CRN's 2019 Products Of The Year

December 09, 2019, 09:55 AM EST

CRN editors looked at the best new products and major updates of 2019 and then turned to solution providers to choose the winners based on technology, revenue and profit opportunities, and customer demand.

PRINTERS/MFPs

BROTHER MFC-J5945DW

WINNER: OVERALL

Aimed at small businesses, Brother International’s MFC-J5945DW specializes in offering simplified management of printing supplies. Part of Brother’s INKvestment Tank all-in-one lineup, the MFC-J5945DW includes up to an entire year’s worth of ink in the box with the printer. The ink cartridges are also easy to insert and offer high page volumes. In addition, the MFC-J5945DW includes Brother’s recently introduced Page Gauge feature, which provides an estimate on how many printed pages are remaining with the cartridge. The device includes paper capacity of up to 500 sheets, along with print speeds of 22 pages per minute in black and white, and 20 pages per minute in color.

Subcategory Winner—Technology: HP LaserJet 600 Series

HP Inc.’s updated A4 portfolio this year includes the new LaserJet 600 Series. Improvements include cartridge access control, which ensures that all toner is used before the cartridge can be replaced; fixed tray guides, which help to reduce paper jams; and predictive sensors, which can reduce service costs by up to 17 percent.

Finalist: Epson WorkForce Enterprise WF-M20590

A high-performance A3 multifunction device, Epson America’s WorkForce Enterprise WF-M20590 delivers monochrome print speeds of 100 pages per minute and a maximum paper capacity of 5,350 pages. The WF-M20590 also uses up to 50 percent less power than monochrome laser printers.

Finalist: Lexmark MC3224adwe

Aimed at small businesses, Lexmark’s MC3224adwe multifunction device offers print speeds of up to 24 pages per minute in color; scanning, copying and faxing capabilities; wireless printing and scanning; and connectivity over Ethernet and USB as well.

Finalist: Xerox B215

With the B215 multifunction printer, Xerox provides high-speed Wi-Fi Direct connectivity, enabling wireless printing (without the need for a router) and mobile printing using Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria and Android. Print speeds for the B215 reach up to 30 pages per minute in black and white.

Kyle Alspach

Kyle Alspach is a Senior Editor at CRN focused on cybersecurity. His coverage spans news, analysis and deep dives on the cybersecurity industry, with a focus on fast-growing segments such as cloud security, application security and identity security. He can be reached at kalspach@thechannelcompany.com.