Dell A920

Average User Rating

2.5 stars

20 reviews

Pricing not available

Dell A920 - left Dell A920 - right Dell A920 - back Dell A920 - above
Scroll Left Scroll Right
  • Dell A920 - left
  • Dell A920 - right
  • Dell A920 - back
  • Dell A920 - above

CNET Editors' Review

The good: Very inexpensive; intuitively designed software; extremely easy to use.

The bad: Lousy output quality; slow print speeds; pricey ink consumption; requires separate fax-modem; works with only Windows 2000 and XP.

The bottom line: Given its poor performance on our tests and its costly ink consumption, we can't recommend the Dell A920 to any category of user.

Review: The Dell A920 is the least-expensive multifunction device we've seen. For less than $100, you get one compact unit with a flatbed scanner that scans, prints, copies, and faxes. Unfortunately, though it's delightfully easy to use, this multifunction printer performs none of its functions particularly well. Nor can it be used as a standalone device; you must have the PC turned on to copy, scan, or even fax. Worse, the A920 works with only Windows 2000 and XP--a problem for those who haven't yet upgraded. We think that most users would be better off with Dell's ... Expand full review
The Dell A920 is the least-expensive multifunction device we've seen. For less than $100, you get one compact unit with a flatbed scanner that scans, prints, copies, and faxes. Unfortunately, though it's delightfully easy to use, this multifunction printer performs none of its functions particularly well. Nor can it be used as a standalone device; you must have the PC turned on to copy, scan, or even fax. Worse, the A920 works with only Windows 2000 and XP--a problem for those who haven't yet upgraded. We think that most users would be better off with Dell's more full-featured multifunction, the A940, instead.

Measuring the width and length of your average flatbed scanner but six inches higher to accommodate the print engine, the Dell A920 couldn't be any more compact. The printer's paper-input tray is a plastic guide that holds 100 sheets and folds down over the top of the scanner lid when not in use. The output tray is a flat plastic drawer that slides out from under the device, but you have to lift the whole unit slightly to slide it out, which makes the device seem jury-rigged. Also, this quirk is mentioned nowhere in the included documentation. The print cartridges are very easy to install and remove--just pop open the scanner section to reveal the print engine. On the A920's top, there is a basic control panel with all of the buttons clearly labeled.

Pages per minute  
Dell A940 personal all-in-one printer
5.5 
Lexmark X5150 all-in-one
5.2 
HP PSC 2210
4.1 
Dell A920 personal all-in-one printer
3.6 

Inkjet printer quality
•Poor   ••Fair   •••Good   ••••Excellent
 Printer  Text  Graphics
 Dell A920 personal all-in-one printer •• ••
 Dell A940 personal all-in-one printer •• ••
 HP PSC 2210 ••• •••
 Lexmark X5150 all-in-one •• ••

Dell backs the A920 with a one-year warranty. As with all its products, Dell offers 24/7 phone technical support for the A920. An impressive array of Web-based support options include e-mail, a searchable knowledge base, downloadable drivers, and community forums.

Thanks to the Dell Printer Solution Center, which is part of the All-In-One Center software, you may not even need to look online to troubleshoot. For example, in the how-to section, the task-based manual brings up a graphical page of instructions for issues such as how to use the printer's various functions, how to clean the ink heads, and how to remedy common problems.

Hide Review

User Reviews

See all user reviews

Average User Rating

2.5 stars out of 20 user reviews

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star: 1
  • 4 star: 5
  • 3 star: 3
  • 2 star: 7
  • 1 star: 4

My Rating

0 stars click stars to rate product

Most recent user reviews

Showing 3 of 20 reviews

2.0 stars

"Good for a beginner, Poor for those interested in quality" By Tomndodi

Pros: Easy to use

Cons: Poor quality and high ink consumption

Summary: I received my A920 free with my computer. For the first time user this is an average printer. As time goes by the high use of ink will quickly make this printer obsolete. For an 8 x 10 photo it may use most of one color cartage. After that the ... Expand full review

3.5 stars

"Ok printer for a sutdent" By gardenboi3

Pros: It is a fine printer to do basic stuff and has a good software layout

Cons: high ink consumption, slow scanner, poor scan quality, poor color print quality

Summary: I am a student in high school and i recieved this printer with my dell inspiron 5150 laptop. It is a fine printer for the price, but it guzzles the ink and have finally decide to use ink refill kits. It also produced scans that look grainy and the color ... Expand full review

Where to Buy

Pricing not available

Compare to Editors' Top s

See All Best s

Sponsored Premier Brands on CNET

Where to Buy

Pricing not available

Which printer is right for me?

Laptop Finder

Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technology to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitaskers. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading. As a rule of thumb, inkjet printers are a must for long-lasting photos, while laser printers are best to produce speedy text documents.

We've compiled a handful of typical user experiences that should help outline what type of printer is right for you. Chances are, you'll fall somewhere in between two or more of these archetypes, so carefully consider what you'll be using your new printer for.

Read our guide | Printer finder