A3 Laser Printers compared to A4 Laser Printers

The following article compares A3 laser printers to A4 laser printers and gives examples of features found in lower and higher price groupings for:

A3 and A4 monochrome laser printers
A3 and A4 colour laser printers

Price

Economy of scale dictates product price. Manufacturers need to cover costs, overheads and still make a profit in order to stay in business. In general, the demand and subsequent sales volumes of any product are directly related to the ability of the manufacturer to regulate the price of a product. e.g. lower demand and smaller sales volumes result in manufacturers having less ability to lower prices.

However, as consumers are becoming increasingly technologically minded, the desire and expectation for owning faster and more capable equipment grows proportionally. Therefore, increased demand and lower costs of manufacturing laser printers has resulted in entry level A3 printers that are now within the price range of small businesses and increasing numbers of home offices. In addition, manufacturers tolerate minimal profit from the actual sale of the laser printers in the expectation that recompense will follow from future sales of printer related consumables e.g. toners, fuser assemblies.

Performance

A3 laser printers typically have greater memory and capacity making them very efficient and economical A4 printers.

Footprint

A3 laser printers have a significantly larger footprint which has the advantage of making maintenance easier. As technology evolves, the ongoing trend is toward smaller, less bulky and lighter printers, and one would expect to pay a premium for the current smallest versions.

Print Size

Being able to produce excellent quality prints in full poster size, banners and newsletters is a major appeal to buyers of A3 printers.
Who Uses A3 Laser Printers? shows some of the applications and types of businesses that regularly use these wide format type laser printers.

In the examples below, remember that prices fluctuate so always apply due dilligence. Moreover, significant reduction in toner costs can be achieved by purchasing cartridges termed re-manufactured, return or compatible from third party manufacturers.

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Example: Comparative features of monochrome A3 and A4 laser printers from lower and higher price groupings


Product	Epson EPL-N2550 A3 monochrome laser £1068.08 RPP Internet prices from £487 inc vat	Xerox Phaser 5550 A3 monochrome laser £2291.25 RPP Internet prices from £1829 inc vat	Xerox Phaser 3250V/D A4 monochrome laser £233.83 RPP Internet prices from £152 inc vat	Lexmark T654n A4 monochrome laser £797.83 RPP Internet prices from £627 inc vat
Print Method	EPSON AcuLaser Monochrome	Phaser laser printer Monochrome	Phaser laser printer Monochrome	Lexmark laser printer Monochrome
Print Resolution	1200RiT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)	Up to true 1200 x 1200 dpi at full rated speed	600 x 600 interpolated (up to 1200 x 1200 enhanced image quality)	1200 Image Quality 1200 x 1200 dpi 2400 Image Quality 600 x 600 dpi
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 30 ppm (A3: 17 ppm)	Up to 50 ppm (A3: 28 ppm)	Up to 28 ppm A4	Up to 53 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: ≈15,000 pages £199.59 1.33 ppp (pence per page)	Black: ≈35,000 pages £94.38 0.27 ppp Photoconductor Unit ≈60,000 £258.03 0.43 ppp	Black: Standard: ≈3500 pages £72.73 2.01 ppp High Yield: ≈5000 pages £87.44 1.75 ppp	Black: Standard: ≈7000 pages £201.70 2.88 ppp High Yield: ≈25,000 pages £463.14 1.85 ppp Extra High Yield: ≈36,000 pages £495.10 1.38 ppp
Paper Capacity	400 A4 standard 1,500 A4 optional input (60-210 g/m² )	1,100 A4 standard 4,100 A4 optional input (60-215 g/m² )	251 A4 standard 501 A4 optional input (60-176 g/m² )	650 A4 standard 4,300 A4 optional input (60-176 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 4 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 100,000 pages. Automatic Duplex Unit. A5, A4, A3, B5, B4, LT, HLT, EXE, LGL, GLG, B(Ledger), GLT, F4, Monarch, Com#10, DL, C5, C6, ISO_B5 From 76.2 x 99.9 mm to 305 x 508mm	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 300,000 pages. A/letter, A3, A4, A5, A6, B4 JIS, B5 JIS, B6 JIS, Executive, Large US Postcard, Legal, Small US Postcard, Statement, Tabloid, US Folio, Custom sizes: 89 x 98 mm to 297 x 432 mm	Up to 3 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 30,000 pages. Depending on tray: 76 x 127 mm to 216 x 356 mm and 105 x 148 mm to 216 x 356 mm	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 275,000 pages. 0 Envelope, 7 3/4 Envelope 9 Envelope, A4, A5 DL Envelope, A6 Card Executive, Folio JIS-B5, Legal, Letter Statement, Universal


Product	Epson EPL-N2550 A3 monochrome laser £1068.08 RPP Internet prices from £487 inc vat	Xerox Phaser 5550 A3 monochrome laser £2291.25 RPP Internet prices from £1829 inc vat
Print Method	EPSON AcuLaser Monochrome	Phaser laser printer Monochrome
Print Resolution	1200RiT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)	Up to true 1200 x 1200 dpi at full rated speed
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 30 ppm (A3: 17 ppm)	Up to 50 ppm (A3: 28 ppm)
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: ≈15,000 pages £199.59 1.33 ppp (pence per page)	Black: ≈35,000 pages £94.38 0.27 ppp Photoconductor Unit ≈60,000 £258.03 0.43 ppp
Paper Capacity	400 A4 standard 1,500 A4 optional input (60-210 g/m² )	1,100 A4 standard 4,100 A4 optional input (60-215 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 4 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 100,000 pages. Automatic Duplex Unit. A5, A4, A3, B5, B4, LT, HLT, EXE, LGL, GLG, B(Ledger), GLT, F4, Monarch, Com#10, DL, C5, C6, ISO_B5 From 76.2 x 99.9 mm to 305 x 508mm	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 300,000 pages. A/letter, A3, A4, A5, A6, B4 JIS, B5 JIS, B6 JIS, Executive, Large US Postcard, Legal, Small US Postcard, Statement, Tabloid, US Folio, Custom sizes: 89 x 98 mm to 297 x 432 mm


Product	Xerox Phaser 3250V/D A4 monochrome laser £233.83 RPP Internet prices from £152 inc vat	Lexmark T654n A4 monochrome laser £797.83 RPP Internet prices from £627 inc vat
Print Method	Phaser laser printer Monochrome	Lexmark laser printer Monochrome
Print Resolution	600 x 600 interpolated (up to 1200 x 1200 enhanced image quality)	1200 Image Quality 1200 x 1200 dpi 2400 Image Quality 600 x 600 dpi
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 28 ppm A4	Up to 53 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: Standard: ≈3500 pages £72.73 2.01 ppp High Yield: ≈5000 pages £87.44 1.75 ppp	Black: Standard: ≈7000 pages £201.70 2.88 ppp High Yield: ≈25,000 pages £463.14 1.85 ppp Extra High Yield: ≈36,000 pages £495.10 1.38 ppp
Paper Capacity	251 A4 standard 501 A4 optional input (60-176 g/m² )	650 A4 standard 4,300 A4 optional input (60-176 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 3 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 30,000 pages. Depending on tray: 76 x 127 mm to 216 x 356 mm and 105 x 148 mm to 216 x 356 mm	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 275,000 pages. 0 Envelope, 7 3/4 Envelope 9 Envelope, A4, A5 DL Envelope, A6 Card Executive, Folio JIS-B5, Legal, Letter Statement, Universal


Product	Epson EPL-N2550 A3 monochrome laser £1068.08 RPP Internet prices from £487 inc vat
Print Method	EPSON AcuLaser Monochrome
Print Resolution	1200RiT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 30 ppm (A3: 17 ppm)
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: ≈15,000 pages £199.59 1.33 ppp (pence per page)
Paper Capacity	400 A4 standard 1,500 A4 optional input (60-210 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 4 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 100,000 pages. Automatic Duplex Unit. A5, A4, A3, B5, B4, LT, HLT, EXE, LGL, GLG, B(Ledger), GLT, F4, Monarch, Com#10, DL, C5, C6, ISO_B5 From 76.2 x 99.9 mm to 305 x 508mm


Product	Xerox Phaser 5550 A3 monochrome laser £2291.25 RPP Internet prices from £1829 inc vat
Print Method	Phaser laser printer Monochrome
Print Resolution	Up to true 1200 x 1200 dpi at full rated speed
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 50 ppm (A3: 28 ppm)
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: ≈35,000 pages £94.38 0.27 ppp Photoconductor Unit ≈60,000 £258.03 0.43 ppp
Paper Capacity	1,100 A4 standard 4,100 A4 optional input (60-215 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 300,000 pages. A/letter, A3, A4, A5, A6, B4 JIS, B5 JIS, B6 JIS, Executive, Large US Postcard, Legal, Small US Postcard, Statement, Tabloid, US Folio, Custom sizes: 89 x 98 mm to 297 x 432 mm


Product	Xerox Phaser 3250V/D A4 monochrome laser £233.83 RPP Internet prices from £152 inc vat
Print Method	Phaser laser printer Monochrome
Print Resolution	600 x 600 interpolated (up to 1200 x 1200 enhanced image quality)
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 28 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: Standard: ≈3500 pages £72.73 2.01 ppp High Yield: ≈5000 pages £87.44 1.75 ppp
Paper Capacity	251 A4 standard 501 A4 optional input (60-176 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 3 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 30,000 pages. Depending on tray: 76 x 127 mm to 216 x 356 mm and 105 x 148 mm to 216 x 356 mm


Product	Lexmark T654n A4 monochrome laser £797.83 RPP Internet prices from £627 inc vat
Print Method	Lexmark laser printer Monochrome
Print Resolution	1200 Image Quality 1200 x 1200 dpi 2400 Image Quality 600 x 600 dpi
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 53 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	N/A
Print Speed: Photos	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges (Colour: N/A)	Black: Standard: ≈7000 pages £201.70 2.88 ppp High Yield: ≈25,000 pages £463.14 1.85 ppp Extra High Yield: ≈36,000 pages £495.10 1.38 ppp
Paper Capacity	650 A4 standard 4,300 A4 optional input (60-176 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 275,000 pages. 0 Envelope, 7 3/4 Envelope 9 Envelope, A4, A5 DL Envelope, A6 Card Executive, Folio JIS-B5, Legal, Letter Statement, Universal

Example: Comparative features of colour A3 and A4 laser printers from lower and higher price grouping

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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	HP LaserJet CP2025 A4 colour laser printer £292.58 RPP Internet prices from £248 inc vat	Kyocera FS-C5400DN A4 colour laser printer £1199.00 RPP Internet prices from £999.99 inc vat
Print Method	EPSON AcuLaser Colour	Ecosys laser printer	In-line colour laser printing technology	ECOSYS colour printer
Print Resolution	2400 RIT (Epson Resolution Improvement Technology)	600 x 600 dpi multi-bit technology (9,600 dpi effective)	Up to 600 x 600 dpi	600 x 600 dpi Multi-bit technology (9,600 x 600 dpi effective)
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 26 ppm (A3: 13 ppm)	Up to 55 ppm (A3: 28 ppm)	Up to 20 ppm A4	Up to 35 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	Up to 26 ppm (A3: 13 ppm)	Up to 50 ppm (A3: 25ppm)	Up to 20 ppm A4	Up to 35 ppm A4
Print Speed: Photos	N/A	N/A	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	4 replacement toners: Black: ≈3,500 Pages £122.2 3.50 ppp Colour: ≈2,800 pages £115.15 for each colour 4.11 ppp	4 replacement toners: Black: ≈16,000 Pages £128.19 0.80 ppp Colour: ≈12,000 pages £143.35 for each colour 1.19 ppp Supplied with black cartridge (≈8,000 pages) and colour cartridges (≈6,000 pages)
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 )	300 A4 standard 550 A4 optional input (60-220 g/m² )	650 A4 standard 2,650 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	Up to 3 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 40,000 pages A4, A5, A6, B5 (JIS), 10 x 15 cm,16K, envelopes (ISO DL, ISO C5, ISO B5), post cards (Standard #10, JIS Single, JIS Double), Custom size from 76 x 127 to 216 x 356 mm	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 150,000 pages A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Letter, Legal, Custom 70 x 138 mm and 105 x 148 mm to 216 x 356 mm

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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


Product	HP LaserJet CP2025 A4 colour laser printer £292.58 RPP Internet prices from £248 inc vat	Kyocera FS-C5400DN A4 colour laser printer £1199.00 RPP Internet prices from £999.99 inc vat
Print Method	In-line colour laser printing technology	ECOSYS colour printer
Print Resolution	Up to 600 x 600 dpi	600 x 600 dpi Multi-bit technology (9,600 x 600 dpi effective)
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 20 ppm A4	Up to 35 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	Up to 20 ppm A4	Up to 35 ppm A4
Print Speed: Photos	N/A	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges	4 replacement toners: Black: ≈3,500 Pages £122.2 3.50 ppp Colour: ≈2,800 pages £115.15 for each colour 4.11 ppp	4 replacement toners: Black: ≈16,000 Pages £128.19 0.80 ppp Colour: ≈12,000 pages £143.35 for each colour 1.19 ppp Supplied with black cartridge (≈8,000 pages) and colour cartridges (≈6,000 pages)
Paper Capacity	300 A4 standard 550 A4 optional input (60-220 g/m² )	650 A4 standard 2,650 A4 optional input (60-220 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 3 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 40,000 pages A4, A5, A6, B5 (JIS), 10 x 15 cm,16K, envelopes (ISO DL, ISO C5, ISO B5), post cards (Standard #10, JIS Single, JIS Double), Custom size from 76 x 127 to 216 x 356 mm	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 150,000 pages A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Letter, Legal, Custom 70 x 138 mm and 105 x 148 mm to 216 x 356 mm

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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


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


Product	HP LaserJet CP2025 A4 colour laser printer £292.58 RPP Internet prices from £248 inc vat
Print Method	In-line colour laser printing technology
Print Resolution	Up to 600 x 600 dpi
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 20 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	Up to 20 ppm A4
Print Speed: Photos	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges	4 replacement toners: Black: ≈3,500 Pages £122.2 3.50 ppp Colour: ≈2,800 pages £115.15 for each colour 4.11 ppp
Paper Capacity	300 A4 standard 550 A4 optional input (60-220 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 3 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 40,000 pages A4, A5, A6, B5 (JIS), 10 x 15 cm,16K, envelopes (ISO DL, ISO C5, ISO B5), post cards (Standard #10, JIS Single, JIS Double), Custom size from 76 x 127 to 216 x 356 mm


Product	Kyocera FS-C5400DN A4 colour laser printer £1199.00 RPP Internet prices from £999.99 inc vat
Print Method	ECOSYS colour printer
Print Resolution	600 x 600 dpi Multi-bit technology (9,600 x 600 dpi effective)
Print Speed: Black Text A4	Up to 35 ppm A4
Print Speed: Colour Text A4	Up to 35 ppm A4
Print Speed: Photos	N/A
Original Ink Cartridges	4 replacement toners: Black: ≈16,000 Pages £128.19 0.80 ppp Colour: ≈12,000 pages £143.35 for each colour 1.19 ppp Supplied with black cartridge (≈8,000 pages) and colour cartridges (≈6,000 pages)
Paper Capacity	650 A4 standard 2,650 A4 optional input (60-220 g/m² )
Media Size	Up to 6 paper sources and max. monthly print volume of 150,000 pages A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Letter, Legal, Custom 70 x 138 mm and 105 x 148 mm to 216 x 356 mm

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