HP Color Laser 150a Printer Review: Features And Best Market Price 

When it comes to choosing an affordable colour laserjet printer for your home or small office, the HP Color Laser 150a offers a compact and efficient solution.

Note that this printer is not multifunction and wireless. If a laserjet colour multifunction printer is what you are after, check out HP color laser mfp 178nw, they use the same toner cartridge and have the same print quality except that color laser 178nw is a multifunction, wireless and more expensive printer.

In this review, let’s walk through various aspects of this printer to help you make an informed decision. Check here for detailed specifications.

1. Connectivity

The HP Color Laser 150a comes with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port, which means it’s designed for direct connection to your computer. While it lacks network capabilities and wireless connectivity, this printer is suitable for individual or small-scale use.

2. Print Quality

One of the standout features of the HP Color Laser 150a is its impressive print quality. With a resolution of 600 x 600 dpi in 4 bits, this printer delivers sharp and vibrant prints, making it ideal for documents, presentations, and even basic graphic prints.

3. Print Speed

The printer offers a print speed of up to 18 ppm for black and white documents and up to 4 ppm for colour documents. While it may not be the fastest in its class, it’s perfectly adequate for everyday printing needs.

4. HP Color Laser 150a Toner Cartridge: HP 117A Laser Toner Cartridges

The HP Color Laser 150a uses four individual toner cartridges – one each for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. The included introductory cartridges have respectable page yields. However, for high-volume printing, you can replace them with HP 117A Original Laser Toner Cartridges. The black cartridge offers a yield of 1,000 pages, while the colour cartridges yield approximately 700 pages each.

For those printing on a budget, opting for HP toner refill services or using HP third-party toner cartridges might be a good choice. However, be mindful of the quality or compatibility of the refill toner powder being used to refill your HP toner cartridge or the quality of the HP third-party toner cartridge to avoid damaging your printer. 

5. Design and Paper Handling

With its compact dimensions (382 x 309 x 211.5 mm), the HP Color Laser 150a is space-efficient and should fit comfortably on most desks. It has a 150-sheet input tray and a 50-sheet output bin, which is suitable for light to moderate printing tasks. 

The printer supports various media types, including plain, light, heavy, extra heavy, coloured, preprinted, recycled, labels, bond, and glossy paper. Custom media sizes from 76 x 148.5 mm to 216 x 356 mm are also accommodated.

6. Printer Software and Compatibility

The HP Color Laser 150a is compatible with a range of Windows operating systems, from Windows 7 to Windows 10. It also supports Windows Server editions. 

The setup poster, reference guide, and support flyer included in the box provide clear instructions for installation and use.

7. Special Features

While the HP Color Laser 150a doesn’t boast an extensive list of special features, it does incorporate power-saving technologies like HP Auto-Off and Power Save. This helps reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

8. Price of HP Color Laser 150a Printer in Nigeria: ₦180,000

As of the time of this review, the HP Color Laser 150a is priced at ₦180,000. While it’s not the most affordable option on the market, it offers a balance of quality and performance, making it a reasonable investment for individuals or small businesses. 

This printer is also one of the cheapest colour laserjet printers in Nigeria. Contact me for the current market price.

9. Key Advantages of the HP Color Laser 150a

Good Print Quality: The printer offers a respectable print resolution of 600 x 600 dpi, resulting in sharp and vibrant prints, making it suitable for various document types.

Compact Design: Its compact dimensions make it a space-efficient addition to your workspace, fitting comfortably on most desks.

Individual Toner Cartridges: The use of four individual HP 117A laser toner cartridges for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow allows you to replace only the colour that’s running low, reducing overall consumable costs.

Paper Handling Variety: The printer supports various media types and custom media sizes, providing flexibility for different printing needs.

Energy-Saving Features: The inclusion of energy-saving technologies like HP Auto-Off and Power Save helps reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Price: For a price of ₦180,000 this printer is a great deal for a colour laserjet printer. 

10. Key Disadvantages of the HP Color Laser 150a

Limited Connectivity: The printer lacks network capabilities and wireless connectivity, which may restrict its use in networked environments.

Moderate Print Speed: While adequate for most home and small office tasks, the print speed of 18 ppm for black and white and 4 ppm for colour may not be sufficient for high-volume printing.

Small Paper Input Capacity: The 150-sheet input tray and 50-sheet output bin may be insufficient for users with heavy printing demands.

No Duplex Printing: The lack of automatic duplex printing may inconvenience users who frequently print on both sides of the paper.

Limited Special Features: The HP Color Laser 150a does not offer an extensive list of special features beyond basic functionality.

One-function printer: The HP Color Laser 150a does not scan, copy or fax which might be a big turn-off for those looking for a multi-function printer.