Verdict

Pros

• NFC Tap and Print
• Front-panel USB
• Eco-driver

Cons

• Awkward multi-purpose feed
• 20s pre-processing
• Bangs and clunks

What is the Samsung Xpress C1860FW?

Since it entered it, Samsung has taken a substantial share of the colour laser printer and all-in-one market. The Xpress range has innovated with features such as NFC connection for easy mobile print and the C1860FW claims relatively high speeds and boasts useful touchscreen control. It’s aimed at small businesses and workgroups.

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Samsung Xpress C1860FW – Design and Features

In a black/brown and pale grey livery, the machine sits quite high off the desk, but has a comparatively small footprint, as compensation. The flatbed scanner is fitted with a 50-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) though, like the print engine itself, it’s a single-sided device.

In front of the scanner, occupying about two thirds of the printer’s width, is a control panel featuring a 110mm colour touchscreen, which handles most of the machine’s controls. The exceptions are Start and Stop buttons and a number pad for fax number entry and secure printing.

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Samsung Xpress C1860FW – Connections and Installation

Set into the right pillar below the control panel is a USB socket and this can be used for printing documents and as a destination for scans. At the bottom of the main printer section of the device is a 250-sheet paper tray, though there’s no option to increase this by adding an extra tray.

There’s also a multi-purpose feed, but it’s quite a business to use. Normally, a single sheet feed is a slot in the front of a printer where you can feed letterheads or envelopes. Here though, you have to remove the main paper tray and slide the one-off media into place, before replacing the tray. It makes it hardly worth using.

The Samsung C1860FW comes with USB and gigabit Ethernet connections, but to get the most use of its facilities, you need to connect it wirelessly. You then have network printing, but also direct print from mobile devices, which benefits from the tap and print facilities provided by NFC.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S phone, you don’t even need to download Samsung’s mobile print app, as the devices can see this machine directly and print to it.