Only last month, we reviewed the Kyocera ECOSYS M2530DN, which is a multifunction printer. The printer we’re reviewing today, the Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN, falls in a different market segment even though it is as expansive as the M2530DN when it comes to features. The Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN, you see, is a single function printer while the Kyocera ECOSYS M2530DN is a multifunction printer. Despite the functionality differences, however, both devices are aimed at the Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) market.
Both the P4040DN and the M2530DN are scalable but the former is far more scalable than the latter. This means that the M2530DN caters to businesses residing on the smaller side of SME spectrum while the P4040DN caters to businesses falling on the larger side. In fact, the Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN is very well suited to SMEs that expect high volume printing to be a part of their operations in the future.
The Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN is an A3 monochrome laser printer that can be best described as a combination of features aimed at providing users with scalability and convenience at the same time. Here’s our review of this device.
Strengths of Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN
A printer cannot claim to be ideal for high volume printers if it doesn’t print at a good clop, doesn’t have good paper handling capacity and ends up costing the user a pretty penny simply because of that volume. The Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN, fortunately, meets all expectations handsomely.
The Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN is rated to print at a handsome speed of 40 pages per minute (ppm). However, that rating is for A4 sheets. For A3 sheets, this device has a rated print speed of 22 ppm which is again a good speed when you compare it to its competitors.
It is also worth noting that if you use the device’s “quiet” mode then the print speed will drop with the decibels. In the “quiet” mode, you can expect the print speed to be around 18 ppm for A4 sheets and 9 ppm for A3 sheets.
The good print speed of this device is complemented by its paper handling capabilities. One of the reasons why the P4040DN is good for businesses looking for scalability is that it offers optional increments in paper handling capacity. The standard variant of this device has a total paper handling capacity of 600 sheets which is divided between a 500-sheet paper cassette and a 100-sheet multipurpose tray. However, this paper capacity can be increased to up to massive 2,600 sheets with various optional add-ons.
The reason why high volume printers’ running cost needs to be on the lower side is that printing all those pages can add up pretty quickly. The Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN is one of the better options out there when it comes to running costs. Printing with this printer will cost you about 2.38 cents per page and that is if you use genuine printer cartridges. However, since genuine printer cartridges turn out to be much more expensive than generic printer cartridges while delivering comparable quality, our recommendation to you will be to go with the latter. By using generic or compatible printer cartridges, you can save a significant amount of money since they will deliver a page for less than 1 cent.
Another feature of the Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN that can make a significant difference in your running cost is automatic duplexing. The automatic duplexing feature of this device will allow you to halve the money you spend on paper since it will allow you to print on both sides of the sheet.
Weaknesses of Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN
The price bracket within which the Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN falls can be considered to be a flaw. However, if you consider the kind of features and capabilities you get, then the initial investment wouldn’t seem too much, especially if you also compare it to other devices with similar capabilities. This device will, typically, be valued around the $2,000 mark.
A bigger flaw than the initial investment size with the Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN is the fact that it doesn’t come with wireless connectivity options. Both, basic wireless connectivity and the new-age and advanced Wi-Fi Direct capability are missing in this device. The connectivity options that are available with this device are the standard USB 2.0 and Ethernet. Even though wireless connectivity features are absent in the standard variant of this device, you will get the option of having that module installed for some extra investment if it is imperative for your business.
Key Features of Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN
The Kyocera ECOSYS P4040DN measures 320mm high, 410mm deep and 469mm wide and weighs a hefty 20 Kg. While this makes the device cumbersome and tough to handle, this difficulty rises further if you choose to incorporate add-ons into the machine.
The output quality of the P4040DN meets the benchmark and straddles the average for the market segment. It is formally rated to produce prints at a maximum resolution of 1200 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi). Text output quality is excellent while images and graphics are at par with what you would expect from this market segment. The device comes with an inbuilt memory of 256MB but, like a lot of components of this device, this RAM can be increased to as high as high as 128GB.
The combination of the print engine and this RAM is that the device can spit out first print in less than 7.5 seconds. If you wish to retain records of what is being printed as well as other print task-related information, you may want storage memory as well. In this case, you’ll have the option of having a 32GB or a 128GB SSD Hard Disk Drive installed into the machine. Other add-ons you can go for with this device include an SD/SDHC-Card, a Data Security Kit, a USB IC Card Reader and a Card Authentication Kit.
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