Printer review: HP LaserJet Enterprise M506dn

08/28/2019

Overall Rating: 3.9/5.0

HP built the HP Laserjet Enterprise M506dn with space in mind. This little powerhouse sits on the corner of a desk and cranks out pages with the speed and dexterity of much larger machines. The M506dn packs a lot of punch in a small package.

Note: This printer model has been discontinued.

Active Three-Year-Old

But all that power comes with a hefty price tag. The M506dn sold for around $750 when it was introduced in March 2016. However, unlike many three-year-old printers, the M506dn appears to have aged gracefully.

In printer terms, that means the software hasn’t become too outdated and the machine still produces sharp prints.

Also, one of the things that makes the M506dn succeed is its simple form factor. It doesn’t scan, copy or fax. It makes black-and-white prints and it does it well.

The “ d” in its name refers to the M506’s built-in duplexer, allowing automatic two-sided printing. The “n” means this printer can be connected to any office network. Big brother, the M506x, comes with an additional 550 sheet paper tray.

Work Smarter With HP LaserJet Enterprise M506dn

HP claims the M506dn helps you work faster yet uses less energy overall, thanks to its energy-efficient design and HP’s JetIntelligence toner cartridges.

The JetIntelligence cartridges use diagnostic and operational software to increase the efficiency of toner cartridges. According to HP you can get 33% more prints from its original JetIntelligence toner cartridges.

The M506dn has print speeds of 45 pages per minute. This printer allows you to print from nearly any wireless device, yet it keeps things secure with 128-bit encryption. You can also print Word, Powerpoint, and PDF documents directly from a USB thumb drive.

The Critics Have Spoken

Over on Amazon, the M506dn earned 3.8 stars out of five, with 39 positive reviews and 8 critical ones. A couple of users complained about the paper trays not working as specified. (“One year and five days and the paper tray broke!” one user laments.)

Most reviewers like the M506dn’s compact size, ease of setup (“very easy to deploy over a network,” one user writes) and trouble-free operation. (“No jams, and it’s fast as can be!” a happy M506dner exclaims.)

Reviews on HP’s site earned the M506dn 3.3 out of 5 stars with a handful of reviewers checking in. Most are satisfied with the M506dn, but there are still a couple folks having paper tray issues.

PC Mag was impressed with the M506dn’s speed and paper-handling, though it found the machine’s black text printed a bit gray. (“As long as you don’t need high-quality, very small fonts, the M506dn should be okay,” the magazine reports.) PC MAg gave the M506dn 4 out of 5 stars.

Cost Per Page

The M506dn uses HP87A toner cartridges and HP87X high capacity cartridges. A standard 87A cartridge yields 9,000 pages and retails for 236.99, for a cost-per-page of approximately 3-cents.

The HP 87X high-capacity cartridges yield 18,000 pages and retail for 320.99, brings the cost-per-page down to roughly 2-cents. Of course, you can bring that cost-per-page down further by buying your genuine HP toner for less at Toner Buzz!

Overall, we give the HP M506dn 3.9/5.0 for its durability and rock-solid performance!

The HP LaserJet Enterprise M506dn Complete Specs

General

Printer Type - Workgroup printer - laser - monochrome
Manufacturer - HP

Camera

Installed Size - 4 GB

Printer

Print Speed - Up to 43 ppm - black normal - A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in)Up to 34 ipm - B/W duplex - A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in)Up to 65 ppm - black draft - A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in)Up to 45 ppm - black normal - Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in)Up to 36 ipm - B/W duplex - Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in)
Built-in Devices - numeric key pad, status LCD
Connectivity Technology - wired
Interface - USB 2.0, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0 host
AirPrint Enabled - Yes
Image Enhancement Technology - HP ProRes 1200 / HP FastRes 1200
Automatic Duplexing - Yes
PostScript Support - standard
First Print Out Time B/W - 5.9 sec
Language Simulation - PCL 5, PCL 6, PDF 1.7, PostScript 3
Fonts Included - 105 x TrueType92 x PostScript 3
Printer Features - Instant-on Technology, JetIntelligence Cartridge Technology, hardware integration pocket
Media Handling - 100-sheet multipurpose tray, 550-sheet input tray
Type - workgroup printer
Min H-Document Size - 3 in
Min V-Document Size - 5 in
Max H-Document Size - 8.5 m
Max V-Document Size - 14 in
Media Type - bond paper, card stock, envelopes, labels, plain paper, preprinted paper, punched paper, recycled paper, transparencies
Media Sizes - 3 in x 5 in, 3.95 in x 5.9 in, 4 in x 5.83 in, 8.5 in x 11.7 in, A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in), A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in), A6 (4.13 in x 5.83 in), Executive (7.25 in x 10.5 in), JIS B5 (7.17 in x 10.12 in), JIS B6 (5.04 x 7.17 in), Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in), Oficio (8.5 in x 13.5 in), RA4 (8.46 in x 12 in), Statement (5.5 in x 8.5 in)
Min Media Weight - 60 g/m²
Max Media Weight - 199 g/m²
Envelope Sizes - International B5 (6.93 in x 9.83 in), International C5 (6.38 in x 9 in), International C6 (4.5 in x 6.38 in), International DL (4.33 in x 8.66 in), Japanese Postcard (3.95 in x 5.83 in), Japanese Postcard Double (5.83 in x 7.87 in), Monarch (3.87 in x 7.5 in), US No 10 (4.1 in x 9.5 in), US No 9 (4 in x 9 in)
Total Media Capacity - 650 sheets

Power Device

Type - power supply
Nominal Voltage - AC 110 V
Frequency Required - 60 Hz
Power Consumption Operational - 741.98 Watt
Power Consumption Stand by - 13.72 Watt
Power Consumption Sleep - 2.51 Watt
Form Factor - internal

Connectivity

Mobile Printing Capability - Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print 2.0, HP ePrint, Mopria Print Service

Miscellaneous

Compliant Standards - FCC Class A certified, UL, CISPR 22 Class A, cUL, GS, Laser Class 1, FCC CFR47 Part 15, EN 60825-1, CECP, EN 61000-3-3:2008, EN 61000-3-2:2006+A1:2009+A2:2009, EN 60950-1:2006, IEC 60825-1:2007, EN 62479:2010, EMC 2004/108/EC, LVD 2006/95/EC, 21 CFR 1040.10, 21 CFR 1040.11, CoC, EN 55024:2010, EN 55022:2010 Class A, ICES-003 issue 5 Class A, IEC 60950-1:2005 + A1:2009 + A2:2013, IEC 62479:2010, CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-07 Second Edition 2011-12
Microsoft Certifications - Compatible with Windows 7
Consumables Included - 1 x toner cartridge (black) - up to 6000 pages
Color Category - white
Features - auto on/off

Networking

Networking - Print server
Remote Management Protocol - HTTP, HTTPS, IPP, IPPS, NDPS, NDS, SLP, SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3, TFTP, Telnet
Security Protocols & Features - 802.1x, Apple Bonjour, EAP-TLS, IPsec, Kerberos, PEAP, SSL, TLS

Power

Frequency Required - 60 Hz
Power Consumption Sleep - 2.51 Watt
Power Consumption Operational - 741.98 Watt

Processor

Clock Speed - 1.2 GHz

RAM

Technology / Form Factor - DDR3 SDRAM - DIMM 90-pin
Max Supported Size - 1.5 GB
Slots Qty - 1
Empty Slots - 1
Form Factor - DIMM 90-pin
Technology - DDR3 SDRAM

Flash Memory

Flash Memory - 4 GB

Environmental Standards

Blue Angel - Yes
ENERGY STAR - Yes

Printing

Max Resolution B/W - 1200 x 1200 dpi
Max Printing Speed B/W (ppm) - 45 ppm
Automatic Duplexing - Yes

Media Handling

Min Media Size (Custom) - 3 in x 5 in
Max Media Size (Custom) - 8.5 in x 14 in
Media Weight - 60 g/m² - 199 g/m²
Max Media Capacity - 2300 sheets
Output Trays Capacity- 250 sheets
Media Type - Envelopes, transparencies, labels, plain paper, bond paper, recycled paper, card stock, punched paper, preprinted paper
Envelope Sizes - US No 10 (4.1 in x 9.5 in), International DL (4.33 in x 8.66 in), International C6 (4.5 in x 6.38 in), International C5 (6.38 in x 9 in), International B5 (6.93 in x 9.83 in), Monarch (3.87 in x 7.5 in), US No 9 (4 in x 9 in), Japanese Postcard (3.95 in x 5.83 in), Japanese Postcard Double (5.83 in x 7.87 in)
Total Media Capacity - 650 sheets
Media Sizes - Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in), Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Executive (7.25 in x 10.5 in), A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in), A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in), A6 (4.13 in x 5.83 in), 3.95 in x 5.9 in, 8.5 in x 11.7 in, JIS B5 (7.17 in x 10.12 in), Statement (5.5 in x 8.5 in), 3 in x 5 in, Oficio (8.5 in x 13.5 in), 8.5 in x 14 in, JIS B6 (5.04 x 7.17 in), 4 in x 5.83 in, RA4 (8.46 in x 12 in)

System Requirements

OS Required - Apple MacOS X 10.10, BOSS GNU/Linux 3.0, BOSS GNU/Linux 5.0, Debian Linux 6.0.x, Debian Linux 7.x, Linux Mint 13, Linux Mint 14, Linux Mint 15, Linux Mint 16, Linux Mint 17, Microsoft Windows 7 / 8 (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard and Enterprise Edition SP1 (64-bit), Microsoft Windows Vista (32/64 bits), Red Hat Fedora 17, Red Hat Fedora 18, Red Hat Fedora 19, Red Hat Fedora 20, UNIX, Ubuntu 10.04, Ubuntu 11.10, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10, Windows 10 (32/64 bits), Windows 8.1 (32/64 bits), openSUSE 12.2, openSUSE 12.3, openSUSE 13.1

Duty Cycle

Monthly Duty Cycle (max) - 150,000 pages
Recommended Monthly Volume - 2000 - 7500 pages

Environmental Parameters

Sound Emission (Idle) - 24 dBA
Sound Emission (Operating) - 54 dBA
Min Operating Temperature - 59 °F
Max Operating Temperature - 90.5 °F
Humidity Range Operating - 10 - 80%

Document & Media Handling

Media Type Class - envelopes, film / transparencies, other, plain paper
Media Size Class - A4/Legal

Header

Brand - HP
Product Line - HP LaserJet Enterprise
Model - M506dn
Localization - English, French, Spanish
Country Kits - Canada, Latin America (excluding Argentina, Brazil, Chile), Mexico, United States
Packaged Quantity - 1

Interface Required

Connector Type - 4 pin USB Type A, RJ-45
Type - Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, USB 2.0 host
Total Qty - 1, 2

Office Machine

Type - printer
Functions - printer
Monthly Duty Cycle Range (Printer Class) - 100,000 pages and more
Monthly Duty Cycle (max) - 150000 pages
Recommended Monthly Volume - 2000 - 7500 pages
Printing Technology - laser
Printing Output Type - monochrome

Dimensions & Weight

Width - 16.5 in
Depth - 14.8 in
Height - 11.7 in
Weight - 26.01 lbs

Printing System

First Print Out Time B/W - 5.9 sec

Consumables Included

Color - black
Included Qty - 1

Cable Details

Type - USB cable
Included Qty - 1

Printer Output

Max Speed - 34 ipm, 36 ipm, 43 ppm, 45 ppm, 65 ppm
Media Size - A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in), A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in), Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in)
Output Quality - B/W duplex, black draft, black normal

Software

Type - Drivers & Utilities

Printer Media

Media Load Type - automatic
Media Feeder Qty - 1
Media Feeder Max Format - Legal (8.5 in x 14 in)
Min Media Weight - 60 g/m²
Max Media Weight - 120 g/m², 199 g/m²
Media Feeder Capacity - 100 sheets, 550 sheets

Printer Fonts

Font Included Type - PostScript 3, TrueType
Fonts Included Qty - 105, 92

PC Connectivity

Interface - Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, USB 2.0 host
AirPrint Enabled - Yes

Service & Support

Type - 1 year warranty

Service & Support Details

Type - limited warranty
Location - on-site
Full Contract Period - 1 year
Response Time - next business day

System Requirements Details

Operating System - MacOS X 10.8/10.9/10.10, Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10
Min Hard Drive Space - 1 GB, 200 MB