We take a closer look at the HP LaserJet Pro M102w laser printer

Laser printers are not at odds with space. At least that's not the case with the HP LaserJet Pro M102w, which features a compact design for any location in the office. Practically a bucket capable of maintaining duty cycles of 10,000 copies per month and a speed of up to 22 sheets per minute .

Of course, the HP LaserJet Pro M102w is designed to print documents in black and white. Thanks to this, you can offer a very competitive price of just over 100 euros . We have thoroughly tested this simple professional office printer and these are our conclusions.

Truly compact laser printer

One of the strengths that stands out as soon as you have this HP LaserJet Pro M102w in your hands is its volume. If we consider that it is a professional laser printer , its design is really compact (even minimalist). It measures 356 mm wide by 247.3 mm deep by 190.6 mm high. And with an almost square white cube look. It is also robust, despite its moving parts and trays. Details that allow it to be moved without problem thanks to its 4.7 kilograms of weight, and without the feeling that it will be disassembled at any time.

Despite all moving parts it is a robust and sturdy printer

Only the paper tray sticks out in front of the device from this professional HP printer, breaking with that cubist aesthetic. The HP LaserJet Pro M102w does not have a screen, so its operation is carried out through the few buttons it has . Three to be exact.

The connections are found on the back. Another section that has been reduced to the minimum expression in this laser printer to facilitate its compact size: an AC input and a USB cable to connect. Of course, its strong point is that it can be connected to the WiFi network. Thanks to this, it makes it easy for us to  print from computers, mobiles or tablets without the need for cables .

HP LaserJect Pro M102w Professional Printer Datasheet

Agile office printing

Moving on to the practical and technical section, this HP LaserJet Pro M102w laser printer has some interesting features for office work. And the fact is that the folios seem to fly when they pass through it. It only takes just over 7 seconds to print a first sheet. Of course, as long as the order is given through the cable . Our experience has had more ups and downs when taking advantage of its WiFi connectivity.

When we have printed documents from a computer connected to the same wireless network or from a mobile phone, the waiting time increases significantly. Of course, the HP LaserJet Pro M102w offers the advantage of working with different services such as Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint or Apple AirPrint for the iPhone and iPad.

Aerial view

On paper, HP tells us that this professional LaserJet Pro M102w printer is capable of ejecting up to 22 printed pages per minute. As usual, in our tests we have reached a lower figure. 14 prints per minute . To perform the test, we have chosen a PDF file of a book of more than 400 pages, a demanding document that delays the printing process. It is clear that this is not a printer designed for large workloads, but it meets the day-to-day of an office.

The maximum duty cycle of the HP LaserJet Pro M102w is 10,000 pages per month. A volume more than enough for the vast majority of Spanish SMEs.

Print quality

Regarding the quality of the printing, there is no doubt that it is a laser printer. The HP LaserJet Pro M102w is fast but it is also quite reliable . It is capable of representing shapes of all kinds with clarity and definition. In our tests, he has printed a template with concentric circles and radii in which each element was defined. We have only found less precision in more specific jobs, such as small text or the printing of very fine lines that are close together.

All in all, it perfectly complies with black and white images and with text at normal size. It is ideal for typical office jobs.

Of course, HP ensures that this laser printer is capable of printing at a maximum resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 DPI . Definition that can be noticed in the images but with a certain lack of finesse in some details. Most importantly, there are no smudges, the ink sets instantly, and there are no blemishes in your prints. Being such a compact model, we have detected that it sometimes has a tendency to curl some pages. The heat from the laser ends up slightly bending the pages. Something that is especially noticeable with cut-sheet prints.

is capable of printing at a maximum resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 DPI

A professional printer for any job

For its part, the paper support management of this professional printer is useful for offices with a moderate volume of work. Its main tray holds up to 150 sheets of A4-type paper . However, it has a priority entry with capacity for up to 10 pages. Enough to change the paper at a specific time or do a quick print with a different type of paper. If you opt for envelope printing, the number is reduced to 10 units for this tray.

If we look at the paper output tray we also see a normal capacity for a printer of this size and price. Unfolding the flap, the number of sheets it supports without spilling is around 100 .

Its output tray holds 100 sheets

Installing the HP LaserJet Pro through software

Finally, it must be said that the absence of an LCD screen in this professional printer forces us to look at the computer when installing it. By cable there is no problem . You just have to plug it into the power and the computer. If you have Windows 8 or 10, the operating system recognizes and manages the drivers for the HP LaserJet Pro M102w printer. No need to manage anything.

If you opt for the wireless connection, in this case it is necessary to use the CD that comes with the printer in its box. With it, the drivers and the program that allows your WiFi configuration are installed. Of course, the menus to activate the wireless connection can be somewhat more confusing than models like the HP Officejet X Pro. Of course, neither the price nor the functions come close to those of its older brother.

In short, this is a compact laser printer that offers the necessary functions for a large number of professionals and small businesses. It is ready to receive print jobs from your mobile and both through a cable connection and WiFi. Its capacity in terms of volume and printing speed is balanced with respect to the final price.