In this installment of comparing major manufacturers of office equipment, we’re going to take a look at Sharp vs Xerox copiers. Having created the copier industry in the 1960s, Xerox is obviously one of the biggest names, if not the biggest.

Xerox is so well-known that it has even become synonymous with making photocopies. It has reached the level of brands like Thermos and Kleenex where people use the brand name interchangeably with the name of the product. I’m sure you’ve heard people say “Can you Xerox this for me?” instead of “can you copy this for me?” — maybe you’ve even said it yourself.

There is no brand which reaches that level of notoriety without producing a quality product, but the quality of Xerox machines has waned in recent years. In fact, I would even go as far as to say Xerox has fallen on hard times.

Xerox used to be known for being the best, and that’s not necessarily the case anymore. It has become a brand that rests on its laurels and continues to sell products based on the reputation it earned years ago.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, you have Sharp, which is a brand you wouldn’t usually associate with multifunctional printers (MFPs). For that reason, I would say it is the most under-appreciated brand in the industry.

When you think of Sharp you probably think of TVs, washing machines, or even kitchen appliances before you think of office equipment. You may be surprised to learn that Sharp is actually responsible for developing the world’s first electronic copy machine. Sharp has been in the industry longer than most people realize.

Sharp launched the world’s first LSI-embedded copy machine, which made it possible to shrink the control board to fit onto a single printed circuit board. In doing so, Sharp also improved the reliability and lowered costs compared to other units.

That’s still the mantra that the company brings to Sharp MFP models today— reliability, efficiency, and low costs. This is especially true when you’re comparing Sharp vs Xerox, as Xerox charges a premium for its name despite its products not being as good. Sharp copier prices are generally hard to beat when put side-by-side with comparable models from other brands. Sharp copier maintenance is also less expensive.

Most of Xerox products aren’t even made in-house anymore. Xerox manufactures its really high-end products while outsourcing the other machines to third-party manufacturers.

As far as business-type copy machines go, whether color or black and white, I have no hesitation saying Sharp is the best in class.

In Summary: Sharp vs Xerox

There really is not much of a comparison between Sharp vs Xerox. For the money, Sharp machines will always come out well ahead. Compared to Xerox, Sharp machines are less expensive to own (or lease), less expensive to maintain, and built with more heavy duty materials. Moreover, unless you’re buying the highest end machine, you can’t be assured that a Xerox machine is actually manufactured by Xerox.

There you have it. Unlike many of the comparisons I’ve done thus far, Sharp vs Xerox has a clear winner. If you’re in the market for a new machine, whether Sharp or otherwise, please inquire about our competitive copier leasing options.