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How can you tell the differences between two printers? Are there really any?
Besides the appearance and logo on the machine, there may not be obvious differences between a printer from this brand and a printer from that brand.
When you dig underneath the surface though, there are quite a few differences worth noting between two different-branded printers---beyond just the cost and basic functions of the machines.
Knowing the differences between two seemingly similar printer models can ultimately make your purchasing decision for you. But to get to that decision, you need access to the right information.
As a print vendor for almost 40 years, we’ve gained the knowledge necessary to write thorough model comparisons between Xerox, whose products we sell, and other brands’ machines.
You might’ve caught that we sell Xerox products, which means we’re probably going to favor the Xerox machine in this comparison, right?
If we didn’t fully commit to honesty and transparency in our content-making process, that would probably be the case. But that’s not what we’re about.
Some people will be a better fit for the Xerox machine. Some will find that the Toshiba machine is more aligned with their printing requirements. And some may not find either of these machines to be the perfect match for them.
Regardless of what you decide, we want to give you the accurate and unbiased information you need to make that decision yourself.
Because informing yourself of your options is the best thing you can do to get the right office machine in place for your company.
This comparison will cover the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC, both color multifunction printers (print, copy, scan and fax). Let’s start with their basic specifications before going into the similarities and differences between the two:
Comparing the Printers’ Specifications
Every printer on the market has specifications that state how fast the machine prints, the quality of the prints, how heavy the machine is, etc. Let’s go over some of the basic specifications between the two machines so you get a feel for how they match up in key fundamental areas:
Xerox AltaLink C8130
Released: July 2020
Print Speed: 30 ppm (pages per minute) in color and black-and-white
Monthly Duty Cycle: 90,000 pages per month
Recommended Volume per Month: Up to 12,000 pages per month
Print Resolution: Up to 1200 x 2400 dpi
Copy Resolution: Up to 600 x 600 dpi
Maximum Paper Capacity: 5,180 sheets of paper
Base Model Dimensions: 44.5” x 24.4” x 28.5”
Base Model Weight: 316 pounds
Cost: Starting at around $15,500 (According to BliQ)
Photo courtesy of Cortron Systems.
Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC
Released: September 2018
Print Speed: 30 ppm (pages per minute) in color and black-and-white
Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 180,000 pages per month
Recommended Volume per Month: Not currently listed
Print Resolution: Up to 1200 x 1200 dpi
Copy Resolution: Up to 600 x 600 dpi
Maximum Paper Capacity: 3,200 sheets of paper
Base Model Dimensions: 31” x 23” x 25.2”
Base Model Weight: 172 pounds
Cost: Starting at around $18,399 (According to BliQ)
Photo courtesy of Toshiba Tec Europe.
3 Similarities Between the Printers
Now that you’ve seen some of the basic numbers surrounding the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC, let’s go into a little more detail about where the machines compare and contrast with each other.
Let’s start with three notable similarities between the machines:
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Print Speed
Print speed is defined as the amount of time it takes a printer to produce a single print, and both the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC operate at the same print speed for both color and black-and-white prints: 30 pages per minute (ppm).
While they have the same speed, the first copy-out-time for each printer differs. The Xerox machine has a first copy-out-time of 6.1 seconds/color and 4.5 seconds/black-and-white, while the Toshiba machine is 7.8 seconds/color and 5.9 seconds/black-and-white.
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Modern User Interface
Another similarity between the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC, is they each contain modernized touchscreens as the machine’s main source of navigation.
One of the key areas where printers have evolved over the years is how you complete tasks at the machine, such as printing, copying or scanning documents.
While Xerox and Toshiba’s touchscreen user interfaces look different from each other, they both afford you a familiar experience by having a smartphone-like feel to them.
There is also overlap in the personalization options that companies can incorporate to tailor their machine’s touchscreen to the needs of their business.
Both Xerox and Toshiba’s’ multifunction printers let you personalize the home screen of your device, which can help speed up tasks by making your most used features the ones you see first.
For a look at the two brands’ touchscreens, see the pictures below:
Xerox User Interface
Toshiba User Interface (courtesy of WiZiX Technology Group)
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Size of Prints They Can Make
An important element to getting the right printer in place is knowing the size of prints you will need to make.
The maximum paper size both printers can make in this comparison are tabloid-sized prints, which are 11” x 17.”
3 Differences Between the Printers
So, the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC, compare favorably on print speed, navigation, personalization and the size of prints they can make, but where do they differ?
The differences between the two will likely make your decision on which printer would be a better fit for you, so let’s get into them:
Difference #1: Cost
When you’re talking about products, is there anything more important than cost?
Probably not, so it’s noteworthy that the current standard retail price for the Xerox AltaLink C8130, released in July 2020, is $15,500, while the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC, released in September 2018 is $18,399, according to bliQ.
The price difference between the two models is likely explained by the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC having slightly more configuration options and a higher monthly duty cycle, which leads us directly to our next difference:
Difference #2: Maximum Monthly Duty Cycle
The maximum monthly duty cycle of a printer is the maximum limit set by the manufacturer that a machine can print or copy in a month, and Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC differ in this area.
The Xerox machine has a maximum monthly duty cycle of 90,000 pages, while the Toshiba machine can go up to 180,000 pages per month.
While you can technically print at a printer’s maximum monthly duty cycle, it’s best to follow the machine’s recommended monthly print volume to avoid an increase in service issues.
The Xerox machine has a recommended monthly print volume of 5,000-12,000 pages per month, while the Toshiba machine doesn’t have its recommended volume currently listed.
Difference #3: Printer Size
The third notable discrepancy between the two machines in this comparison is in their size, which includes their base model dimensions and weight.
The Toshiba printer model has base model dimensions of 31” x 23” x 25.2” while the Xerox model has dimensions of 44.5” x 24.4” x 28.5,” which means the Xerox machine will have a larger footprint than the Toshiba machine.
The Xerox machine is also significantly heavier than the Toshiba model (316 pounds to 172 pounds), which means Xerox’s machine will likely be a bit more durable than the Toshiba printer but will be more difficult to fit into smaller places.
When you’re talking about advanced multifunction printers, like the two machines in this comparison, you will likely need to add finishers or accessories, like more paper trays, to the machine in order to satisfy your printing goals.
This can subsequently increase the size of the machine, and thus, the amount of room you need to accommodate the printer. For a look at how each machine could look with different upgrades and finishers added, see the pictures below:
Xerox AltaLink C8130 with upgrades (Courtesy of Anderson Business Technology)
Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC with upgrades (Courtesy of PC & More)
Which Printer Is Right for You?
You’ve seen the basics, you’ve deciphered the similarities and you’ve noted the differences, so which printer model is right for you?
As we stated in the introduction, we’re not here to tell you which machine is better for you. But here is a quick summation to use when trying to decide which of these machines to go with:
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If you need the basic features of a color multifunction printer, you should go with the Xerox AltaLink C8130 since it’s a less expensive option and operates at the same efficiency level as the Toshiba machine.
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If you need a smaller machine that has slightly more configuration options and a higher print volume, then the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC would be the better option.
There’s obviously a lot to think about before spending thousands of dollars on a printer. Beyond what we covered today, it’s helpful to look at the unique features offered by each brand, such as Xerox’s ConnectKey technology and Toshiba’s Elevate Sky.
It should be stated that both machines can adequately meet the needs of large workgroups, and which machine you choose may depend on who you decide to purchase from.
If there’s a local print vendor that you want to buy from, and they sell Toshiba machines, you would probably want to go with the Toshiba machine. If you trust a vendor that sells Xerox machines, then you likely want to go with the Xerox machine.
Who you decide to purchase from, usually either a print vendor or directly from a printer brand, will go a long way toward which machine you ultimately choose.
In summary, although both machines differ in some key areas, both printers are solid and can adequately meet the needs of large workgroups with a monthly print volume of around 12,000-18,000 pages.
Want to See Another Printer Comparison?
The Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC are just two of the seemingly endless number of printers on the market.
You might not be completely sold on either of the machines discussed in this article and want to see another comparison before deciding which printer to move forward with.
Even if you liked the Xerox or Toshiba machine in this comparison, the more options you look at, the better chance you will have at finding your perfect printer match.
Read our blog comparing the Xerox AltaLink C8135 and the Canon iR C5535i III to see how a different Xerox printer matches up with a competing brand’s machine.
