Xerox and Toshiba are two of the major printer brands in the printer/copier industry but how can you decide which one is right for you?
Beyond the physical appearance of their machines, the similarities and differences between the two brands may not be readily apparent.
But buried beneath the obvious are key distinctions that could make one brand more appealing to you than the other and it’s crucial you understand them before deciding who to purchase from.
We’ve been in the industry for almost four decades and have enough knowledge and insight to thoroughly compare Xerox and Toshiba to one another.
This is partly because we sell Xerox products and must be up to date on all the latest trends in office technology, including which brands compete with the products we sell.
Because although we specifically sell Xerox products, we’re not naïve enough to believe that they’re the best type of machine for every workplace.
We’ve learned that every major printer brand is unique in some way. Because we maintain a company policy built on honesty and transparency, this comparison will be free of bias and we’re not afraid to call out the truth, even if it means going against the products we sell.
We want to make sure you have access to the right information so you can make an informed decision yourself.
With that out of the way, let’s get into the comparison, which will include a brief overview of each company, their similarities and differences, pricing and a printer model comparison so you can see a practical example of how their machines stack up against each other.
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Overview of Xerox
Xerox was founded in 1906 in Rochester, New York, and is credited with being the first printing company to manufacture and sell xerographic plain-paper copiers.
Today, Xerox has over 13,000 active patents for innovation, and its products, which include print solutions for several workplaces, have reached 160 countries worldwide.
Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, Xerox concentrates on selling office equipment such as single-function (print only), multifunction (print, copy, scan and fax) and production printers for a wide array of workgroups.
Overview of Toshiba
Toshiba was formed in 1875 in Tokyo, Japan, as a major supplier of telegraphy equipment.
They have since become one of the major office equipment suppliers in the world and sell more than 500 major technologies, including storage, document imaging and document management solutions.
They are currently run by CEO Taro Shimada and maintain a headquarters in Minato City, Tokyo, Japan.
2 Similarities Between Xerox and Toshiba
Let’s first go over two similarities between Xerox and Toshiba:
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Range of Multifunction Printing Solutions
Both Xerox and Toshiba have a wide array of selections when it comes to multifunction (print, copy, scan and fax) or all-in-one printers for small, medium and large-sized workgroups.
The printer options for small workgroups include machines that are best suited for workgroups of up to 10 daily users with a capacity to print up to 800-12,000 pages per month.
Examples of small workgroup printers. include the VersaLink B405 and the Toshiba 479CS printers, which print at speeds between 47-50 pages per minute (ppm).
Medium workgroup options include printers that can meet the needs of workgroups with up to 20 daily users that print at a volume somewhere in the 1,500-15,000 pages per month range.
Examples include the Xerox VersaLink C7130 and Toshiba 2515AC, both of which are black-and-white printers that print at 30 ppm.
Both brands also have options for large workgroups, which can be defined as workgroups with more than 20 daily users and a print volume of over 10,000-75,000 pages per month.
Examples in the large workgroup category include the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba 3015AC, which are color multifunction printers (MFP’s) that print at speeds of 30 ppm.
Xerox and Toshiba also offer light production printers, which are a step above advanced all-multifunction devices and are useful for companies that want to make production-style prints, like booklets or manuals, but don’t want to invest in large production machines.
Check out Toshiba’s “MFPs” page and read the Xerox review blogs below to learn more about each brand’s office printer options:
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Modernized User Interfaces and Personalization Options
Another similarity between the two printer brands is that all their multifunction options 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, like printing, copying or scanning.
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 businesses 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)
2 Differences Between Xerox and Toshiba
Now that we’ve gone through the main similarities between Xerox and Toshiba, let’s go through a couple of key differences between the two brands:
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Different Printer Options
A major difference between the two brands is the types of printers they sell outside of the multifunction devices that were mentioned as the first similarity between the two.
While Toshiba has its own line of multifunction printers, they do not sell single-function printers (print-only).
They instead take an “agnostic” approach with single-function printers and sell other brands’ single-function units. These brands include Lexmark, HP, and Brother printers.
Xerox currently has 13 single-function printers in its product catalog, which offers more of a variety to consumers that want a print-only machine from the same brand.
It’s recommended to have brand uniformity with your office printing equipment so that your supplies and service will be the same for all your machines. So, if you wanted to buy a Xerox multifunction printer, you will likely want to buy a Xerox single-function printer if you have a need for one.
Although Toshiba doesn’t sell its own brand of single-function machines, they do have their brand of receipt and label printers, which Xerox does not currently have.
If you needed a separate machine to print out labels or receipts, then you would have to go with Toshiba in this comparison because they have multiple options for label and receipt printers while Xerox does not.
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Printer Apps
A distinguishing difference worth noting between Xerox and Toshiba is in its printer apps, which work similarly to your smartphone but operate with the primary goal of automating and efficiently completing office tasks.
Xerox and Toshiba each contain apps that allow you to complete tasks like printing from your phone, and both have cloud-storage applications that provide you a repository to place documents in the cloud.
However, Xerox has a customer-facing App Gallery that contains over 70 applications which includes productivity apps like the Xerox Note Converter and Xerox Translate and Print, among others.
If you’re interested in downloading apps for your printer, especially productivity ones, then Xerox offers more options and easier accessibility than Toshiba.
Which Printer Brand Has the Best Prices?
Now, let’s talk about money: Who offers the best prices, Xerox or Toshiba?
The answer depends on the printer models being compared, but in general, Xerox tends to have the cheaper prices when comparing two similar printers from their respective catalogs.
Why does Xerox tend to have cheaper products than Toshiba?
Let’s take a look at a printer model comparison between two larger color multifunction printers, the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC, to see the differences between the two and why they are priced differently:
Xerox AltaLink C8130 vs. Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC
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.
There are some similarities between the machines: Both print at speeds of up to 30 ppm in color and black-and-white, and each has a 10.1” color touchscreen.
So why is there a difference in cost? Let’s break that down in a little more detail:
Xerox AltaLink C8130 (Courtesy of Anderson Business Technology)
Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC (Courtesy of PC & More)
Difference #1: Finishing and Configuration Options
Both printer models in this comparison include ways to configure your machine, which includes adding print finishing options, such as various staple, hole-punch and booklet-making accessories.
However, Toshiba’s machine has more configuration options, which means it will offer you more ways to add features to your device.
Difference #2: Maximum Monthly Duty Cycle
Another difference of note between the Xerox AltaLink C8130 and the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC is their maximum monthly duty cycle.
The monthly duty cycle of a printer is the maximum limit set by the manufacturer that a machine can print or copy in a month.
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. However, you should expect the Toshiba printer to safely print around 10% of its monthly duty cycle (18,000 pages per month.)
Difference #3: Printer Size
The third discrepancy between the two machines 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.”
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.
Which Printer Model Is Better?
Now that you’ve seen some of the differences between the two models, which one should you go with in this scenario?
Well, if you need the basic features of a color multifunction printer, you should go with the Xerox AltaLink C8130 since it’s the cheaper option and operates at the same, or even higher, efficiency level than the Toshiba machine.
However, if you need a smaller machine that has more configuration options and a higher print volume, then the Toshiba e-STUDIO 3015AC would be the better option.
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 use, and they sell Toshiba machines, you would probably want to go with the Toshiba machine because the vendor you trust sells their brand of machines and vice-versa.
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.
Narrowing down your printing requirements and finding which brand aligns most with your goals is critical to ensuring you get the right long-term machine in place for your company.
Read our blog on the top six things to consider when buying a printer to learn more about how to choose the right machine for your situation.
Which Printer Brand Is Right for You?
There are so many factors that go into deciding which printer brand you choose, and Xerox and Toshiba, while overlapping in certain areas, have key differences that are worth considering before purchasing.
But both brands are reputable, major printer brands, because they each sell quality products and services that can rival many of the other major players in the printer/copier industry.
However, that doesn’t mean Xerox or Toshiba will be the only options you have to choose from. As a local vendor that prides itself on being upfront and honest with consumers, we can tell you that the best way for you to get the right machine in place for your company is to look at all your options.
Xerox or Toshiba could end up being the right brand for you, but it will only help if you have other comparisons to look at so you can see what some of the other printer brands have to offer.
If you’re interested in reading through another comparison, read our blog comparing Xerox to another one of its competitors, Canon, to see a different comparison between major printer brands.
