Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Multifunction Wireless Color Laser Printer
Customer Review Summary
The Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Multifunction Wireless Color Laser Printer has received mostly positive feedback from users across various shopping platforms. Customers frequently praise the printer for its high-quality print output, which includes vibrant colors and sharp text, making it suitable for both professional documents and creative projects. Many users find the automatic double-sided printing and scanning features incredibly useful, especially for managing bulk printing tasks efficiently. The printer also offers multiple connectivity options, allowing users to print from a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and laptops, which makes it convenient for diverse work environments. Setting up the printer is described as relatively straightforward, though some users have experienced difficulties with certain features, especially with connecting to different devices or setting up the scan-to-email functionality.
In terms of usability, the printer’s user interface is intuitive, though there are comments suggesting that navigating the printer’s advanced functions can be challenging for non-technical users. Despite this, several customers appreciated that the printer offers a wide range of customizable settings, allowing them to tailor it to specific tasks like envelope printing or pre-configuring frequently used settings. The touchscreen control panel has also been praised for making navigation easier, though it does have a learning curve for some. Durability is another key highlight, with multiple reviews pointing out that the printer is well-built and suitable for home offices and small businesses alike. Many users appreciate the solid construction of the printer, noting that it feels sturdy and capable of handling frequent use without issues. However, some customers noted that it is quite heavy and bulky, which might be inconvenient for those with limited space, especially if frequent movement is required.
Several reviews address the cost-effectiveness of this laser printer compared to inkjet models. Users mention that while the upfront cost of toner cartridges can be steep, the overall cost-per-page is significantly lower than that of inkjet printers, making it a more economical choice for frequent use. Users who switched from inkjet to this laser printer often express satisfaction with this change, highlighting that they no longer face issues like dried-out cartridges. Moreover, the toner cartridges have a much longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements. The printer’s wireless connectivity and compatibility with various devices, including Apple and Windows systems, have also been well-received. Many users find that the printer integrates seamlessly into their existing network setups, allowing for easy access from multiple devices without frequent reconnections. The scanning capabilities are described as robust, with users appreciating the ability to easily send documents to their computers or email directly from the printer. Additionally, the printer’s one-pass duplex scanning feature has been particularly highlighted as a time-saver, enabling efficient management of two-sided documents.
PROS
- High Print Quality: Users consistently praise the Canon MF656Cdw for its vibrant color output and sharp text. One customer stated, “Print quality is amazing… exactly what I was looking for in a multifunction laser jet.” The printer’s ability to handle different types of media, such as envelopes and card stock, also adds to its versatility, making it a great tool for creative projects as well as standard office tasks.
- Durable and Reliable: Many customers mentioned that the printer is robust, with one reviewer highlighting, “The printer is built like a tank and comes with a 3-year warranty.” This durability makes it ideal for small business environments or heavy home office use. Users also appreciate the extended warranty options available, giving them peace of mind for years of use.
- Cost-Effective Printing: While the toner cartridges are expensive, they have a much longer lifespan compared to inkjet cartridges. A user shared, “A black toner costs about $100-$130 and prints about 2,300-3,100 pages, making it cheaper to run over time.” This cost-effectiveness is particularly appealing to those who print in large volumes, as the savings on toner costs add up significantly over time.
- Feature-Rich for Small Offices: The printer comes with functionalities like automatic double-sided scanning, faxing, and envelope printing. Users found the printer’s auto document feeder particularly helpful for saving time when scanning or copying multiple pages. The fax functionality is also noted as a valuable feature for those who still need it, making the printer a comprehensive solution for small businesses. The ability to program shortcuts for frequently used functions also makes the printer more efficient for daily use.
CONS
- Bulky and Heavy: The printer’s size and weight were a drawback for some users. One reviewer remarked, “It is quite heavy, and we had to purchase a new printer trolley to handle the printer weight.” For users with limited office space, the printer’s footprint can be a significant disadvantage, and they may need to carefully consider where to place it.
- Complex Setup for Some Features: Users have experienced difficulties during the setup process, especially with advanced features like scan-to-email. One customer mentioned, “Setup took longer than expected, and the scan-to-email feature was hard to configure initially.” Although the basic setup is generally straightforward, advanced features often require careful attention to detail and some technical knowledge, which can be challenging for those not familiar with network settings.
- Noise During Operation: A few customers found the printer to be noisier than they expected. For example, a reviewer stated, “It’s a little loud when it prints, but that doesn’t bother me.” This noise level might be an issue for users who need a very quiet working environment, particularly if the printer is used frequently throughout the day.
- Toner Costs: Although cost-effective in the long run, the high upfront cost of toner replacements was seen as a negative by some users. One user said, “The toner replacements are so expensive that it is cheaper to buy a new printer every six months.” Some users suggest exploring third-party toner options to help reduce these costs, though doing so may affect the warranty or print quality.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: There is a learning curve associated with some of the printer’s more advanced features, such as configuring specific network settings or setting up scan destinations. Users have commented that the manual could be more user-friendly, with clearer instructions on how to utilize the printer’s full range of features.
Who Should Buy?
The Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw is ideal for small offices, home offices, and users with frequent printing needs. It is well-suited for those who value high-quality color output, automatic duplex printing and scanning, and a printer that can handle high volumes of work without frequent interruptions. This printer is a great fit for anyone looking for cost-effective long-term printing solutions, particularly if they are transitioning from inkjet printers and are tired of replacing cartridges frequently. The printer is also an excellent choice for users who require reliable wireless connectivity across multiple devices and operating systems. It is particularly beneficial for users who need versatile media handling and those who frequently print double-sided documents. The robust scanning features also make it a strong choice for small businesses that need to digitize documents regularly, ensuring efficient workflow management.
Do Users Recommend This Product?
Overall, users highly recommend the Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw for its performance, reliability, and feature set. They appreciate its print quality, robust build, and versatile features, which make it suitable for a range of needs, from everyday home printing to more demanding small business tasks. Users particularly enjoy the convenience of its wireless capabilities and the seamless integration with different devices. However, users do caution about the initial setup complexity for advanced features and the upfront toner costs, suggesting that potential buyers should be prepared for these aspects. Despite these minor drawbacks, the printer is widely seen as a solid investment that delivers excellent value over time. The combination of high-quality prints, durable construction, and cost-effective performance makes it a favorite among those who require a reliable printing solution for both home and professional use.
Customer Reviews​
Updated on October 29, 2024
Great Printer, Bad Support
Let me start off by saying this is a very good printer. It prints the finest details clearly and can be configured in numerous ways depending on your needs. I recommend buying it, especially if you’re fed up with your inkjet. And I’ll add this: the person who designed the box it comes in should get the Nobel Prize for clever packaging. It will arrive at your front door without any damage guaranteed.
But because it’s so configurable there are things that are hard to figure out, even if you can find them in the plethora of menus. I’ll point out that this machine has two ways of getting your paper to feed, one obvious one is the paper tray, and the other is the single sheet feeder for specialty papers. I had a hard time getting that to work, but once I stumbled across the right menu it works flawlessly. You need to go to menu/function settings/common/paper feed settings/paper source auto selection/copy/on for both sources. Same for scan. Why it’s not preset that way I don’t know since it’s a fundamental function of this machine. But once you do that you’ll be happy.
Because I didn’t read the online users guide thoroughly I didn’t know what was going on so I called Canon Support. Good luck with that. I sat on hold with elevator music and no human contact for more than 30 minutes and I tried several times. They just don’t answer. I went to Amazon and they offer product support, so I called that number. I got a call back in a few minutes and explained what I was having trouble with and the Amazon lady asked me a couple of questions and then said she would have to call Canon. I sat on hold for quite awhile but when she returned she told me to call them myself because she couldn’t get through either. I tried different numbers I found online but no one ever answered. I did this for a couple of days and by then I had figured things out by trial and error. So calling Product Support was a fools errand, don’t bother.
Another curiosity for me was a piece of plastic that was included with the machine. It was obviously intended to go somewhere but I didn’t see any opening it could cover. There wasn’t any mention of it in the parts list in the setup booklet. Eventually I gave up figuring it out until just a little while ago I found it in the online owners manual: it is used as a dust cover if you extend the paper drawer to fit legal size paper.
What I would say to anyone reading this is to go online to the Users Guide, Online Version, and read it word for word. I think everything I needed to know is in there, but it’s so long that I didn’t read it front to back. You really have to do that, clicking on every window, to get your machine completely configured.
So all in all this is a great machine, I’m very happy with it. If you’re trying to decide which Laser Printer you want, I can tell you that this is an excellent choice. It includes a regular black toner cartridge that will last a very long time and three starter color cartridges that seem to be lasting a long time too.
One other thing. When I was trying to figure out which laser all-in-one to buy I went with Canon because it has a three year warranty. Based on my inability to ever reach product support I don’t think that’s meaningful. How can I make a warranty claim if they won’t answer the phone.
Anyway, it’s again a very good choice, buy it.
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Excellent quality, lots of functionality
Arrived in a great box. READ THE PACKAGING for information on how to remove. It’s really quite well designed.
After that however, there were some troubles. Setup was not straightforward and after spending decades working with HP LaserJet’s, I found the Canon touchscreen and menus confusing at first. Setting up Remote UI and accessing everything through a web interface was much easier.
The print quality is superb, with rich colors. I was printing off 50-60 double-sized pages with no issues at all.
Scanning worked great as well. Because the scanner is double-sized, this makes for a great copier when you need to do that.
Note, there is an extra piece of plastic that is included with the printer. I could not find any mention of it in the packing list, or setup guides. Finally had to search the Canon support site for “what is this extra piece of plastic?” to get the answer. It is a cover for the paper tray when the tray is extended out for Legal sized paper.
- 36
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Not a work horse - good for occasional use
This printer is great if you have occasional things you want to print. However, if you are printing anything with a large number of pages, be prepared to wait for it to cool down frequently during the print job. I have also been frustrated by the touch pad, which isn’t calibrated very well, so I keep pressing on things I don’t want.
On the plus side, the print quality is good, and when I couldn’t figure out how to print envelopes I called Canon tech support and actually got someone on the phone, who was quite helpful (you have to register the printer first).
When you print using the manual feed, it takes the entire envelope and pulls it into the printer. Then I couldn’t figure out how to get it out again (Hint – take the paper tray all the way out and then pull the manual printer tray out as well.) So while I like the printer overall for the price, there are some downsides.
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GOOD BY FOR A GREAT PRICE.
I had a Cannon MF644cdw for a few years and it worked great. This one is just the newer version. My mf644cdw started putting black streaks on the prints and then just started running the paper through without no printing at all. Toner was good and new just no printing. Then started making a funny noise. While looking up trouble shooting tips online i came across this newer version. Well being a Tech junkie and my wife not so much, Ummmm, well the old printer became unrepairable and honey we need a new printer. Print quality has been great on both the 644 and 656 but I will have to say a bit better on this 656. time from sleep to print has greatly improved as well. I will also say that this printer has the cheapest toner cartridges to replace of most all color laser printers. I work from home so it does get alot of use. Document feeder work great and to tell the truth I dont remember ever having a paper jam from either printer on the feeder or printer. Cant say much about the fax feature as I have never used it on either printer. Setup is very easy right out of the box. Just plugged it in went through a few setup questions on the display and bam it was hooked to my wifi and up and running as network printer. Scan to email can be a bit tedious to set up but I got the below instructions from another reviewer and worked perfectly.
So Hopefully this will help someone (wish I would have found earlier). This type of information should have been in the manual in some way. I found this in the Canon community discussion. Note that this setup is configured for using a gmail email address to configure- so you need a gmail for this to work correctly (otherwise a few steps will need changed like the SMTP server and port number…)
1- If you are using GMail, you have to setup an ‘App Password’ for your Canon to work.
2- Go to Google.com and click on your picture (upper right hand corner) and select ‘Manage Your Google Account’.
3- Click on ‘Security on the left hand side’.
4- Scroll down to section that says ‘Signing in to Google’.
5- Make sure ‘2-Step Verification’ is setup. If it is not, add 2-step verification now.
6- Click on ‘App Passwords’ to setup a password for your Canon. You may have to sign into your Google account again.
7- Under the ‘Select App’ down arrow, select ‘Other (custom)’
8- Enter a name for your Cannon. I put my model number in the field: MF644Cdw
9- Select the ‘Generate’ button. This will generate a password. Copy/Paste this password or write it down.
10- Find your Cannon’s IP Address. I selected ‘Status Monitor’ on my Cannon; then selected ‘Network Information’; then selected ‘IPv4’; take down the numbers listed under ‘IP Address’.
11- Open up Chrome and enter the IP Address from step 10.
12- Select ‘System Manager Mode’ option and select ‘Log In’. If you have setup a ‘System Manager ID’ and ‘System Manager PIN’, enter that information and then select ‘Log In’.
13- Select ‘Settings/Registration’ button on the right hand side.
14- Select ‘TX Settings’ on the left hand side.
15- Select ‘E-mail/I-Fax Settings’.
16- Select ‘Edit’ button on the upper right hand side.
17- SMTP server = smtp.gmail.com
18- Email Address = [enter your email address]
19- Check mark ‘Use SMTP Authentication (SMTP AUTH)’
20- User Name = [enter your email address]
21- Check mark ‘Set/Change Password’
22- Password = [enter the password generated from step 9 above]
23- Check mark ‘Use TLS for SMTP’
24- Check mark ‘Verify Certificate’
25- Check mark ‘Add CN to Verification Items’
26- Check mark ‘Use TLS for POP’
27- Check mark ‘Verify Certificate’
28- Check mark ‘Add CN to Verification Items’
29- Scroll up to the top of the page and select the ‘OK’ button to save these settings.
30- Select ‘Network Settings’ on left hand side.
31- Select ‘Port Number Settings’
32- Select ‘Edit’ button in upper right hand side.
33- Change ‘SMTP’ field to = 465
34- Scroll up to the top of the page and select the ‘OK’ button to save these settings.
35- Select ‘To Portal’ link in the upper right hand corner.
36- Select ‘Address Book’ button on right hand side.
37- Click on ’01’ link and select ‘Edit’ button. Add your email as the first email address.
(Later go back and add what other email addresses you may like to scan to in the future)
38- Scroll up to the top of the page and select the ‘OK’ button to save these settings.
39- Go to your Cannon and test the Scan to Email function.
40- Check email to see if you received the email. If you didn’t get email, check ‘Status Monitor/Cancel’ button under the ‘TX Job Log’ section for Error Code specifics.
- 26
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Great printer- but lacking instructions setting up scan to email, also fix for load paper error
Hopefully this will help someone (wish I would have found earlier). This type of information should have been in the manual in some way. I found this in the Canon community discussion. Note that this setup is configured for using a gmail email address to configure- so you need a gmail for this to work correctly (otherwise a few steps will need changed like the SMTP server and port number…)
1- If you are using GMail, you have to setup an ‘App Password’ for your Canon to work.
2- Go to Google.com and click on your picture (upper right hand corner) and select ‘Manage Your Google Account’.
3- Click on ‘Security on the left hand side’.
4- Scroll down to section that says ‘Signing in to Google’.
5- Make sure ‘2-Step Verification’ is setup. If it is not, add 2-step verification now.
6- Click on ‘App Passwords’ to setup a password for your Canon. You may have to sign into your Google account again.
7- Under the ‘Select App’ down arrow, select ‘Other (custom)’
8- Enter a name for your Cannon. I put my model number in the field: MF644Cdw
9- Select the ‘Generate’ button. This will generate a password. Copy/Paste this password or write it down.
10- Find your Cannon’s IP Address. I selected ‘Status Monitor’ on my Cannon; then selected ‘Network Information’; then selected ‘IPv4’; take down the numbers listed under ‘IP Address’.
11- Open up Chrome and enter the IP Address from step 10.
12- Select ‘System Manager Mode’ option and select ‘Log In’. If you have setup a ‘System Manager ID’ and ‘System Manager PIN’, enter that information and then select ‘Log In’.
13- Select ‘Settings/Registration’ button on the right hand side.
14- Select ‘TX Settings’ on the left hand side.
15- Select ‘E-mail/I-Fax Settings’.
16- Select ‘Edit’ button on the upper right hand side.
17- SMTP server = smtp.gmail.com
18- Email Address = [enter your email address]
19- Check mark ‘Use SMTP Authentication (SMTP AUTH)’
20- User Name = [enter your email address]
21- Check mark ‘Set/Change Password’
22- Password = [enter the password generated from step 9 above]
23- Check mark ‘Use TLS for SMTP’
24- Check mark ‘Verify Certificate’
25- Check mark ‘Add CN to Verification Items’
26- Check mark ‘Use TLS for POP’
27- Check mark ‘Verify Certificate’
28- Check mark ‘Add CN to Verification Items’
29- Scroll up to the top of the page and select the ‘OK’ button to save these settings.
30- Select ‘Network Settings’ on left hand side.
31- Select ‘Port Number Settings’
32- Select ‘Edit’ button in upper right hand side.
33- Change ‘SMTP’ field to = 465
34- Scroll up to the top of the page and select the ‘OK’ button to save these settings.
35- Select ‘To Portal’ link in the upper right hand corner.
36- Select ‘Address Book’ button on right hand side.
37- Click on ’01’ link and select ‘Edit’ button. Add your email as the first email address.
(Later go back and add what other email addresses you may like to scan to in the future)
38- Scroll up to the top of the page and select the ‘OK’ button to save these settings.
39- Go to your Cannon and test the Scan to Email function.
40- Check email to see if you received the email. If you didn’t get email, check ‘Status Monitor/Cancel’ button under the ‘TX Job Log’ section for Error Code specifics.
Edit 02/11/24 below is a fix for another quirk from this printer- thanks to Mailinator on the Canon forum for the fix. the error: Load Paper.LTR Error Message when printing
On the printer go to:
Menu>Function Settings>Printer>Printer Settings>Prioritize Driver Settings> Drawer 1.
Set to “On”, click “Apply”.
In Windows open the printer driver>Paper source>
Set default to Drawer 1 and choose paper quality.
The Windows driver should then override the printer settings and no error message should pop-up.
Edit 2/29/24 I just noticed that Daniel trezil basically copied and pasted my review
- 25
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Excellent print quality, labels are a breeze
We bought this to replace an aging Brother. I’ve had quite a few quality control issues with Brother printers at work (I’m in IT) and Brother’s poor support, and lack of ownership to their ongoing build quality issues, made me go with Canon instead.
This printer is amazingly fast and the toner cartridges will last a long time. Scan quality is much better than the Brother MFC series, and the display is intuitive and easy to use, unlike the Brother display that had to be completely mashed with your forefinger in order to get it to register a click.
I’ve purchased several of these for work now, replacing our dying Brother printers (one bricked from a firmware update…the lack of quality I tell you!) and we’ve had absolutely zero issues with them.
We’ve printed different media, including labels, and they look like they came from a print shop. For the price and quality, you can’t get a better color laser multifunction printer.
- 22
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Printer was very loud and made grinding noises
Because of the grinding noises and the poor quality of the copies I returned the printer several weeks ago and still have not received a refund. When I ordered the printer they charged my card immediately and I did not receive the printer for nearly two weeks. Now it’s been returned and in their possession for almost 3 weeks and still no refund issued!!!
- 19
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Apple AirPrint works! And a scan to MacOS tip
Some Mac scanner software needs you to press the “Remote Scanner” button on the printer control panel just before you Scan. But this printer comes from the factory WITHOUT that button showing.
The PDF manual from CANON actually shows this button, but the printer does not ship with it anymore, and good luck finding this fix on the internet.
If your control panel is missing the “Remote Scanner” button inside the “Scan” menu, do this:
Press “Menu” then “Function Settings”, then “Common”, then press “Scan Settings”.
Now turn “AutoOnline” to OFF. This brings back the “Remote Scan” button.
The reasoning behind this change in this newer printer is that by having “AutoOnline” always turned on,
You “should” never need to press the “Remote Scan” button, because it’s ALWAYS ON.
But, for certain legacy third-party software (like older versions of VueScan) you may need this button restored to the control panel.
So with this tip, now you can have that “Remote Scan” button available.
Enjoy your new printer. It really is an excellent buy!
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Be aware, if using Mac, this defaults to 2 sided printing
Evidently this is a thing with Canon printers and MacOS, going back years. Even if you set the printer settings to default to 1 sided, it will still printer 2 sided.
Also, unlike Brother and other printers, where the duplex printing option is exposed on the main page of the print options, it’s buried under finishing in printer features.
It’s also a big noisy and slow.
- 16
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Great buy for home office
After years of inkjets, finally, I pulled the plug and got my first Laser printer. This machine has auto duplex scanning which is a must for me.
Print is super sharp. Speed is great as well.
Extremely easy to set up. I was able to print samples from my iPhone immediately after the printer connected to wifi. We have several windows and mac devices, I downloaded and install driver from Canon website for each. Extremely easy!
You can also customize how you would normally make copy (duplex to duplex, quality…) and make it default for future usage.
Toner is definitely expensive now since 067 toners are so new. Hopefully we will have cheaper options soon via 3rd party.
I was in between this machine & Maxify GX6021 since both are on sale for the same at this time. As of now, I think I’m happy with this purchase.
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