SHARP vs KYOCERA COPIERS | 7.5 MIN READ
Sharp vs Kyocera copiers are a comparison of two feature-rich brands. The differences between a copier's main functions have become pretty marginal, but depending on the needs of your business or organization, the smaller details might make all the difference. We breakdown the differences between the most popular Kyocera and Sharp copiers on the market so that you can make a more informed decision when selecting your next machine.
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How We Created the SOS Rating Formula
As one of the largest Sharp copier dealers in the country, I will admit that we could seem biased in a review of our products vs a competitor. But we are in the business of helping people (current customers, future customers, and people just seeking information), so we partnered with Buyers Lab, again, to create a fair and accurate review of both brands.
Buyer's Lab is a third-party company that tests copiers and printers for a variety of considerations that are important to buyers. Our review uses that same data to compare the four most popular Sharp machines our company sells with their Kyocera counterparts.
Let the chips fall where they may...
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How We Created the SOS Copier Ratings Formula
Our goal in this article is to provide as much transparency as possible. This means we aren't going to place a generic number next to each copier rated and expect you to not care about how we came up with that number.
The SOS Copier Ratings Formula looks like this:
(R + IQ + EU + S + F) / 5 = SOS Copier Rating
Our formula is not a one-size fits all. In this formula, every feature is equally balanced. For example, if it's incredibly important that you spend as little downtime as possible (because all copiers will eventually need service), then you may want to create your own formula where "reliability" carries more weight.
Here is what each metric represents:
Reliability (R) - If your machine isn't working, it doesn't mater how great the image quality or the features are. Machines with high reliability ratings lower indirect costs as they eliminate time employees might spend waiting at an overcrowded machine, or worse, not being able to print, scan, or fax at all.
It is important to note that reliability can also be exaggerated or improved based on the dealer and service a company chooses (but more on that later).
Image Quality (IQ) - An important factor for some but not for all. A print shop, media, or advertising company may place more importance on this category over a CPA or legal department who needs their copier for more administrative work.
Ease-of-Use (EU) - Is the machine easy to navigate? Is its layout and features (including how to access them) intuitive from the display screen? If there is an issue with the copier like a misfeed/paper jam, does it display helpful instructions on how to resolve the issue?
Security (S) - Hackers and social engineers relentlessly try new tactics to breach a company's network, but just because most cyber criminals target victims outside their home country doesn't mean you can rest easy. With 4,000 security breaches every day in our country, protecting every device connected to your network is important, including your copier.
Social engineers (particularly in the healthcare industry) look for unlocked copiers that make easy targets. A simple, rogue flash drive placed in a copier can create havoc on a network.
Features (F) - Features are nice -- but they aren't everything. Being able to easily sort receipts in a single scan is a great option for individuals in an admin department, but is it worth paying more money if your copier is for the service department?
Depending on your business needs, a copier that can do everything under the sun may not be necessary.
Best Kyocera Copier Review
Kyocera TASKalfa 3553ci (color)
Market Entry Year: February 2019
Speed: 35 ppm
Dimensions: 31.1" x 23.7" x 26.18"
A highly reliable machine and overall strong choice. Only one misfeed was noted during a test period of 225,000 impressions/paper feeds. High yields for drums and developer mean downtime is very minimal. The out-of-date display (including not supporting a quick menu or swipe feature) is made up by exceptional uptime, reliability, and good security. Usability is good overall with an intuitive control panel.
Strengths:
- Higher than average standard memory allows for faster processing of print jobs
- Fast first-print times
- Scan speeds are some of the fastest in this class of machine
Weaknesses:
- Print jobs in color ran below average in speed
- Below average hard drive capacity
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8.5 |
Total Score: 8.7/10
KYOCERA TASKalfa 4003i
Market Entry Year: February 2019
Speed: 40 ppm
Dimensions: 31.1" x 23.7" x 26.18"
A highly reliable option for smaller to medium-sized workgroups. Only one mis-feed recorded while running 225,000 sheets through the machine. Additionally, this machine proves to be a good value in terms of toner yield savings, making downtime rarely an issue.
Strengths:
- High quantity of features at a lower price than more expensive brands give a great deal of value to this machine
- Easily meets the demands of general office environments
- Above average maximum paper capacity for increased efficiency
Weaknesses:
- No support for alternate simple scan or copy menus
- Cannot support onscreen editing (like Sharp copiers)
- Slower than average first-print times for PDF files
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Total Score: 8.8/10
Kyocera TASKalfa 5053i (black & white)
Market Entry Year: February 2019
Speed: 50 ppm
Dimensions: 31.1" x 23.7" x 26.18"
Great reliability and good security. This machine boasts some great features, like being able to print from anywhere with mobile printing, individual user display customization, and simple to use feedback for misfeed removal. These positives will more than likely make up for some of the missed features and slightly lower image quality when compared with the higher end of its peers. A great machine for general office environments that need a device capable of holding up to above average workloads.
Strengths:
- Higher than average memory allow for print jobs to be processed more quickly
- Fast first-copy times out of warm-up
- Above average maximum paper capacity
Weaknesses:
- Scan and copy previews do not support onscreen editing or page deletion
- Below average hard drive capacity
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8.5 |
Total Score: 8.7/10
Kyocera ECOSYS M8130cidn (color)
Market Entry Year: December 2017
Speed: 30 ppm
Dimensions: 29.6" x 23.2" x 23.2"
This is the direct competitor with the Canon imageRUNNER Advance C3530i III, however, Buyer's Lab has yet to test this series of machines. This light-weight machine is an easy to install option for small offices or workgroups. The Kyocera ECOSYS line is well-known for its eco-friendly approach to toner replacement, allowing for just the toner bottle to be removed, replaced, and recycled. Other benefits of this machine include:
- Easy-to-use full-color touchscreen panel
- Long-life components
- HyPAS solution platform that enables a high level of customization
Total Score: NR
Sharp Copiers Reviews
Sharp MX 3071 (color)
Market Entry Year: December 2018
Speed: 30 ppm
Dimensions: 30" x 24" x 26"
Great for small and mid-size workgroups, this machine's reliability is consistent with other top copiers. The real value, though, is in the machine's highly rated yields for toner, drums and developer, and easy to operate procedure for loading paper, clearing paper jams, and replacing toner. This allows users to easily keep the machine running without relying on a service technician from their local dealer. Additionally, users can be assured that quality output will be maintained from first copy to last.
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 7 | 9 | 9.5 | 9 |
Total Score: 8.7/10
Sharp MX 5071 (color)
Market Entry Year: April 2019
Speed: 50 ppm
Dimensions: 33" x 24" x 26"
The MX 5071 enters the market right at the threshold between standard print speed and production speed. As a result, this machine is a perfect choice for medium to large-sized workgroups. According to Buyer's Lab, this machine is "highly reliable, easy to use, and very productive in all modes tested." If you need to program jobs and build workflows, the MX 5071's redesigned interface make these tasks very simple. Additionally, output for both print and copy are above the industry's average, so you can expect high quality with each print job completed.
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | 7 | 9 | 9.5 | 7.5 |
Total Score: 8.5/10
Sharp MX M4070 (b&w)
Market Entry Year: November 2017
Speed: 40 ppm
Dimensions: 33" x 24" x 26"
If you're in need of flawless reliability, then the Sharp MX M4070 may be the right device for you. In addition, its succinct procedures for replacing toner, clearing paper jams, and loading paper make this an incredibly effective option for medium-sized workgroups who need to minimize downtime. This machine is a 2019 Buyers Lab award winner and boasts an efficient, centralized device management system that's perfect for IT personnel, including its easy-to-use Remote Device Manager.
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 7 | 8.5 | 9.5 | NR |
Total Score: 8.75/10
Sharp MX 7580N (color)
Market Entry Year: June 2017
Speed: 75 ppm
Dimensions: 48-1/8" x 33-1/4" x 33-1/4"
A highly recommended Buyer's Lab 2019 Bronze Award winner, the MX 7580N is an extremely reliable production printer. This machine serves mid to large-sized offices or print shops where the need to print large volumes in a timely manner is a high priority. During Buyer's Lab's test of the MX 7580N, only two minor misfeeds were experienced while printing 275,000 impressions. Like all Sharp copiers, the design of the interface (coupled with its retractable keyboard) make programming jobs and entering data effortless.
Strengths
- Maximum uptime with near-flawless reliability and triple air-feed paper handling option that boosts uptime further
- Standard retractable keyboard for increased data entry efficiency
- Users can release prints securely from one of six network compatible devices
Weaknesses
- Below average first-copy time
- Procedure for loading media/paper can be cumbersome
| Reliability | Image Quality | Ease of Use | Security | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8 | 8.5 | 9.5 | NR |
Total Score: 9/10
Copier Service
Hopefully, you have a better idea of the strengths and weaknesses of some of the most popular Canon and Kyocera products on the market, today. Both Kyocera and Canon products have outstanding reliability, but it's important to choose a copier dealer that has an equally great reputation for service.
A highly reliable machine with poor service becomes a very mediocre machine, because every machine requires service at some point. It's important to also understand the difference between copier dealers and manufacturers before making a decision on who to do business with.
Now that you better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular Canon and Kyocera models, you're prepared to begin a conversation with your local dealer. The next step is to make sure you understand how to choose a local copier dealer as well as determining which copier features are the most important to your business goals.
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