scan processing and photo output are clear compromises, and toner spending should be checked against current local cartridge prices before purchase. Choose it for fast office documents—not for photo printing or scan-heavy work.
Quick Recap
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