Xerox Phaser 6180 Review: Features, Specs, Performance & Business
1. Overview & Positioning
The Xerox Phaser 6180 is a color laser printer designed for office environments that require reasonably fast color output, but don’t necessarily demand very high-end production printing. It is part of Xerox’s Phaser line, targeting small-to-medium workgroups that handle mixed color and monochrome prints and want a reliable, workhorse printer rather than a budget desktop or very large departmental device.
There are several variants (e.g., 6180N, 6180DN, 6180 MFP), giving flexibility depending on whether you need network connectivity, duplex, or multifunction (print/scan/copy/fax).
2. Key Specifications & Features
Here are the main specs and features that matter for business-use evaluation:
Print Performance
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Color print speed: up to 20 pages per minute (ppm).
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Black-and-white (mono) speed: up to 26 ppm in some versions (e.g., the DN model as listed by Grand & Toy).
Resolution: 600 × 600 dpi data processing, with “600 × 600 × 4” output color capability (16 shades per pixel) for smoother gradients.
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First-page-out time: About 10 seconds.
Engine & Memory
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Processor: 400 MHz.
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Standard memory: 128 MB for some versions; in the MFP version, 384 MB is common.
Expandable memory: Options for more RAM (Xerox lists 256 MB or 512 MB memory modules).
Paper Handling
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Standard input capacity: 400 sheets (in many models).
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Maximum input (optional): Up to 950 sheets, with optional trays.
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Output capacity: ~300 sheets.
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Supported paper sizes: From as small as 3" × 5" up to 8.5" × 14" (legal) for some trays.
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Paper weight: Tray supports 65–220 gsm (bond to cover).
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Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing: Supported in DN version.
Connectivity & Interfaces
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Network: 10/100Base-TX Ethernet standard in network-capable models.
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USB: USB 2.0 interface available.
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Other connectivity: Parallel port option in older or specific configurations.
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Device management: Supports CentreWare IS Embedded Web Server, SNMP, email alerts, and other management tools.
Print Language & Color Management
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Page description languages: PostScript 3 and PCL, enabling good compatibility with graphic files and office applications.
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Color technology: Uses Xerox EA-HG (Emulsion Aggregation High Gloss) toner, which produces very fine, uniform particles for better image clarity.
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Color calibration: Built-in color correction tools, plus Pantone solid-color simulations (in some versions) for higher color accuracy.
Duty Cycle & Reliability
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Monthly duty cycle: Up to 60,000 pages/month according to Xerox’s spec.
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Recommended use: While duty cycle is high, realistic use for many office settings would be lower; the engine is designed to handle sustained business usage.
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Power consumption: According to Xerox, typical power draw is around 410 W during printing; in power-save mode consumption is much lower.
Physical / Build
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Dimensions: ~400 mm (W) × 493 mm (D) × 470 mm (H) for base models.
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Weight: ~28.3 kg for the DN model.
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Operating environment: Recommended temperature 10–32 °C, relative humidity 15–80%.
Supplies & Consumables
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Toner cartridges (standard capacity):
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Black: ~3,000-page yield
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow: ~2,000-page yield each.
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High-capacity toner options:
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Black: ~8,000 pages
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CMY: ~6,000 pages each.
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Optional memory: 256 MB, 512 MB modules.
Variants / Options
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Phaser 6180DN: Comes with automatic duplex and network connectivity.
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Phaser 6180 MFP: Multifunction model — supports print, scan, copy, and optional fax. For MFP/N: no auto duplex; MFP/D has duplex.
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Optional accessories: Memory expansion, duplex unit, 550-sheet feeder, and wireless adapter are available.
3. Performance & Real-World Use
Print Quality & Speed
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The 6180 provides good color output for general business graphics, presentations, and office documents, thanks to its 600 × 600 × 4 dpi capability.
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Text quality is strong — laser text is crisp and clearly rendered, making it suitable for business documents. For heavier graphics or photo-like prints, its output is decent but not “photo-laser” grade. Macworld’s review noted acceptable but not perfect color fidelity: “some colors looked dull … shadow detail was lacking.”
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Print speed is quite good for a color laser of its generation: 20 ppm color, 26 ppm mono (for some models).
First-page-out is fast, around 10 seconds, helping with responsiveness for small print jobs.
Reliability & Workload Suitability
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With a 60,000-page monthly duty cycle, the Phaser 6180 is quite capable of handling heavy office use, though in typical business settings usage might be significantly lower.
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The 400 MHz processor, combined with memory options, allows it to handle complex print jobs (graphics, mixed documents) with reasonable speed and stability.
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For businesses that need two-sided printing, the DN or optional duplex unit is very valuable: saves paper and makes job workflows more efficient.
Connectivity & Manageability
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Network-ready (Ethernet) in many models, making it suitable for shared office use.
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Supports print languages like PostScript 3 — useful for design or graphics-heavy workflows.
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Device management: center-ware embedded web server, SNMP, and alerting.
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For MFP variant: scanning, copying, and optional fax help centralize document workflows and reduce need for separate devices.
Cost of Ownership
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Standard toners are relatively modest in yield; high-capacity toners reduce cost per page significantly.
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Power consumption is relatively high when printing; in long or heavy use settings, electricity cost should be considered.
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Given its age (Phaser 6180 is an older model), availability of parts and toners should be checked in your region — maintenance costs could increase if the printer is used for many years.
4. Business Use & Deployment Fit
Ideal Use Scenarios
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Small-to-medium offices / workgroups: For teams that need reliable color output and decent capacity, but not a huge production printer.
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Print-on-demand reports & marketing collateral: Good for producing presentations, internal reports, proposals with color graphics.
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Shared department printer: With duplex and networked capability, it can serve as a central print node.
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MFP workflows: If you choose the MFP version, it consolidates printing, scanning, and copying – ideal for document-heavy offices.
Limitations & Trade-Offs
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Older technology: As a legacy model, modern replacements may be more efficient, cheaper to maintain, or more reliable.
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Speed vs modern devices: While decent, newer color lasers or LED printers may be faster or more power-efficient.
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Consumable cost: If printing a lot of color, standard toners may require frequent replacement; relying on high-yield toners is more economical but requires capital.
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Size & weight: Depending on your office layout, the physical size may be non-trivial; plus, the duplex or feeder add-on increases footprint.
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Service support: Being an older model, service parts and customer support could be limited in some regions; check for local availability of maintenance parts.
5. Strengths & Weaknesses — Summary
Strengths:
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Reliable color laser printing with good quality for business graphics and text.
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Reasonably fast print speeds for its class (20 ppm color, ~26 ppm mono).
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Good paper capacity options and automatic duplex (in certain models).
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Manageable for shared office environments (network support, management tools).
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Flexible configuration (MFP, memory, duplex, trays) to suit different business workflows.
Weaknesses:
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Lower resolution compared to modern high-end color lasers (600 dpi).
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High power use, especially in active printing mode.
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Older design may lack modern energy efficiency or low-power modes of newer machines.
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If not using high-yield toners, running costs may be relatively high.
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Potential service or spare parts scarcity due to age.
6. Deployment Tips & Best Practices
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Evaluate usage volume: Estimate monthly print volume. If you're printing a few thousand pages/month, this is likely a good fit. For very high volume, check whether modern machines might be more cost-effective long-term.
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Use duplex by default: If you have the DN (or duplex) model, configure drivers to print double-sided to save paper.
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Select the right toners: If printing color heavily, use high-capacity toners (6,000–8,000 pages) to reduce cost per page.
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Plan memory: Consider upgrading to more RAM to improve handling of complex print jobs, especially with graphics.
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Regular maintenance: Keep spare toners, and consider having a service plan or spare parts, especially if this is a legacy device in your fleet.
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Use management tools: Employ CentreWare or SNMP for remote management, monitoring toner, and receiving alerts.
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Control deployment: Use it as a shared printer for teams rather than a personal desktop unit to maximize utilization and ROI.
7. Final Verdict
The Xerox Phaser 6180 is a solid, business-grade color laser printer that offers a good balance of speed, color quality, and capacity. While it may not be the cutting-edge color printer available today, its robustness, duplexing capability, and flexible configurations make it a great fit for offices that need reliable color output without breaking the bank on newer production devices.
When to choose it:
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If you run a small-to-medium office and need a dependable color printer for reports, proposals, and everyday use.
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If you want a shared printer with moderate capacity and optional two-sided printing to save paper.
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If you don’t need ultra-high-resolution photographic printing, but want good color reproduction and performance.
When to consider alternatives:
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If you require very high print quality (e.g., design or photo work) or very high volume production printing.
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If energy efficiency, modern connectivity (e.g., Wi-Fi 6, cloud-native workflows), or very low ongoing maintenance is a priority.
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If servicing older machines is a concern — newer models may offer better long-term support.
Xerox Phaser 6180 Driver Free Download
Download driver(software) Xerox Phaser 6180 printer for Windows’s operating systemDriver Download or the Installation for Windows Operating System:
How to install the driver for Xerox Phaser 6180:
- First, you need to click the link provided for download, then select the option “Save” or “Save as”. Clicking “Save” is for downloading the file. Meanwhile if you choose “Run” or “Open”, the file downloaded will be automatically installed after the downloading process is completed.
- For your information, the driver file that you download will be saved in a certain folder that you have set before, especially in the self-extracting form or (.exe format).
- The last step is double clicking the downloaded file that has the format EXE file for the decompress process. Then, the installation will be automatically started.
How to uninstall the driver by using Control Panel.
- Come to the Start menu, then you need to choose Control panel --> choose the driver and click “Uninstall a Program.”
- Wait until a page is appear with the list of the installed program. Then you need to double click the program that you want to uninstall.
- At last, choose “Yes” and “Ok”. The uninstall process is completed.
Driver Download or Installation process for Mac Operating System:
How to install driver of Xerox Phaser 6180 in Mac:
- First, you need the file of the driver. When you have already completed the downloading process, it will be saved in the certain folder. You can see it at the computer settings.
- Second, you need to double click the downloaded driver file and mount it on the Disk Image.
- The third step is that you need to double click again the mounted Disk Image.
- At last, double clicking the packaged driver file. Do not worry, the installation is about to be started automatically.
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