A3 vs. A4 in 2025: The Real Questions Businesses Should Be Asking
Is A3 Still the Right Choice? Or Should You Be Moving to A4? Here’s the Smarter Answer.
If you’re searching for the “right” answer between A3 and A4 multifunction devices in 2025, you’re asking the wrong question. The reality is: the smartest organizations are using both—strategically.
At Doceo, we work with businesses across industries that are reevaluating their print environments in the wake of hybrid work, rising security threats, and cost pressures. What we’ve seen is clear:
It’s not about choosing A3
or
It’s about building the right fleet for
how your organization works now
This article breaks down when to deploy A3 vs. A4, how to evaluate your actual needs, what security must look like in 2025, and why cloud print is no longer optional.
A3 vs. A4: What’s the Difference—and Why It Matters
A3 vs. A4 refer to paper sizes, but they imply more than that:
| Feature | A3 Devices | A4 Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Max Print Size | Up to 11” × 17” (tabloid) | Up to 8.3” × 11.7” (letter) |
| Use Case | Centralized, high-volume, advanced finishing | Decentralized, agile, space-saving |
| Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) | Lower at high volumes | Lower at low/moderate volumes |
| Size & Power | Larger footprint, higher power draw | Compact, energy-efficient |
| Typical Deployment | Department hubs, production areas | Branch offices, remote teams |
The key is not to think in absolutes. A3 isn’t “outdated,” and A4 isn’t a “replacement.” Instead, think:
- Where do you need high-capacity, high-quality output?
- Where would a smaller, more agile device better serve the workflow?
If you haven’t asked these questions in the last 12 months, your print environment may not match your business reality.
How to Choose: 5 Real-World Scenarios
- A regional law firm with centralized and branch offices
- Best fit: A3 in headquarters, A4 in satellite branches
- Why: Local printing needs are low, but document handling at HQ is complex
- A manufacturing firm with floor-level operations and front offices
- Best fit: A3 in central admin, rugged A4s on shop floor
- Why: Print needs vary by environment and accessibility
- A K–12 school district
- Best fit: A3 in admin hubs, A4 in classrooms
- Why: Teachers don’t need a full-sized copier, but district offices do
- A real estate brokerage with hybrid agents
- Best fit: A4 in field offices/home setups; shared A3 at main office
- Why: Flexibility and location-specific output
- A healthcare provider across multiple clinics
- Best fit: Secure A4s at intake desks, A3s in billing or imaging support
- Why: Compact devices where needed, but advanced capabilities still required
If you recognize your business in one of these models, you’re not alone. Our team at Doceo helps companies develop print strategies that reflect these use patterns every day.
What Most Organizations Miss About Print Security
Too many companies focus only on user access or cloud app permissions—but printers are networked endpoints. And they’re often overlooked.
Print security risks in 2025 include:
- Unpatched firmware vulnerabilities
- Default passwords left active on devices
- Print spooler exploits (e.g., PrintNightmare variants)
- Data stored on internal hard drives left unsecured
- Remote shadow printing via home printers on unmanaged networks
What to do:
- Enforce pull printing via badge/PIN access
- Enable firmware whitelisting and secure boot on all devices
- Encrypt print data in transit using TLS 1.3 and lock down protocols with SNMPv3
- Require automatic secure erase on decommissioned or reassigned printers
Doceo can help implement and audit these controls across your entire print fleet—even across multiple locations.
Cloud Print in 2025: The Infrastructure Shift You Can’t Postpone
By the end of 2025, over 1 in 5 businesses will run their print infrastructure in the cloud. Why? Because the benefits now far outweigh the migration cost.
Cloud print enables:
- Centralized visibility and control across all devices
- Remote deployment and configuration of printers
- Real-time monitoring of supply levels, job tracking, and fleet health
- Fewer service calls thanks to predictive analytics
Bonus: Cloud print integrates with MDM and IAM platforms
This lets you fold print into broader IT strategies like Zero Trust and remote endpoint management.
Not sure if you’re ready? Doceo offers cloud readiness assessments and phased migration options.
Key Takeaways: Build a Print Strategy That Reflects Reality
In today’s decentralized, data-sensitive workplace, your print environment needs to be:
✔️ Right-sized for each location
✔️ Secure by design, not by exception
✔️ Cloud-connected and IT-aligned
✔️ Flexible enough to support hybrid workflows
A3 and A4 are no longer competing—they’re complementary tools in your broader tech stack. If your provider is still pushing one-size-fits-all, it’s time to talk to someone who gets it.
💡 Let’s Rethink Print—Together
At Doceo, we specialize in helping organizations assess, secure, and streamline their print infrastructure across locations, industries, and device types. If you’re rethinking your print environment this year, we’re ready to help.
☎️ 888-757-6626
