From Oversized to Optimized: Why A4 Is Now an Essential Part of Every Smart Print Strategy

Is A4 Replacing A3? Not Quite—But It’s Changing the Conversation

A3 multifunction printers (MFPs) have long anchored the office print environment, prized for their robust performance, high-volume capacity, and advanced finishing. But today, A4 devices are becoming just as critical to the conversation for a smart print strategy.

Thanks to smaller footprints, lower total cost of ownership, and advanced feature sets, A4 machines are carving out a significant role in the modern fleet. This shift isn’t about replacing A3—it’s about right-sizing and rethinking the mix. Organizations are realizing that a blend of A3 and A4 delivers maximum performance, value, and flexibility.

Let’s explore what’s driving this evolution, when A4 shines, and why A3 still plays a leading role.

What’s Fueling the Growth of A4?

1. Office Footprints Are Shrinking

As hybrid work models take hold and square footage shrinks, equipment must pull its weight—both functionally and physically. A4 MFPs average 41% smaller footprints than A3s, with a 5% reduction in size over the last five years. For space-conscious offices, A4 delivers powerful capabilities in compact packages.

2. Budgets Are Tighter

In sectors like education, government, and healthcare, budgets demand smarter spend. A4 devices offer lower upfront costs, lower service contract rates, and efficient supply usage—often 30% to 50% lower total cost of ownership than A3 equivalents.

Importantly, many A4 devices now support features once reserved for A3:

• Print speeds of 40+ ppm
• Duplexing, cloud workflows, and secure print release
• Basic finishing capabilities like stapling

3. Sustainability Is a Priority

A4 supports sustainability goals through:

• Lower power consumption
• Fewer raw materials used in production
• Reduced shipping emissions and packaging waste

In large fleets, these savings contribute significantly to ESG compliance and carbon footprint reduction.

Why A3 Still Anchors the Modern Fleet

While A4 addresses many new challenges, A3 remains indispensable. At Doceo, we continue to sell and service a significant volume of A3 devices across industries—for good reason.

A3 is still the go-to for:

• High-volume print environments (50,000+ pages/month)
• Departments needing large-format output (11×17 spreadsheets, engineering plans, booklets)
• Advanced finishing (folding, booklet-making, hole punching)
• Centralized print hubs that serve multiple users

Some verticals, like legal, architectural, and enterprise-level operations, simply require the horsepower, finishing, and durability that A3 systems are built to provide.

Manufacturers Are Responding to Both Needs

The A4 surge is no accident. OEMs have expanded their A4 portfolios dramatically:

• A4 models for dealers increased 26% from 2019 to 2024
• A3 portfolios declined 16% in the same period

However, major brands are supporting both segments:

• Lexmark, Brother, and Kyocera lean into A4 with strong compact portfolios
• Canon, HP, and Ricoh offer balanced A3/A4 mixes to fit any fleet
• Xerox and Toshiba remain A3-focused, ideal for high-performance deployments

This dual-focus reflects the broader market reality: customers need a tailored fleet, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

What’s the Ideal Mix for Your Business?

Reassessing your print environment isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about identifying:

• Which departments need A3 performance?
• Where can A4 reduce cost without compromising?
• How can you minimize service calls and maximize uptime?
• Are you meeting sustainability, security, and compliance goals?

Final Thought: Complement, Don’t Compete

A4 isn’t here to replace A3—it’s here to complement it. In fact, the most cost-effective, resilient print environments we build at Doceo combine the strengths of both:

• A3 for performance, finishing, and centralization
• A4 for distributed printing, mobility, and right-sized efficiency

When your fleet reflects the real needs of your teams, everyone benefits—from IT and finance to end users and facilities managers.

Call to Action

Ready to right-size your print environment? Whether you’re upgrading to smarter A4 devices, evaluating your A3 placements, or doing both—Doceo helps you build the most strategic, cost-effective fleet possible.

📞 Call 888-757-6626

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