A3 Laser Printers

All things A3 Laser Printer related

A3 Colour Laser Printers compared to A3 Colour Inkjet Printers

Two of the most frequent questions asked when considering buying an A3 colour printer are:

  • Why choose an A3 colour laser printer if its more expensive than an A3 inkjet printer?
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of A3 laser printers compared to A3 inkjet printers?

Laser printers come into their own when ongoing inexpensive, high print volumes are required and are commonly referred to as the office “workhorse” for the following good reasons:

  • Print speed:  Up to 3 times faster than inkjet printers in normal mode. Print speed typically relates to the cost of the machine.
  • Duplex print speed:  Faster because laser printers produce dry printouts. They can be picked up immediately without smudging, as the toner is bonded to paper fibers.
  • Print cost per page: Can be up to a quarter of the cost of inkjet printers. However, always remember to include the cost of replacement of the drum when considering maintenance costs.
  • Toner ink capacity: 10 or more times greater so the cartridge is replaced less often. Good quality laser colour cartridges can print at least 7000+ pages and 9000+ if printing in monochrome. Certain toner cartridges can be refilled but it is very important to follow health and safetly guidelines: see Laser Printers: Health and Safety
  • Media capacity: 10 or more times greater. Laser printers handle cards, envelopes and non standard media more effectively than inkjets.
  • Media sources: Up to 3 sources compared to 1 for inkjets. Therefore, the user can print on different media types and sizes without the need to disrupt the print queue.
  • Print quality: Even though laser printers have a lower resolution (commonly 300-600 dpi up to 2400 dpi compared to inkjets up to 9600+ dpi), they are capable of printing with greater accuracy (possible 0.1 mm/0.004″ dots). Laser printers use dry powder that is bonded to the paper and not wet ink, which is absorbed by the paper resulting in inaccuracies due to a blotting/bleeding effect. Laser printer resolution is fine enough to add hidden anti-counterfeiting marks to every page, thus allowing the possibility of tracking the printer’s serial number, location of purchase and individual buyer.
    Laser printer lower resolution ‘v’ inkjet higher resolution: What does this mean in reality?
    In general, laser printers offer much crisper and more professional looking text/graphics, in particular, superior looking black text documents. However, when it comes to photos, inkjets have the advantage regarding image quality.
  • Accessibility: Size and design makes A3 laser printers very accessible for maintenance.

Despite laser printers costing significantly more to purchase initially, the advantages gained from lower operating costs/maintenance and superior speed/capacity, means that they come in to their own when used by people who need to print regularly and in higher print volumes. They outperform multiple inkjet printers when print volumes approach 5000+ pages per month.

Although laser printers are larger and heavier than inkjet counterparts, the luxury of being able to produce your own top quality posters, banners, newsletter, flyers, books and booklets is a significant asset and saves considerable time and money compared to having to visit professional printers.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using a link, this site may earn a small commission to keep it up and running.

Example: Comparative features of A3 colour laser and inkjet printers from lower and higher price groupings

  Image Coming Soon Kyocera FS-C8500DN A3 Colour Laser Printer Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW A3 Colour Inkjet Printer Epson Stylus R2880 A3 Colour Inkjet Printer

Product

Epson Aculaser C9200N

A3 colour laser printer
£2872.88 RPP

Internet prices from
£2207.88 inc vat

Kyocera FS-C8500DN

A3 colour laser printer
£7999.99 RPP

Internet prices from
£3,266.24 inc vat

Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW

A3+ colour inkjet printer
£199.99 RRP

Internet prices from
£174.99 inc vat

Epson Stylus R2880

A3+ colour photo inkjet printer
£719.99 RRP

Internet prices from
£526.09 inc vat

Print Method

EPSON AcuLaser Colour

Ecosys laser printer

4 colour inkjet printer,
PrecisionCore printhead

9 cartridge inkjet photo printer,
Epson Micro Piezo printhead

Print Resolution

2400 RIT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)

600 x 600 dpi multi-bit technology
(9,600 dpi effective)

Up to 4,800 x 2,400 dpi

Up to 5760 x 1440
optimised dpi on suitable media using RPM

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

Up to 26 ppm
(A3: 13 ppm)

Up to 55 ppm
(A3: 28 ppm)

 A4: 25 ppm (ISO/IEC24734)
other quality up to 32 ppm

N/A (photo printer)

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

Up to 26 ppm
(A3: 13 ppm)

Up to 50 ppm
(A3: 25ppm)

A4: 12 ppm (ISO/IEC24734)
other quality up to 22 ppm

N/A (photo printer)

Print Speed:
Photos

N/A

N/A

N/A

8″ x 10″  on A4 size:
91 seconds
11″ x 14″ on A3+ size:
156 seconds

Original Ink Cartridges

4 replacement toners:
Black:
≈21,000 Pages
£220.58
1.05 ppp (pence per page)

Photoconductor Unit
≈50,000 pages
£238.64
0.48 ppp

Colour:
≈14,000 pages
£268.23 for each colour
1.92 ppp

Photoconductor Unit
≈30,000 Pages
£177.28
0.59 ppp

4 replacement toners:
Black:
≈25,000 Pages
£173.9
0.70 ppp

Colour:
≈18,000 pages
£252.63 for each colour
1.40 ppp

4 individual ink cartridges:
Black:
≈350 pages
£17.49
5 ppp

Colour:
≈300 pages
£8.99 for each colour
3 ppp

9 individual cartridges:  
£11.57  per individual cartridge

Matte Black:
 ≈495 pages
2.34 ppp

Colour:
≈835-865 pages
1.39-1.34 ppp  (except Cyan)

Cyan:
≈1505 pages
0.77 ppp

Paper Capacity

350 A4 standard
1,850 A4 optional input
(64-256 g/m² )

1,100 A4 standard
4,100 A4 optional input
(60-220 g/m² )

250 sheets  standard A4 plain paper
(64 g/m²)

120 sheets A4 plain paper
(64-90 g/m²)

Media Size

Up to 5 paper sources and max. monthly print volume
of 150,000 pages

A3, A4, A5, A6, B4, B5, LT, HLT, GLT, EXE, LGL, GLG, F4, MON, DL, C5,
C6, C10, IB5, Transparency, Custom size from 76 x 99mm to 305 x 508 mm

Up to 5 paper sources
and max. monthly print
volume of 225,000 pages

A4, A3, B5, A5, A5R,
A6R, Letter, Legal and
all other custom paper
sizes

3 Paper Trays
A3+, A3 (29.7×42.0 cm), A4 (21.0×29.7 cm), A5 (14.8×21.0 cm), A6 (10.5×14.8 cm), B4 (25.7×36.4 cm), B5 (17.6×25.7 cm), C4 (Envelope), C6 (Envelope), DL (Envelope), No. 10 (Envelope), Letter, 9 x 13 cm, 10 x 15 cm, 13 x 18 cm, 16:9, User defined, Legal

1 source
A3+, A3, 12×12 in, US-B, B4, Legal 8.5×14 in, Letter, 8.5×11 in, A4, B5, A5, Half letter, A6, 11×14 in, 20×25 cm (8×10 in), 11×17 in, 13×18 cm (5×7 in), 10×15 cm (4×6 in), 16:9 wide size, 9×13 cm (3.5×5 in)
  Image Coming Soon Kyocera FS-C8500DN A3 Colour Laser Printer

Product

Epson Aculaser C9200N

A3 colour laser printer
£2872.88 RPP

Internet prices from
£2207.88 inc vat

Kyocera FS-C8500DN

A3 colour laser printer
£7999.99 RPP

Internet prices from
£3,266.24 inc vat

Print Method

EPSON AcuLaser Colour

Ecosys laser printer

Print Resolution

2400 RIT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)

600 x 600 dpi multi-bit technology
(9,600 dpi effective)

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

Up to 26 ppm
(A3: 13 ppm)

Up to 55 ppm
(A3: 28 ppm)

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

Up to 26 ppm
(A3: 13 ppm)

Up to 50 ppm
(A3: 25ppm)

Print Speed:
Photos

N/A

N/A

Original Ink Cartridges

4 replacement toners:
Black:
≈21,000 Pages
£220.58
1.05 ppp (pence per page)

Photoconductor Unit
≈50,000 pages
£238.64
0.48 ppp

Colour:
≈14,000 pages
£268.23 for each colour
1.92 ppp

Photoconductor Unit
≈30,000 Pages
£177.28
0.59 ppp

4 replacement toners:
Black:
≈25,000 Pages
£173.9
0.70 ppp

Colour:
≈18,000 pages
£252.63 for each colour
1.40 ppp

Paper Capacity

350 A4 standard
1,850 A4 optional input
(64-256 g/m² )

1,100 A4 standard
4,100 A4 optional input
(60-220 g/m² )

Media Size

Up to 5 paper sources and max. monthly print volume
of 150,000 pages

A3, A4, A5, A6, B4, B5, LT, HLT, GLT, EXE, LGL, GLG, F4, MON, DL, C5,
C6, C10, IB5, Transparency, Custom size from 76 x 99mm to 305 x 508 mm

Up to 5 paper sources
and max. monthly print
volume of 225,000 pages

A4, A3, B5, A5, A5R,
A6R, Letter, Legal and
all other custom paper
sizes
  Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW A3 Colour Inkjet Printer Epson Stylus R2880 A3 Colour Inkjet Printer

Product

Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW

A3+ colour inkjet printer
£199.99 RRP

Internet prices from
£174.99 inc vat

Epson Stylus R2880

A3+ colour photo inkjet printer
£719.99 RRP

Internet prices from
£526.09 inc vat

Print Method

4 colour inkjet printer,
PrecisionCore printhead

9 cartridge inkjet photo printer,
Epson Micro Piezo printhead

Print Resolution

Up to 4,800 x 2,400 dpi

Up to 5760 x 1440
optimised dpi on suitable media using RPM

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

A4: 25 ppm (ISO/IEC24734)
other quality up to 32 ppm

N/A (photo printer)

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

A4: 12 ppm (ISO/IEC24734)
other quality up to 22 ppm

N/A (photo printer)

Print Speed:
Photos

N/A

8″ x 10″ on A4 size:
91 seconds
11″ x 14″ on A3+ size:
156 seconds

Original Ink Cartridges

4 individual ink cartridges:
Black:
≈350 pages
£17.49
5 ppp

Colour:
≈300 pages
£8.99 for each colour
3 ppp

9 individual cartridges:
£11.57 per individual cartridge

Matte Black:
 ≈495 pages
2.34 ppp

Colour:
≈835-865 pages
1.39-1.34 ppp (except Cyan)

Cyan:
≈1505 pages
0.77 ppp

Paper Capacity

250 sheets standard A4 plain paper
(64 g/m²)

120 sheets A4 plain paper
(64-90 g/m²)

Media Size

3 Paper Trays
A3+, A3 (29.7×42.0 cm), A4 (21.0×29.7 cm), A5 (14.8×21.0 cm), A6 (10.5×14.8 cm), B4 (25.7×36.4 cm), B5 (17.6×25.7 cm), C4 (Envelope), C6 (Envelope), DL (Envelope), No. 10 (Envelope), Letter, 9 x 13 cm, 10 x 15 cm, 13 x 18 cm, 16:9, User defined, Legal

1 source
A3+, A3, 12×12 in, US-B, B4, Legal 8.5×14 in, Letter, 8.5×11 in, A4, B5, A5, Half letter, A6, 11×14 in, 20×25 cm (8×10 in), 11×17 in, 13×18 cm (5×7 in), 10×15 cm (4×6 in), 16:9 wide size, 9×13 cm (3.5×5 in)
  Image Coming Soon

Product

Epson Aculaser C9200N

A3 colour laser printer
£2872.88 RPP

Internet prices from
£2207.88 inc vat

Print Method

EPSON AcuLaser Colour

Print Resolution

2400 RIT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

Up to 26 ppm
(A3: 13 ppm)

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

Up to 26 ppm
(A3: 13 ppm)

Print Speed:
Photos

N/A

Original Ink Cartridges

4 replacement toners:
Black:
≈21,000 Pages
£220.58
1.05 ppp (pence per page)

Photoconductor Unit
≈50,000 pages
£238.64
0.48 ppp

Colour:
≈14,000 pages
£268.23 for each colour
1.92 ppp

Photoconductor Unit
≈30,000 Pages
£177.28
0.59 ppp

Paper Capacity

350 A4 standard
1,850 A4 optional input
(64-256 g/m² )

Media Size

Up to 5 paper sources and max. monthly print volume
of 150,000 pages

A3, A4, A5, A6, B4, B5, LT, HLT, GLT, EXE, LGL, GLG, F4, MON, DL, C5,
C6, C10, IB5, Transparency, Custom size from 76 x 99mm to 305 x 508 mm
  Kyocera FS-C8500DN A3 Colour Laser Printer

Product

Kyocera FS-C8500DN

A3 colour laser printer
£7999.99 RPP

Internet prices from
£3,266.24 inc vat

Print Method

Ecosys laser printer

Print Resolution

600 x 600 dpi multi-bit technology
(9,600 dpi effective)

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

Up to 55 ppm
(A3: 28 ppm)

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

Up to 50 ppm
(A3: 25ppm)

Print Speed:
Photos

N/A

Original Ink Cartridges

4 replacement toners:
Black:
≈25,000 Pages
£173.9
0.70 ppp

Colour:
≈18,000 pages
£252.63 for each colour
1.40 ppp

Paper Capacity

1,100 A4 standard
4,100 A4 optional input
(60-220 g/m² )

Media Size

Up to 5 paper sources
and max. monthly print
volume of 225,000 pages

A4, A3, B5, A5, A5R,
A6R, Letter, Legal and
all other custom paper
sizes
  Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW A3 Colour Inkjet Printer

Product

Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW

A3+ colour inkjet printer
£199.99 RRP

Internet prices from
£174.99 inc vat

Print Method

4 colour inkjet printer,
PrecisionCore printhead

Print Resolution

Up to 4,800 x 2,400 dpi

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

A4: 25 ppm (ISO/IEC24734)
other quality up to 32 ppm

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

A4: 12 ppm (ISO/IEC24734)
other quality up to 22 ppm

Print Speed:
Photos

N/A

Original Ink Cartridges

4 individual ink cartridges:
Black:
≈350 pages
£17.49
5 ppp

Colour:
≈300 pages
£8.99 for each colour
3 ppp

Paper Capacity

250 sheets standard A4 plain paper
(64 g/m²)

Media Size

3 Paper Trays
A3+, A3 (29.7×42.0 cm), A4 (21.0×29.7 cm), A5 (14.8×21.0 cm), A6 (10.5×14.8 cm), B4 (25.7×36.4 cm), B5 (17.6×25.7 cm), C4 (Envelope), C6 (Envelope), DL (Envelope), No. 10 (Envelope), Letter, 9 x 13 cm, 10 x 15 cm, 13 x 18 cm, 16:9, User defined, Legal
  Epson Stylus R2880 A3 Colour Inkjet Printer

Product

Epson Stylus R2880

A3+ colour photo inkjet printer
£719.99 RRP

Internet prices from
£526.09 inc vat

Print Method

9 cartridge inkjet photo printer,
Epson Micro Piezo printhead

Print Resolution

Up to 5760 x 1440
optimised dpi on suitable media using RPM

Print Speed:
Black Text A4

N/A (photo printer)

Print Speed:
Colour Text A4

N/A (photo printer)

Print Speed:
Photos

8″ x 10″ on A4 size:
91 seconds
11″ x 14″ on A3+ size:
156 seconds

Original Ink Cartridges

9 individual cartridges:
£11.57 per individual cartridge

Matte Black:
 ≈495 pages
2.34 ppp

Colour:
≈835-865 pages
1.39-1.34 ppp (except Cyan)

Cyan:
≈1505 pages
0.77 ppp

Paper Capacity

120 sheets A4 plain paper
(64-90 g/m²)

Media Size

1 source
A3+, A3, 12×12 in, US-B, B4, Legal 8.5×14 in, Letter, 8.5×11 in, A4, B5, A5, Half letter, A6, 11×14 in, 20×25 cm (8×10 in), 11×17 in, 13×18 cm (5×7 in), 10×15 cm (4×6 in), 16:9 wide size, 9×13 cm (3.5×5 in)

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