Our take
The HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M653x is an enterprise-scale color printer whose main strengths are throughput and standard paper capacity. HP specifies up to 60 ppm on Letter, automatic duplex, and three standard input trays totaling 1,200 sheets. Its recommended monthly volume is 2,000 to 17,000 pages, while the separate 120,000-page maximum duty cycle is only a ceiling. HP marks the model discontinued. This profile suits an office with a real high-volume color queue and room for a large device, provided the exact used configuration, condition and supply path are checked.
A department evaluating a used enterprise color printer for sustained output, automatic duplex and large tray capacity..
Avoid it for a compact home office, a buyer who needs copy/scan/fax hardware, or anyone who wants a new supported device without verifying lifecycle and parts.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- HP lists a 2,000–17,000 page recommended monthly range for substantial workloads.
- Three standard trays total 1,200 sheets, with another 550-sheet feeder available as an option.
- Automatic duplex and rated speeds up to 60 ppm Letter support recurring color output.
What to weigh up
- The model is discontinued, so supplies, service and software need separate investigation.
- Its speed and tray capacity come with enterprise scale rather than a compact footprint.
- The saved packet does not confirm the exact network ports or condition of a seller's configuration.
The key details
| Model covered | M653x |
|---|---|
| Main functions | Print only |
| Print output | Color; up to 60 ppm Letter / 56 ppm A4 |
| Two-sided printing | Automatic duplex; 1,200-sheet standard input |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 4, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
What the features mean for you
Enterprise throughput requires an enterprise-sized need
The M653x is designed around color output at a larger office scale. HP rates it up to 60 pages per minute on Letter and 56 on A4, with a recommended monthly range of 2,000 to 17,000 pages. Those figures make it a candidate for a busy department queue, not a casual household printer. The rated speed is a manufacturer figure rather than a guarantee for mixed jobs or a particular used unit. If color printing is only occasional, the size, capacity and support burden may be unnecessary even if the headline speed looks attractive.
The standard tray configuration is a major differentiator
HP's M653x product page and support materials list a 100-sheet multipurpose tray and two 550-sheet trays, for 1,200 sheets in the standard configuration. One additional 550-sheet feeder can be fitted. That distinction matters when comparing a listing: the optional feeder does not come with every M653x, and the standard quantity should be verified against the product label and seller's included parts. Large capacity can reduce interruptions for a team that uses multiple paper sizes or prints long runs. It does not tell us whether trays on a particular used machine are present or operational.
Separate recommended workload from maximum duty cycle
HP recommends 2,000 to 17,000 pages per month for this model. It also lists a maximum monthly duty cycle of 120,000 pages. The latter is not a sensible routine target and should not be compared directly with a recommended range. Use the recommendation when deciding whether the printer matches the office's normal workload; treat maximum duty as a separate upper limit. The 2,000-page lower endpoint also means the M653x is not aimed at a low-volume user looking for occasional color. None of these numbers establishes current toner cost or the remaining service life of an individual unit.
Automatic duplex helps with long documents
The M653x includes automatic two-sided printing. On a large color queue, that helps reduce paper use and manual handling for reports, handouts and internal documents. The printer remains print-only: HP's saved packet does not identify copy, scan or fax functions for this exact model. The automatic-duplex statement is about output and should not be mistaken for a scanning feeder. Before purchase, confirm the duplex path works and the selected driver exposes the intended paper and finishing options. The printed pages still depend on the application settings and media selected by the team.
Discontinued lifecycle and configuration deserve scrutiny
HP marks the M653x discontinued. The official sources identify its product number J8A05A#BGJ and tray configuration, but do not establish the page count, service history, replacement parts on hand or current consumable availability for a particular seller. The reviewed packet also does not confirm the exact network interface of a specific offered configuration, so connectivity remains unknown in the matching profile. Ask for photographs of the product label, installed trays, ports, test pages and maintenance record. For a department, build a support plan before moving its recurring queue onto an older enterprise machine.
Select it only when capacity will be used
The M653x is a plausible candidate when the team regularly prints color at a volume that fits HP's recommended range and will benefit from automatic duplex and 1,200 standard sheets. It is a poor match for a small desk or a group that needs one device for copy, scan and fax. The discontinued status and unconfirmed unit details are meaningful ownership risks, not reasons to assume the machine is unusable. Confirm supplies, service, included trays and connection options for the exact offer. If those checks fail, a smaller current color printer or an MFP may be the more practical purchase.
What else to compare
Compare the Brother HL-L6200DW for monochrome network printing or the Lexmark MC3326adwe for color output with copy, scan and fax functions at a smaller recommended monthly range.
Before you buy
How much standard paper input does the M653x include?
HP lists 100 sheets in the multipurpose tray plus two 550-sheet trays, totaling 1,200 sheets.
Does the M653x's 120,000-page figure mean it is recommended for that monthly volume?
No. HP presents that as maximum monthly duty cycle; the recommended range is 2,000 to 17,000 pages.
Does the saved packet confirm Ethernet or Wi-Fi?
The reviewed exact-model packet does not establish its ports, so check the offered configuration rather than assuming network features.
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 Enterprise M653x product page ↗ — checked October 4, 2026.
- HP M653x product page, speed, trays, duplex and volume specifications ↗ — checked October 4, 2026.
- HP M652/M653 model-number table and feeder configuration ↗ — checked October 4, 2026.
- HP M653 series datasheet, model and tray comparison ↗ — checked October 4, 2026.
The decision
The M653x is a high-throughput enterprise color print-only model with substantial standard input. Use HP's 2,000–17,000 page recommendation for workload fit and verify the discontinued unit's configuration and service path.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.