Epson Workforce Pro WF-4630 (Testing + Comparison)

Not the first multifunction printer (MFP) we’ve examined to utilize Epson’s brand-new, highly regarded PrecisionCore technology is the Epson Workforce Pro WF-4630. But it’s the first we’ve seen that genuinely lives up to PrecisionCore’s promise of quick performance. The WF-4630 is a good pick for a workhorse MFP in a micro or tiny office, considering its low running cost and a lengthy list of multifunction printer functions.

A print chip that can be paired with additional print chips in a single printhead is the foundation of PrecisionCore technology. Each chip increases the ink nozzles in the printer, enabling it to print more pages at once and more quickly. Epson WorkForce WF-3640 and other printers with only two chips don’t stand out much from conventional inkjets. Printers with four chips, such as the WF-4630, stand out from the crowd with their noticeably quick pace.

Epson Workforce Pro WF-4630 Review

The WF-4630 has many of the same characteristics as the Epson WF-3640, except for speed variances. It can function as a standalone copier and fax machine, print from and scan to a USB memory key, and print, fax, and scan to a computer, including via a network.

Additionally, it has a 3.5-inch color touch screen with a functional menu system. The printer can be networked using Ethernet or Wi-Fi, allowing you to print from iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Kindle Fire devices via a WiFi access point.

If the network is connected to the Internet, you can print through the cloud and scan directly to several cloud services (Box, Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive). The cloud-based functions are unavailable if you connect by USB to a single PC, but you may still print from a mobile device by utilizing Wi-Fi Direct to connect directly to the printer.

Paper Handling

With a 330-sheet maximum capacity with capacities for 250 sheets in the front drawer and 80 sheets in the rear tray, the WF-4630’s paper handling is best characterized as just short of exceptional. That makes it simple to move between the two types of paper and keep them loaded, but it isn’t quite as efficient for heavy-duty needs as two 250-sheet trays. On the bright side, there is also an integrated duplexer (for two-sided printing).

The printer includes a letter-size flatbed for scanning and a 35-sheet automated document feeder (ADF) for duplex scanning, which flips the page over to scan the opposite side. Thanks to duplex scanning and printing, you may copy single and double-sided documents to your choice of single or double-sided copies.

Setup, Speed, And Output Quality

Despite the closed output tray, the WF-4630 measures 13.5 by 18.1 by 16.6 inches (HWD), making it a little larger than you might choose to have on your desk. At 31 pounds 5 ounces, it’s also heavy enough that you could need assistance transporting it. However, the configuration is typical.

I attached it to a wired network and used a Windows Vista computer to install the necessary drivers and software for my tests. The WF-4630 measured an astonishingly quick 10.2 pages per minute on our business apps suite utilizing QualityLogic’s(Opens in a new window) hardware and software for timing (ppm).

Compared to the similarly priced HP Officejet Pro 8620 e-All-in-One (from Amazon)(Which opens in a new window), it is now almost twice as quick. With twice as many print chips in its printhead as the Epson WF-3640, it is also nearly twice as fast, at 5.4ppm. The WF-4630’s output quality is a bit inconsistent. In its default setting, an inkjet’s text quality is the best I’ve ever seen, with short, readable letters even at small font sizes.

Unfortunately, several text lines had characters with their tops slightly offset from their bottoms, most likely due to two printhead sweeps that weren’t perfectly matched. The problem shouldn’t be an issue for regular commercial use because it only sometimes occurred in my tests.

But if you require absolutely flawless text, even a single bug can destroy the effect. The graphics quality is more than adequate for any internal business requirement. However, there is some noticeable banding in sizable regions of dark hues like black, dark green, and dark red.

The result was at the high end of the quality you would anticipate from drugstore prints when using the matte presentation paper Epson recommends for most photo printing. However, you might not like how the matte paper looks if you want your images to have a glossy finish. In that case, you can choose one of Epson’s glossy papers.

The reduced operating costs of the WF-4630 are another benefit. The cost per page comes to only 1.6 cents for monochrome, and 8.2 cents for color using Epson’s claimed yields and ink prices. In contrast, the Epson 3640 charges 3.2 cents for monochrome pages and 11.4 cents for color pages on each page.

Despite its inconsistent output quality, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4630 has much to offer. Our Editors’ Choice for a heavy-duty MFP for a micro office is the Epson WF-3640 if you require consistently good text or a bigger paper capacity.

The WF-4630, however, can be a great match as a workhorse printer in a micro or tiny office if you anticipate printing enough pages for the cheap cost per page of the WF-4630 to add up to large savings and An infrequent line of text with the top slightly misaligned from the bottom doesn’t bother you.

Photo Printing

With the WF-4630, print speeds for photos are less outstanding, which is not surprising given that Epson designed the printer for business tasks. I discovered that the WF-4630 could print a 4 x 6 in as little as 30 seconds.

Photo quality will be enough for minor tasks and for domestic and casual use. Meticulous photographers and those who require prints larger than 8.5 x 11 inches should probably use a picture or studio printer. Prints from the WF-4630 have a maximum resolution of 4,800 x 1,200 dpi. Photo experts might be unable to get the great dynamic range for color prints they desire at this resolution.

Today’s market has printers with higher resolutions, such as the Canon Pixma MG7520, which has a dpi of 9,600 x 2,400, and the high-quality Epson XP-420, which has a dpi of 5,760 x 1,440. The WF-4630’s dpi output will be more than adequate for small offices, and those users will probably prefer the versatility of a multifunction network printer to an extraordinarily high dpi.

If you’re thrilled with the final picture quality, you’ll be relieved to learn that Epson’s DURABrite Ultra pigment inks are rated as smudge, fade, and water resistant for your prints. According to claims, the prints can last up to 118 years before fading.

Copying And Scanning

The WF-4630 offers a lot of versatility regarding where you save and store scanned photos. I could select where I wanted my scans to be saved using the touchscreen controller. I could save them on a USB drive hooked into the front USB port, on my Mac or PC connected to my Wi-Fi network, on an iPhone or Android smartphone, or in the cloud using Epson Connect.

It is simple to wirelessly scan to a device connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You should select the Document Capture Pro option on the touchscreen before selecting one of the network’s PCs to send your files to.

Another option is to insert a flash drive and scan it to a memory device. Additionally, you can start a scan from a nearby laptop or PC using the software you obtained from Epson’s website and the WF-4630 as a personal printer. Using this technique, you may use a USB to connect your printer to your computer or the same Wi-Fi network.

Epson Connect scanning is an additional choice. Epson Connect handles scans, with choices for emails to preset email addresses or uploads to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, or Evernote. This is similar to how Remote Print enables people outside their Wi-Fi network to send print jobs to the printer.

When an executive needs papers scanned while away from the office, they can instruct their team, colleagues, or assistant to use Epson Connect to scan, upload, or email the documents straight from the printer without a PC, compared to emailing the files to a PC and then uploading them from a computer, this saves time and involves fewer steps.

Epson Connect is comparable to HP’s ePrint service and Canon’s Maxify Cloud Link. For its Maxify range of business multifunction printers, Canon now offers connection with the same cloud storage services as Epson Connect.

To utilize Epson Connect, you must download the software to your PC or Mac. Once installed, your computer and printer must initially connect to the same Wi-Fi network. To manage the printer, you’ll also need to enter your email address and make a password. The entire procedure seemed simple to me.

After installing the software, you can add email addresses and cloud service accounts by connecting to the web portal on a browser. Once you’ve done that, you can scan documents to the cloud by selecting these accounts from a list of options on the printer.

Star Rating

3.1 out of 5 Stars

Testing

I used Google Drive and Gmail to test Epson Connect’s remote scanning functionality. I had no issues using either technique; the scanned digital files were sent as an email attachment to my Gmail inbox or automatically transferred from the printer to my Google Drive storage. The hardware resolution of the scanner is 2,100 x 2,400 dpi, giving it a resolution of 2400 dpi. The scanner can create files with a 24-bit color depth and a 48-bit color depth.

Setting up this printer was quite simple. Due to the placement of the printer, router, and PCs, hardwiring it to our network was easier for us than going wireless. I installed the necessary software on both of our PCs and presto! We were up and running. Both the print quality and the speed are excellent. The printer has pleased us both, and I would suggest it to anyone seeking a new printer.

Product Comparison

The Epson Workforce Pro WF-4630 is a great option unless your workplace needs to print many photos. You won’t be dissatisfied with the outcomes, and it is adaptable enough to handle office papers with competitive print speeds with laser printers. Epson WorkForce WF-3640 Print anywhere, anytime – from iPad, iPhone, tablets, and smartphones; includes wireless and Wi-Fi Direct.

Remote printing allows executives who operate remotely to submit print jobs to the printer from outside the network, saving time and ensuring that you don’t forget to print all the crucial documents. Additionally, automatic cloud scanning from the printer saves time on document backup. The Epson Workforce Pro WF-4630 should be a healthy option for your small office printer due to its low cost per page of printing and reasonable printer price.

Conclusion

The WorkForce Pro WF-4630 produces high-quality prints at reasonable prices very quickly. This multifunction printer offers excellent office print task management and quality that rivals color laser printers. In addition to the front-loading 250-sheet tray, the automated document feeder can handle double-sided scans and copies, and a specialized rear paper bin adds convenience.

Epson Connect is a helpful feature for remote printing and scanning, and the touchscreen provides simple menus and control when you’re not connected to the business Wi-Fi network.

The WF-3630 contains hardware buttons to easily generate color and black-and-white copies without having to delve into the touchscreen menus, even though the inclusion of a physical dial pad for the fax machine makes the device appear outdated compared to HP’s all-touch controls.

Frequently Asked Questions