Pros & Cons
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- Very good text quality.
- Fifty-sheet ADF.
- Standalone fax and monochrome copier capability.
- Color scanner.
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- Slow performance for the engine speed.
- Does not include enough memory to print 8-by-10 photos at maximum resolution.
- Can't fax from computer.
Samsung SCX-4720F Specs
| Maximum Scan Area: | 8.5" x 14" |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size: | Legal |
| Printer Category: | Laser |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono): | 22 ppm |
| Scanner Optical Resolution: | 600 pixels per inch |
| Scanner Type: | Flatbed |
| Standalone Copier and Fax: | Copier |
| Standalone Copier and Fax: | Fax |
| Type: | All-In-One |
At the right price, the Samsung SCX-4720F ($500 street) would be an attractive package: a directly connected laser-based AIO with color scanning, a 50-sheet ADF, and the ability to work as a standalone fax and copier. Unfortunately, given the level of performance and output quality that this AIO delivers, the right price would be a bit less than the actual price. And that makes it something of a disappointment.
The SCX-4720F is an appropriately compact size for a small-office AIO, at 18 by 17.7 by 17.1 inches (HWD). That's a little large for the top or your desk, but you'll need to keep it nearby, since the only connection choices are for USB 2.0, which we used, and a parallel port. Setup is typical for the breed, both simple and straightforward.
Samsung rates the printer at 22 pages per minute for both printing and copying, but on our tests (timed with QualityLogic's testing software and hardware, www.qualitylogic.com) the print times were surprisingly slow for the engine speed. The total time for our business applications suite was 16 minutes 58 seconds. As a point of reference, the 21-ppm
Output quality was very good for text, with most fonts easily readable at 5 points or smaller, and none requiring more than 8 points. The graphics rating is at the high end of fair, hurt by banding and some problems printing thin lines. The photo rating is good and might have been better, if we had been able to print our 8-by-10 photos at the maximum 600- by 1,200-dpi setting. When we tried to do so, however, we got Out of Memory errors.
Copying, scanning, and fax features work without problems, with faxing and copying available only through the front panel. That can be a minor issue if you like to enter fax or copy settings from the keyboard, and a more important one if you want to fax a document from your computer. The key issue for the SCX-4720F, however, is that it costs too much for what it provides, particularly for print performance and quality. What makes it hard to recommend unreservedly is not that there is anything wrong with it, but that there is simply too little bang for the buck.
Sub-ratings:
Text: 
Graphics: 
Photos: 
More multifunction printer reviews:
Final Thoughts
Samsung SCX-4720F
At the right price, the Samsung SCX-4720F would be an attractive package: a directly connected laser-based AIO with color scanning, a 50-sheet ADF, and the ability to work as a standalone fax and copier. Unfortunately, given the level of performance and output quality that this AIO delivers, the right price would be a bit less than the actual price. And that makes it something of a disappointment.