Compatible Toners, Drums & Ink Cartridges

HP LaserJet P2055 Printer

Pantum is a new printer brand that’s focusing its attention at the lower end of the laser printer market. Although Pantum’s new, it's owned by the large Chinese consumables manufacturer Seine Technology, so it isn’t a fly-by-night outfit. At a glance, Pantum's range of mono lasers seems comprehensive, but in essence there are only three models, each available with two or three finishes. The P2050 reviewed here is the black version of the mid-range model, rated at 20 pages per minute (ppm) and capable of a claimed 20,000-page maximum monthly duty cycle. P1000-series models have a slower 16ppm speed, while the P3000 series claims 30ppm and a 50,000-page duty cycle. There are no network models; all connect by USB only. Unpacked, the P2050 is a compact and rather neat device, standing out from the box-like crowd with some pleasing curves around the front. It's an unusually light printer, and its thin plastic construction soon becomes apparent. The cheap-feeling input tray is a simple fold-down device with no dust cover, and its paper guides feel recalcitrant and flimsy. The fold-up stop forming part of the 100-sheet output tray feels similarly flexible, while the consumable, which combines toner and drum in one unit, clatters into position. It's not the most encouraging first impression, but things soon begin to improve. Pantum's software installer is refreshingly quick, and the driver utility it installs is simple to comprehend. All of the features we expect are present, including multiple-page printing and manual duplexing.