Lexmark C3326dw: short-body color printing with gigabit sharing review

Color printing without an added scanner body

The Lexmark C3326dw fits a small office that needs color documents, automatic two-sided printing and network sharing in a relatively short printer body. Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi are included, alongside a computer USB connection. The main tradeoff is scope and input: this is a print-only model with a 250-sheet tray, rather than an all-in-one or an expandable workgroup paper system.

Lexmark marks the exact US part 40N9010 discontinued. This is a documented earlier-model reference for an installed printer or a specific offer, not a current-stock claim. Check the actual suffix, regional unit, supplies and compatible software before comparing it with another compact Lexmark. A similar-looking family member can have a scanner or different replacement-cartridge limits.

Plan ordinary color reports around their actual mode

The manufacturer declares up to 26 one-sided Letter pages per minute in either black or color. Automatic duplex is separately rated at 13 Letter sides per minute. Those are specifications from Lexmark, not measured results from testing for this article. A two-sided color report should not be planned as though it runs at the one-sided engine figure.

The original paper tables positively support Letter, Legal and A4 in the main input and automatic duplex path. That allows a coherent Legal duplex printing arrangement rather than joining a generic maximum paper size to unrelated two-sided support. Specialty media have their own weight and feed limits. Envelopes are an instructed one-sided routine, and the manual slot handles one sheet at a time.

Choose the network or computer route deliberately

Standard ports include USB Type-B, gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. The Type-B socket is the computer interface. A separate specification saying Direct USB is unavailable should not be used to deny that explicitly listed computer connection. For office sharing, use the appropriate wired network or configured infrastructure Wi-Fi rather than assuming a direct cable provides the same mobile route.

The exact US page identifies AirPrint for Apple printing and Mopria Print Service for Android printing. The original guide also documents a Wi-Fi Direct computer setup, including peer-network configuration and connection steps. These are distinct arrangements: this reference assigns the named mobile protocols to the shared network and does not automatically promise every protocol over every peer connection. Confirm the compatible application, driver and network access on the actual devices.

App capture does not provide printer scanning

Some current product-page text describes capturing documents on a phone, saving scans or using software whose name includes scanning. Lexmark's own support classification explicitly identifies C3326 as print-only color hardware. It has no glass, document feeder, standalone copier or fax. A phone can capture a document separately and send a print job, but that is a different workflow from feeding originals into a printer scanner.

The two-line LCD is an operator panel, not a touchscreen. If routine copying, feeder scanning or faxing is essential, compare an actual multifunction device with the correct document routes. Do not choose this model because a shared marketing paragraph happens to mention cloud scanning or a mobile application.

Paper, workload and consumables set the practical boundary

Included and maximum input are both stated as 250+1 on the 20-pound or 75-gsm basis. The single-sheet manual slot is useful for an occasional alternate sheet, not a second substantial stack. Lexmark recommends 600–2,500 pages monthly, separately from its 50,000-page maximum duty cycle. The much larger duty number should not qualify a routine workload beyond the recommended range.

Supplied toner is declared at 750 black pages and 500 pages for each color under ISO/IEC 19798. US high-yield examples are C331HK0 black at 3,000 pages and C331HC0, C331HM0 and C331HY0 colors at 2,500 each. Standard C3210-family replacements are 1,500 pages. Match geographic compatibility and cartridge-program conditions; yields do not establish today's cost per page.

The body is 16.2 inches wide, 15.5 deep and 9.6 high at 35.5 pounds, before loading and service clearance. Verify the actual electrical label and cord. Choose this reference when compact network color printing solves the job; compare documented multifunction hardware for originals, or a different included paper arrangement when refilling is the main limitation.