Our take
The HP Color LaserJet 3500 is a discontinued, single-function color printer rated at up to 12 pages per minute in black and color. HP identifies the exact U.S. product as Q1319A#ABA. Its 250-sheet tray and 100-sheet multipurpose feed offer a useful separation between everyday stock and occasional alternate media, but this is an older, modest-speed design. The reviewed sources describe manual two-sided printing and do not establish built-in networking for the base 3500. Choose it only when those limits fit the actual job queue.
A narrow fit for low-volume legacy color work when manual duplex and direct connection are acceptable..
Skip this model if you need fast color output, confirmed automatic duplex, a built-in shared network connection, copy or scan functions, or predictable present-day support and supplies.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- HP documents color printing at up to 12 pages per minute in both black and color.
- The standard 250-sheet tray and 100-sheet multipurpose feed let users keep two paper types ready.
- The base 3500 remains distinct from the 3500n; its network features are not inferred from that sibling.
What to weigh up
- The 12-ppm rating is a dated, modest ceiling for a shared color queue.
- Two-sided work is manual, so the printer does not turn pages automatically between sides.
- The reviewed HP material does not establish the base model’s built-in Ethernet or wireless configuration.
The key details
| Model covered | Color LaserJet 3500 |
|---|---|
| Main functions | Color print only |
| Print output | Up to 12 ppm in black and color |
| Two-sided printing | Manual duplex; automatic duplex not documented |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 12, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
What the features mean for you
What the 12-ppm rating means for color jobs
HP rates both black and color output at up to 12 pages per minute. That figure gives a useful scale for a small, occasional color queue, but it should not be read as the speed of a particular used machine or a promise for mixed documents. A team printing frequent reports or large color jobs will wait longer than it would with a newer business printer. The 3500 is print-only, so it also cannot replace a scanner or copier. Its case is strongest when color is needed sometimes and the work does not require office-class throughput.
Use the two feeds for paper separation
The documented paper path includes a 250-sheet main tray and a 100-sheet multipurpose feed. That can reduce reloads compared with a single small tray and helps keep a second stock available for occasional jobs. HP’s source does not establish a recommended monthly workload for the exact model, so sheet capacity is not a substitute for a volume rating. Ask whether both trays are present and feed cleanly on the actual unit. Worn pickup rollers or missing tray pieces can change the practical experience even though the original design lists those capacities.
Plan for manual two-sided printing
The available HP material describes manual duplexing rather than an automatic duplex unit. For a short document, turning and reloading the sheets may be manageable; for repeated two-sided reports it adds handling and creates more opportunity to misfeed or reverse pages incorrectly. Buyers who routinely print both sides should choose an exact model whose manufacturer specification confirms automatic duplex. Do not assume the 3500 has an optional automatic duplexer merely because another printer in the same broad family offers different equipment.
Keep the base model separate from the 3500n
HP identifies this candidate as product Q1319A#ABA, the base Color LaserJet 3500. The separate 3500n listing has its own model suffix and network evidence, including an external Jetdirect arrangement. Those facts do not prove that this base 3500 includes Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or the 3500n’s accessories. The exact built-in interfaces for this base configuration remain unresolved in the reviewed material, so this guide leaves both network attributes unknown. Inspect the back panel and product label before purchasing if connection method determines whether it can join the intended setup.
Treat discontinued status as a unit-level decision
HP marks the model discontinued. That confirms its historical product status, not whether a seller has a working machine, usable toner, or replacement parts today. Request a recent sample page, inspect color registration and paper pickup, and confirm which tray and cartridges are included. Ask about return terms before accepting an older printer with unknown page count or storage history. None of these checks is replaced by the original specification sheet, which describes the model as designed rather than the condition of a particular secondhand offer.
Choose it only when its limits are acceptable
This is a specialist choice for an owner who values a documented legacy color format and can tolerate slower output, manual page turning, and an unconfirmed built-in network interface. It is a poor default for a mixed office where several people need a simple shared connection or where scanning and copying are part of the same workflow. The tagged Amazon destination searches for the exact Color LaserJet 3500 name; it does not assert that a historical listing or ASIN matches Q1319A#ABA. Confirm the label, power, accessories, and seller terms before relying on an offer.
What else to compare
For a wired color printer with documented Ethernet, compare the already released Color LaserJet 3500n; check its external Jetdirect hardware separately.
Before you buy
Does the base Color LaserJet 3500 print in color?
Yes. HP identifies the Q1319A#ABA Color LaserJet 3500 as a color printer rated up to 12 ppm in black and color.
Does it automatically print two-sided pages?
The reviewed HP material describes manual duplex handling and does not document automatic duplex for this base model.
Does the 3500 include built-in Ethernet or Wi-Fi?
The exact base-model sources do not settle its built-in network interfaces, so check the product label and ports before buying.
Is the Color LaserJet 3500 the same configuration as the 3500n?
No. HP treats the 3500 and 3500n as separate configurations; network facts for the 3500n are not transferred here.
Where can I check the current price?
Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.
Sources & review basis
We use the following manufacturer documentation for the product features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- HP Color LaserJet 3500 product page and specifications ↗ — checked October 12, 2026.
- HP U.S. Color LaserJet 3500 product number Q1319A#ABA and discontinued status ↗ — checked October 12, 2026.
- HP Color LaserJet 3500 specifications: speed, paper handling, and manual duplex ↗ — checked October 12, 2026.
The decision
The base 3500 suits occasional color work only when modest speed, manual duplex, and unresolved built-in networking are acceptable.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.