Even people with limited knowledge of the printer/copier industry are familiar with the names HP and Xerox, but how do they compare to each other? 

It’s easy to tell obvious differences like the logo, look and feel of the machines, but hidden within the observable discrepancies are subtle factors that could help make the final decision for you on which brand to go with. 

For almost four decades, we’ve provided consumers with assistance in choosing the right office machine for their business and have become intimately familiar with the major manufacturers that form the basis of the industry.  

Xerox VersaLink C7020

Xerox likes to boast that it’s ‘the company that created the modern workplace’ and we’re pleased to see that it is still innovating in the MFP category. We’re referring to the ConnectKey technology, which is a suite of connected functionality, fronted by a 7-inch touchscreen that offers up a smorgasbord of apps instead of a traditional menu. These apps make a variety of tasks almost as intuitive as if you were using a smartphone.

Xerox recommends this VersaLink model to small and medium-sized businesses, but we think it has the features and capacity to meet the demands of larger offices – although, for very high-volume printing, Xerox has the AltaLink range. With additional drawers, it can hold up to 5,140 sheets of paper, while Extra High Capacity toner cartridges can print up to 23,600 pages.

An A3 multifunction printer of this size was never going to look like anything but an eyesore in your office, but at least the off-white and petrol-grey colour scheme are unobtrusive, and it feels well-made. The plastic components are by no means flimsy and apparently, there are fewer moving parts inside the latest models, so less chance of failure.

The form factor looks familiar enough, with the scanner on top, paper trays to the side, top and bottom, and a paper-out tray at the centre. Where it differs from rival machines is the 7-inch tilting touchscreen display, but we’ll discuss that more in the next section.

HP Color Laser MFP 179fnw

The HP Color Laser MFP 179fnw is a simple entry-level colour laser AIO with performance and features that are best suited for printing or copying in low-volume offices.

The HP Color Laser MFP 179fnw ($299.99) is a relatively inexpensive entry-level multifunction laser printer designed for home-based and micro-office use. HP dubs it the “world’s smallest in its class,” and its compact size does make it a good fit for space-strapped offices. However, it lacks some of the key features of our two entry-level Editors’ Choice colour laser AIOs, the Canon Color imageClass MF634Cdw and the Brother MFC-L3770CDW, including automatic two-sided printing, and during testing, it struggled with some of our more complex business graphics. Even so, it has a relatively low purchase price and prints well overall, making it a decent fit for individuals and small work teams with very light print and copy volumes.

Measuring 13.6 by 16 by 14.3 inches (HWD) and weighing only 31.1 pounds, the 179fnw is leaner by a few inches in all directions, and at least 10 pounds lighter, than the competitors mentioned earlier. Close in size and girth, even a little smaller and lighter, is HP’s own LaserJet Pro MFP M180nw, another of the company’s compact lasers meant for individuals or small groups of users. Granted, all these machines are designed to share desktops or otherwise minimize the space they require, but the 179fnw and M180nw have the smallest footprints, hands down.

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 just need the basic features of a colour multifunction printer, you should go with the HP LaserJet M776zs since it’s a much cheaper and smaller model than the Xerox one.  

And in terms of print speeds and print volume, they are either the same or HP has an edge, which means the printer will meet quality efficiency standards.  

But if you need a more robust color multifunction printer with advanced configuration options that can hold more paper and has more features, as well as apps, then the Xerox AltaLink C8145 would be the better fit.  

If you needed to make specialty prints, like booklets or pamphlets, then the Xerox device would be the only choice in this scenario, since the HP device can’t make extensive specialty prints.

If you plan to get copiers for your office in Kansas City, you can buy or lease copiers in Kansas City. We can give you the option to get the copier that you want.  You can contact our local copier leasing services department in your location.

If your Location is around Kansas City, you may call us at (913) 203-1300, and our personnel for copier leasing in Kansas City will assist you.   If you are also looking for copier repair services in Kansas City, you may contact our copier repair personnel at the same number.