The HP M479fdw LaserJet Pro MFP and the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 MFP are evenly matched printers that use different technologies. Which is faster? Is the speed difference worth the price difference? Let’s find out.

HP LaserJet Pro M479fdw — $599.99 USD

The HP M479fdw LaserJet Pro is a laser printer that prints, scans, copies, and faxes. It offers wireless and remote printing as well as Ethernet and USB connectivity. This laser printer has a 600 dpi print resolution and is intended for offices with monthly print volumes of between 750 and 4,000 pages.

The HP M479fdw LaserJet Pro uses standard and high capacity black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toner cartridges. The max ISO page yield is 7,500 ISO pages for the black high capacity toner cartridge. A complete set of high capacity cartridges can cost nearly $900 (with a page yield of about 6,000 to 7,500 ISO pages). You’d need about 5 high capacity cartridge sets each year if you print 2,500 pages per month. That’s more than $4,000 in toner costs each year.

The biggest advantage the HP M479fdw LaserJet Pro has over the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 is speed. As a color laser printer, the HP LaserJet Pro M479fdw has a print speed of 28 ISO pages per minute. However, this advantage virtually disappears because must warm up first and the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 does not.

Epson WF- C5790 Business Inkjet Printer — Starts at $299 USD

The Epson WF-C5790 is an inkjet-based color multifunction printer that prints, scans, copies, and faxes. It also offers USB, Ethernet, wireless, and mobile printing. The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 uses Epson PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology, has a 4,800 dpi print resolution, and is recommended for monthly print volumes of up to 2,500 pages per month.

The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 uses black, cyan, magenta, and yellow pigment inks that come in Epson’s Replaceable Ink Pack System. These ink packs have page yields of up to 10,000 ISO pages. The standard version ($299) comes with a set of starter ink packs while the  Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 Supertank version ($899) includes two years of ink. When you consider the toner costs for the HP M479fdw LaserJet Pro, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 Supertank becomes an incredible bargain.

As for the speed difference, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5790 prints at up to 24 ISO pages per minute — just 4 pages less than the HP M479fdw LaserJet Pro. Keep in mind the lack of warm up time, however, and that speed advantage disappears.

See for yourself in the video below where the two printers print the same 16-page document side by side: