A credible alternative to laser

Epson L6190. By Ng Chong Seng

byNg Chong Seng

Epson L6190. By Ng Chong Seng

At $539, the Epson L6190 is at first glance a pretty expensive inkjet all-in-one (print, scan, copy, fax) device. But that’s not without reason. Designed to go up against laser printers, this 4-color ink tank system printer’s biggest asset is its ability to print up to 7,500 pages in black-and-white, and up to 6,000 pages in color with just a single set of ink bottles. And unlike toner cartridges, the replacement ink bottles don’t cost an arm or a leg: a bottle of black ink goes for $14.90, while a bottle of color ink is priced at $9.90.

The L6190 is also part of Epson’s latest ink tank system printer lineup that comes with a new chassis design. For one, the ink tanks are now moved to the front to blend in better with the printer; previously, the ink tank housing was a giant attachment that’s bolted to the printer’s side. Secondly, the ink filling system has been re-engineered to minimize the risk of spills, and the nozzle of each ink bottles is now diff erent from the others to prevent you from refilling an ink tank with the wrong ink.

The L6190 is equipped with a 30-page automatic document feeder (ADF), a 250-sheet paper tray, a 2.4-inch touch panel, and supports double-sided printing (a rarity for ink tank printers). In addition to Ethernet and USB connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, so it’s easy to print from smartphones or tablets using Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria Print Service, or through the free Epson iPrint app. You can also scan files and upload to the cloud for later retrieval.

The L6190’s print performance doesn’t disappoint. Using Epson’s advanced PrecisionCore printhead to hit a top resolution of 4,800 x 1,200 dpi, the L6190 is able to churn out prints with very sharp and full-bodied text, and graphics that handle color gradations well. Additionally, its black ink is pigment-based for better blacks and water resistance. All three printers can’t print gallery quality photos, but for family photos in 4R or even A4, they are more than up to the task.

Speed-wise, the Epson L6190 is able to churn out our PDF test document at a speed of 14.3ppm for mono and 8.3ppm for color, with a fast first-page-out timing of 8 and 14 seconds respectively. Comparatively, Canon’s $289 Pixma TR8570, also a 4-in-1 AIO but which only prints around 250 pages with its standard cartridges, clocks in at 11.4ppm for mono and 8.4ppm for color.

In summary, the L6190 makes a lot of sense if you print a lot and are feeling the pinch when replacing your current ink or toner cartridges. If you don’t need the fax function and can accept a smaller 150-sheet paper tray, there’s a L6170 that can be had for $499. Epson also sells an L6160 that additionally takes away the 30-sheet ADF, and this model has a sticker price of $459.

CONCLUSION

"An inkjet printer designed for highvolume environments. The more you print, the more you save."