Description
The Xerox C325 is a color laser all-in-one for small teams and home offices. Xerox lists copy, print, scan, fax and email functions, a duplex automatic document feeder, print speeds up to 35 pages per minute, a 250 sheet input tray, automatic two sided printing and a 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution. The machine weighs a listed 59.5 pounds, measures 18.7 inches deep by 18.9 wide by 19.3 high, and uses four toner cartridges in cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
The Document Feeder Is the Standout Feature
The letters DADF in the product title stand for duplex automatic document feeder, and this is the specification that separates the C325 from many machines at a similar level.
A plain automatic document feeder pulls single sided originals through the scanner one at a time. A duplex feeder handles two sided originals, capturing both sides without you reloading the stack and re-scanning. If your paperwork is double sided, and contracts, forms and statements usually are, this is the difference between scanning being a background task and being a manual operation. Notably, the more expensive Brother MFC-L8900CDW lists double sided scanning as unsupported, so this is a real point of difference rather than a checkbox.
Xerox pairs that with automatic two sided printing, so the machine both reads and produces duplex documents. The listed print speed of up to 35 pages per minute is respectable for the class, and the specification block gives copy speed at the same figure.
Media Handling and Print Quality
The input tray holds 250 sheets, and the supported media range runs from 3 by 5 inches up to 8.5 by 14 inches, covering everything from index cards to legal documents. Supported media types are listed as plain paper, card stock and labels, which is broader than many color lasers manage. Card stock support in particular is useful for anyone printing business cards, tickets or covers.
Print resolution is listed as 1200 x 1200 dpi with an additional figure of 4800 color quality dots per inch, which is Xerox’s enhanced color descriptor rather than a raw resolution. Take the 1200 x 1200 figure as the real specification. Power draw is listed at 383 watts, which is normal for a color laser at full fusing load and lower than larger machines.
The Cartridge Situation, Which Matters More Than the Machine
Xerox states the box contents unusually clearly, and this is the most important paragraph on the page.
The machine ships with pre-installed starter capacity cartridges: 1,000 pages for each of cyan, magenta and yellow, and 1,500 pages for black. Read the word starter. These are reduced capacity cartridges, not full ones, and they will run out considerably faster than the retail cartridges you buy afterward. For a small office printing a few hundred color pages a month, the color cartridges could need replacing within a few months of purchase.
That is not unusual, and it is not hidden, but it does mean the real cost of ownership starts sooner than the purchase price suggests. Before buying, look up the retail cartridge part numbers and yields for the C325, work out the cost per page across four colors, and decide whether that arithmetic works for your volume. A machine that is cheap to buy and expensive to feed is the standard trap in color laser printing. Compare that against the enterprise HP Color LaserJet M751dn, which ships with full capacity cartridges and drums preinstalled and costs a great deal more up front.
Also included in the box: a software and documentation CD containing the user manual, quick install guide, safety and regulatory information, print drivers and warranty statement; an installation guide; a product safety sheet; a quick use guide; and a power cord. Note that a driver CD assumes an optical drive, which most current machines do not have; download the drivers from Xerox instead.
Highlights
- Color laser all-in-one with copy, print, scan, fax and email functions.
- Duplex automatic document feeder for two sided originals.
- Print speeds up to 35 pages per minute with automatic two sided printing.
- 250 sheet input tray, media from 3 x 5 inches to 8.5 x 14 inches.
- Supports plain paper, card stock and labels.
- 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution with Xerox enhanced color processing.
- Energy Star certified, with a listed power draw of 383 watts.
- Four color toner system with starter cartridges preinstalled.
Things To Consider
One specification needs checking carefully before you buy. The hardware interface field on this listing names Ethernet and USB 2.0 only. Wireless is not listed anywhere in the specification block, although earlier copy on this page described built-in Wi-Fi. If wireless printing is a requirement, confirm it with Xerox for this exact model and configuration rather than assuming it, because the listing does not support the claim and it has been removed from this page.
The specification block also contains the usual import errors. The controller type field reads “Android” and the compatible devices field lists smartphones and tablets, neither of which describes the machine’s interfaces. The resolution field reads 4800 x 1200 while the maximum print resolution fields read 1200 x 1200; the latter is the real figure.
On physical practicalities: at 59.5 pounds and roughly 19 inches in every dimension, this is a substantial machine that needs a dedicated surface and a two person lift. It is not a desk printer in the sense a small monochrome unit is. The Xerox B230 is far smaller if space is the constraint and color is not required.
Finally, note that all-in-ones have more moving parts than print only machines, and the document feeder rollers are the component most likely to need cleaning or replacement over time. If you never scan or copy, a print only machine removes that maintenance entirely.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not
Buy the C325 if you need color printing, scanning, copying and faxing in one machine for a small team or a home office, and particularly if you handle two sided documents where the duplex feeder saves real time. The media flexibility, the 35 page per minute speed and the duplex feeder are all appropriate for a small business that produces its own printed material.
Do not buy it if you print only occasionally, where four color cartridges cannot be justified, and do not buy it without first pricing the retail toner for it. If you need only monochrome, the running costs are far lower; a mono all-in-one such as the Xerox B315 is the cheaper machine to feed. For a print only color machine, the Xerox C410 is the sibling without the scanner. Our laser printers category and toner cartridges category cover the machines and their running costs.
