Photocopiers for offices
As a small business with 100 or fewer employees, you require a multifunction copier that meets your organization’s needs, is dependable, and is priced within your budget.
Perhaps you’ve contacted a local copier dealer or manufacturer and have narrowed your options to the devices they recommend. Or, perhaps you are just starting your search and want to be more informed before speaking with a vendor.
Criteria to look at when buying a photocopier
The factors listed below are by no means the only ones to think about when buying an office machine. Because your business may have specific requirements that are not addressed in this review, it is critical to consult with an industry expert before reaching a decision.
Reliability – each machine was subjected to the manufacturer’s recommended number of impressions and was graded based on the number of mis-feeds that occurred during the test.
A machine claiming an average monthly duty cycle of 200,000 impressions/prints, for example, would be tested by feeding 200,000 sheets through the machine.
Image Quality – measures how well the copier performs in the following areas:
Printing Color Quality (business graphics and photographic images)
Print Quality in Black (text, halftone range, halftone fill, line art, and solids)
Density of Print (measures density of a printed image with blocks of all solid colors based on the average of two readings each for cyan, magenta, and yellow, and four different locations for black output)
Is the design and interface simple to use? This category includes print, scan, copy, job management, multitasking, and feedback.
Security entails what features are included to secure data, such as network user authentication, biometrics, ID cards, common access, and others.
Features include the number of apps and tools that come with the device, as well as other hardware features such as additional memory and hard drive capacity. This category is divided into three criteria: specifications, solutions, and environmental considerations.
Now that all that has been said, let’s go to the top 10 photocopiers for offices.
10. Toshiba e-STUDIO4518A
If your office requires photocopiers for offices that reliably performs basic tasks without a plethora of extra features, the e-STUDIO4518A is an excellent choice. In addition to its high reliability, this Toshiba printer has some of the fastest print speeds in its class, as well as a 300-sheet two-sided single-pass feeder.
Pros
- Near-perfect dependability
- Quicker-than-average first print times
- Fast two-sided copying speeds
Cons
- Lines and characters lack of bravery
- Maximum paper capacity is less than average.
- When compared to comparable units, the price is higher than average.
9. Sharp MX-M4071
Where the M4071 lags behind other photocopiers on the list in terms of reliability, it makes up for it in terms of value, often at a lower price point that is more appealing to business owners. Excellent for small and medium-sized work groups that require high usability and productivity. This device also includes, as with all Sharp devices, a highly intuitive control panel and the ultra-helpful pullout keyboard for making destination inputs simple.
Pros
- Faster-than-average scan speeds
- faster-than-average two-sided copying
- Maximum paper, memory, and hard drive capacities that are above average
Cons
- Inconvenient secure print features
- The control panel’s help function is limited.
- Paper was not always recognized in the ready feed position, resulting in an error code.
8. Konica Minolta bizhub 360i
The 360i is a user-friendly black and white multifunction device that is ideal for small to medium-sized workgroups. This machine’s high uptime is due to its high reliability and simple maintenance procedures. However, what you gain in uptime comes at the expense of image quality, so this machine is not ideal for print shops or businesses that require high-quality in-house printing.
Pros
- Menus that are well-designed allow for quick access to desired settings.
- Fast processing is aided by above-average memory and SSD capacity.
- Quick first-copy turnaround
Cons
- Jobs that are already in the print queue cannot be changed (even quantity)
- Media (paper) weight support that is less than average
- Direct printing functions are limited.
7. HP LaserJet Enterprise MFP M725dn
If your small to mid-size office workgroup requires ledger-sized outputs but is on a tight budget, this HP is an excellent choice. Buyer’s Lab rates this machine consistently high across the board and at a reasonable price when compared to comparable models.
Pros
- Highly dependable with near-perfect performance durability
- This versatile device is made possible by the seamless integration of products and solutions designed by HP or third parties.
- Supports printing from a variety of mobile devices and includes “Green” features to help reduce waste.
Cons
- Increased supply costs per page
- Slow first-copy turnaround
- Slow scan speeds and lower paper capacity compared to standard models
6. Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5550i
Canon’s c5550i is an excellent choice for small and medium-sized workgroups/offices that do not require color output. This MFP is not as fast as some models at 35 pages per minute, but it makes up for it in reliability.
Pros
- SSD capacity that is above average
- Above-average paper capacity aids in efficiency by requiring fewer paper refills.
- Quick first-print turnaround
- Above-average toner yield contributes to time and cost savings.
Cons
- First-print times from sleep mode are slower than average.
- Memory is below average.
- Paper weight support is less than that of the average competitor.
5. Copystar CS 3253ci
With only one misfeed in 125,000 jobs, the CS 3253ci proves to be a highly reliable device and a strong overall choice. Color has been proven to be very effective, and high yields mean you’ll be able to print for longer than the average machine before needing more toner. The machine’s navigation control panel falls a little short. In this regard, the technology appears to lag behind its competitors.
Pros
- Support for heavy paper weight provides media flexibility.
- More paper capacity means greater efficiency.
- The device’s scan speeds are among the fastest in its class.
Cons
- There is no support for copy menus or alternative simple scans.
- Scan/copy previews lack the ability to delete or edit pages on-screen.
- Only the quantity of jobs in a queue can be changed.
4. Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C3830i
The C3830i has a reputation for dependability, as well as an array of productivity-enhancing features. Users will appreciate the ease of use provided by the large touch screen panel and intuitive interface. In addition, onscreen maintenance videos show users how to perform simple tasks such as replacing toner.
Pros
- In its class, it has the quickest recovery time from daytime sleep.
- faster-than-average two-sided copying
- Standard paper capacity that is above average
Cons
- When printing a PDF file, the first page takes longer than usual.
- Maximum paper capacity and hard drive storage are both below-average.
- Scan and copy previews do not support on-screen editing or rotation.
3. Sharp MX-4071
A fantastic option for small and medium-sized workgroups. Users can expect increased efficiency over time with improved reliability and fast speeds. Sharp is known for user-friendly maintenance and simple guides to help keep machines running, such as paper limit guides in drawers to prevent misfeeds. Sections can be easily removed to retrieve paper if there is a misfeed. Although the image quality is good, this is not the best machine for printing marketing materials.
Pros
- Two-sided print jobs are significantly faster than average.
- When scanning two-sided documents, it is among the fastest in its class.
- Maximum paper capacity is above average.
Cons
- Secure printing procedures are difficult to understand.
- The capacity of standard paper is below average.
- The control panel’s help function is limited.
2. Ricoh IM C4500
The Ricoh IM C4500 stands out with innovative capabilities and improvements to boost productivity. No better example is the newly designed Android-designed intuitive interface. It’s no surprise that Buyer’s Lab recommends this device for mid-size to large groups; however, a relatively small workgroup may find the device to be a bit more robust than necessary.
Pros
- Due to the small size of the color scan files, scan speeds are fast.
- Quicker-than-average first copy time
- The single-pass two-sided document feeder reduces wear and tear on originals.
Cons
- On-screen editing and page removal are not supported in scan and copy previews.
- Slower-than-average copying/printing speeds for booklets
- Administrators are unable to configure or update settings while the device is in use, potentially causing efficiency issues.
1. Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5840i
The Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5840i is at the top of its class, with exceptional dependability that is unrivaled by other brands. It’s no surprise that Canon is the world’s print solutions market leader. This device has a robust set of features, making it an excellent choice for small and medium-sized offices.
Pros
- Fast first-print times (even when sleeping during the day) when printing a variety of file types such as PDF, XLS, PPT, and Word.
- Maximum paper capacity is above average.
- Fast overall scan and first-copy-out times
Cons
- Within the scan preview, on-screen editing is not supported.
- The embedded web utility’s search function is inoperable for locating administrative tasks and device settings.
Conclusion
Buying a machine that has received high marks is, well, great, but when you decide to buy your copier, you must consider more than just the overall score.
After all, you wouldn’t buy a car solely because it was the most fuel-efficient and dependable, would you? “Of course I would!” you’re probably thinking. But what if you needed a vehicle capable of transporting large objects or towing a boat? You are unlikely to purchase a Prius.
The same goes for your copier. If dependability is the most crucial component, the copier will be different than if quality of the image is uncompromising.
