HP A3 Multifunction Printers: Which Model Fits Your Office?

The right HP A3 multifunction printer depends on three things: how many pages you print a month, whether you need colour, and how much paper handling and security your office needs. HP’s A3 range covers everything from a 22 ppm desktop copier to a 70 ppm managed colour device built for 300,000 pages a month.

As an Authorised HP Partner, SNA Infotech has supplied, installed and supported print infrastructure for Mumbai businesses since 1989. This guide walks through seven HP A3 models we recommend most often, grouped by the kind of office they suit, so you can shortlist the right one before you ask for a quote.

HP A3 range at a glance

Speeds and duty cycles for the E785, E826 and E877 series are for the fastest model in each series, which uses an HP speed licence. All figures are from HP datasheets.

Entry-level A3 mono: M438 and M42625 series

These two series give small offices A3 print, copy and scan at an A4-style budget. Both are compact desktop MFPs with an A3 scanner glass, a 4-line LCD and a 100-sheet multipurpose tray plus a 250-sheet main tray.

HP LaserJet MFP M438 series

• Speed: up to 22 ppm print and copy
• Models: M438n (manual duplex), M438dn (automatic duplex), M438nda (automatic duplex plus a 100-sheet reversing ADF)
• Scanning: up to 33 ipm at A4, black and colour
• Paper: 350 sheets standard, up to 600 with the optional tray on dn and nda
• Supplies: toner up to 13,700 pages (high-yield), imaging drum around 80,000 pages
• Duty cycle: up to 50,000 pages a month; HP recommends 2,000 to 5,000

HP LaserJet MFP M42625 series

• Speed: up to 25 ppm at A4, 13 ppm at A3
• Models: M42625n (manual duplex), M42625dn (automatic duplex)
• Print quality: up to 1200 x 1200 dpi
• Paper: 350 sheets standard, 600 with optional tray 3
• Scanning: optional 100-sheet reversing ADF
• Supplies: toner up to 13,700 pages, drum around 80,000 pages

The M42625dn is a good fit for offices that print more than they scan and want slightly faster output than the M438.

Department A3 mono: M72625dn and M72630dn

The M726xx models step up to floor-standing department MFPs. Both share the same body: a 7-inch colour touchscreen, a 100-sheet reversing ADF and 1,140 sheets of standard paper (two 520-sheet trays plus a 100-sheet multipurpose tray), expandable to 2,280. Fax and Wi-Fi are optional.

Both support scan to email, PC, FTP and SMB, AirPrint and Mopria mobile printing, and user-level permissions to control who prints what. The 33,000-page toner and 200,000-page drum keep running costs low for offices printing tens of thousands of pages a month.

Enterprise managed A3: E785, E826 and E877 series

HP’s Managed MFPs are built for organisations that need speed, uptime and strong security across a fleet. All three run upgradeable HP FutureSmart firmware and include HP Wolf Enterprise Security: HP Sure Start checks and self-heals the BIOS at boot, run-time intrusion detection watches memory, and HP Memory Shield blocks malware. They also meet EPEAT Gold, ENERGY STAR and Blue Angel criteria.

A useful detail: speed on these series is set by an HP speed licence. You buy the base device and choose the speed you need, which keeps pricing aligned with your volume.

HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E785dn (E78523dn / E78528dn)

• Colour and mono at up to 23 ppm (E78523dn) or 28 ppm (E78528dn)
• Single-pass duplex scanning at up to 120 ipm through a 100-sheet ADF that takes A3 originals
• 8-inch tilting colour touchscreen, 6 GB memory
• 1,140 sheets standard, expandable to 2,180
• High-yield toner up to 25,000 pages black and 20,000 pages colour
• HP Custom Color Manager for consistent colour matching
• Duty cycle up to 60,000 pages (E78523dn) or 80,000 pages (E78528dn)

HP LaserJet Managed MFP E826dn (E82650dn / E82660dn / E82670dn)

• Mono at 50, 60 or 70 ppm
• 180 ipm duplex scanning through a 200-sheet ADF
• 10.1-inch touchscreen, 6 GB memory, 500 GB secure hard disk
• SRA3 and 12 x 18 inch media, paper weights from 60 to 325 g/m²
• 1,140 sheets standard, up to 6,140
• 60,000-page toner for a low cost per page
• Duty cycle 200,000 to 300,000 pages a month

HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E877dn (E87740dn to E87770dn)

• Colour and mono at 40, 50, 60 or 70 ppm
• 180 ipm duplex scanning through a 200-sheet ADF
• SRA3 media and heavy stock up to 325 g/m² for brochures, covers and posters
• 10.1-inch touchscreen, 6 GB memory, 500 GB secure hard disk
• 1,140 sheets standard, up to 6,140
• Toner up to 50,000 pages black and 45,000 pages colour
• Duty cycle 180,000 to 300,000 pages a month

The E877 is the pick when colour volume is high enough that outsourcing brochures and presentations starts to cost more than printing them in-house.

How to choose the right HP A3 MFP

Start with your monthly page volume, then narrow by colour, scanning and security needs.

1. Colour or mono? If colour is under 10% of your output, a mono device plus occasional outsourced colour is usually cheaper. Above that, look at the E785 or E877.
2. How much do you scan? For daily multi-page scanning, prioritise single-pass duplex scanning (E785 at 120 ipm; E826 and E877 at 180 ipm) over print speed.
3. Paper sizes and stock: Need SRA3, 12 x 18 inch or card up to 325 g/m²? Only the E826 and E877 handle it.
4. Security and fleet management: Regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare and government should favour the Managed E-series with HP Wolf Enterprise Security.
5. Running cost: Compare cost per page, not just purchase price. Higher-yield toner and long-life drums on the M726xx and E-series bring the per-page cost down at volume.

Why buy HP printers from SNA Infotech

• Authorised HP Partner: genuine devices, Original HP supplies and HP Care Pack warranty options
• Since 1989: more than three decades of IT and print infrastructure work for Mumbai businesses
• Right-sized advice: we match the model and speed licence to your actual page volume, so you don’t overpay
• Installation and support: delivery, network setup, driver deployment and after-sales service
• Managed print options: fleet monitoring and supplies management for multi-device offices

Frequently asked questions