Ricoh IM2702

I first encountered this machine in 2021 when helping a friend in foreign trade select equipment. His needs were simple: print customs declarations, contracts, packing lists, occasionally scan, and fax was basically no longer used. Budget was limited, didn't want to do leasing, wanted to buy one outright for their own use.

At that time, there weren't many choices for A3 machines in this price range on the market. Canon and Ricoh were mainstream; Konica and Kyocera were also options, but their after-sales service points were few and parts were hard to find. I helped him compare everything, and in the end, we chose this IM2702. It's been running for almost four years now, and in between, we only changed the toner once.

Ricoh's A3 black-and-white machine product line is extensive. From the entry-level IM2702, to mid-range IM2500 and IM3500, to high-end IM4000, IM5000, and IM6000, it covers all needs from small and micro enterprises to large institutions. The IM2702 is positioned at the lowest end: 27 pages per minute speed, 500-sheet standard paper tray, 7-inch touch screen. The official domestic price is roughly between 12,000 and 15,000 yuan; the actual transaction price depends on how you negotiate with the dealer.

Many people ask why not just buy the IM2500. The IM2500 is indeed better—10.1-inch large screen, faster scanning speed, larger paper tray capacity. But the price is also significantly higher, with an official price difference of nearly 10,000 yuan. For small companies with monthly print volumes under 3,000 pages, the IM2702 is completely sufficient. Spending an extra 10,000 yuan for a bigger screen isn't necessary.

The IM2702 was launched around 2020. Before it, Ricoh's machine in this price range was the MP 2014 series, and before that was the Aficio MP 201. With each generation update, the main changes were in the operation panel and network functions. The mechanical structure and print engine—these core components—actually didn't change much.

The biggest upgrade in the IM series is the Smart Operation Panel. The old machines' operation interfaces were like feature phones—too many buttons, too small, and finding a function required pressing several times. The IM2702's 7-inch screen isn't considered large, but the touch experience is much better than the old machines. Frequently used functions can be set as shortcuts on the home screen. Operations like scan-to-email and scan-to-USB can be completed with just two taps.

I've tried the cloud printing function—it can connect to Dropbox and SharePoint—but honestly, not many people use it. Most domestic companies are still accustomed to sending print jobs through the computer or printing directly from USB drives. Mobile printing is used occasionally. Ricoh has a Smart Device Connector app where you can scan a QR code to connect to the machine without installing drivers.

The IM2702 I helped my friend buy has printed approximately 80,000 pages over four years. There was one issue with a paper jam sensor in between. After reporting it, someone came the next day to replace a part, free of charge—said it was under warranty. Toner was changed three times, all compatible toner I bought myself, no problems whatsoever.

PCDU refers to the photoconductor drum, developing unit, and all that—old machines required you to install them yourself, but the IM2702 comes with it installed from the factory. First boot, set up the network according to the manual, put in paper and toner, and you're ready to go. No need to call a technician for on-site adjustment, saving an installation fee.

The scanning function is used quite frequently. 50ipm speed, the duplex automatic document feeder can hold 100 sheets at once, more than enough for scanning daily documents like contracts and invoices. Scanning quality is mediocre—fine for commercial use, but if you need to scan photos or detailed drawings, I'd recommend using a professional scanner.

The machine isn't small in size, but it's not exaggerated either. Placed in a corner of the office, it takes up about 0.6 square meters. Weight is 46.5 kg, two people can lift it. Compared to those large machines with floor cabinets, this one can go on a desk or on the floor—flexibility is decent.

In this price range, Ricoh's main competitors are the Canon imageRUNNER 2630i and Konica Minolta bizhub 227. The core specs of all three machines are similar: around 27 pages per minute speed, A3 format, black-and-white print/copy/scan/fax four-in-one.

Canon's advantage is high brand awareness—many procurement officers recognize the Canon brand. Konica's advantage is in binding functions, with relatively rich post-processing options supported out of the box. Ricoh's advantage is cheap consumables and many after-sales service points. All three have relatively complete service systems domestically, and parts are easy to find. Which one you choose mainly depends on what you value more, as well as the price and service terms offered by local dealers.

My personal experience is that Ricoh's machines have more mature channels in southern cities. This might be because Ricoh's Asia-Pacific headquarters is in Singapore, with stronger support for the South China market. In northern cities, Canon's dealer network is denser. This isn't absolute—specifics still depend on local conditions.

If monthly print volume exceeds 5,000 pages, consider the IM2500 or IM3500—faster speed, larger paper tray, reducing the frequency of adding paper.

Binding functions require adding a finisher, and the official optional accessories aren't cheap. Scanning speed of 50ipm is enough for daily use, but if your business needs to scan thousands of pages of documents every day, this speed will be a bit slow.