PROS / With a 500-sheet tray and an additional 30-sheet tray, this printer is perfect for small- and large-volume jobs.
CONS / The printer quality is not as good when it comes to printing small fonts.
VERDICT / More prints means more ink, but we recommend this printer if you have a business that needs to print a lot of documents.
The Epson WorkForce WF-3540 is a workhorse of a wireless inkjet printer. It has a 500-sheet paper capacity, so you won’t have to reload it as often as you would with many of the other printers we reviewed. Plus, there is a 30-sheet duplex automatic dock feed and a rear paper feed. Since this printer is meant to take on high-volume jobs, you are going to spend more in ink costs than you would with many other printers on our lineup. But if you need a multifunction printer that lasts through thousands of prints and gives you above-average copies, you may want to consider the Epson WorkForce.
When it comes to print quality, the WP-3540 falls in the middle of the pack for wireless all-in-one printers. The graphics quality is above average for such a workhorse printer, which makes it great for large businesses’ needs. This includes PowerPoint presentations or graphs you present to customers. Printing text documents is standard. The printer has problems producing clear fonts – mainly with smaller fonts – but unless you have a critical eye, this won’t be apparent or a problem.
Printing speeds are average for this printer. The Epson WorkForce can print 12 black-and-white pages per minute and 9.3 color pages per minute. The printer uses a four-cartridge system and can print at a resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi, which is lower than other wireless printers. But this printer is quiet and only has a noise output of around 38 decibels.
Since this is an Epson printer, you will have access to all the mobile printing capabilities that Epson Connect provides. There is an Ethernet plug, but to streamline the process of printing, Apple AirPrint allows you to download an app and print photos and documents straight from your mobile device. Google Cloud Print connects your wireless inkjet printer to the web, so you can print anything from any device that can connect to the cloud. With Google Cloud, you can even share your printer with other printers on the same network. Epson Connect automatically lets you email a document to the printer from any connected device, and it adjusts the image or text page to fit the dimensions of your media.
On the front of the printer is a slot for a media card and a USB drive. You can print directly from these two ports using the 3.5-inch touchscreen. The display reacts nicely to the touch, and it’s easy to navigate the menus and set up the printer for a wireless network. The WorkForce printer is bulky but not heavy. It’s only 24 pounds, so the plastic almost feels cheap. There is one 500-sheet tray and another 30-sheet automatic feeder. Plus, there is a feed on the back of the printer, which makes it ready to take on big tasks. But, more tasks mean more money spent on ink, which can be a deal breaker for some people in the wireless inkjet market.
The printer has a one-year warranty on all parts, and you can purchase more ink through Epson’s website. There are no FAQs or forums, so if you need help, you can consult the manual and call or email customer support.
Summary
The WorkForce WF-3540 from Epson has a high level of output quality, especially when it comes to graphics, though the printer does have problems with smaller fonts. It is a workhorse when it comes to the volume it can handle due to its 500-sheet tray and additional automatic feeder and rear paper feeder. If you are looking to print a lot of documents, this heavy-duty wireless printer can meet your needs.