Known worldwide for reliability and excellent print quality, Zebra card printers offer one the widest ranges of models and options in the industry.
Depending on the number of cards you need to print each year – and the security, flexibility, and print quality you need – there is a Zebra printer designed to fit your needs and budget.
In this post, we’ll look first at each printer’s highlights – and how they map on scale of cards per year and price. Next we’ll dive into the specifics of each model, comparing the two higher end models – the ZXP 7 and ZXP 8 – and the entry to mid-range models – the ZXP1 and ZXP 3.
Zebra ZXP Card Printer Highlights
Here’s a look at the ZXP series of card printers from the highest security and performance model to the entry-level model:
ZXP8 High Security Retransfer Printer
- Retransfer printer for maximum security
- Photo quality cards
- Low cost of ownership
- Full range of encoding and laminating options
- Versatile
- High productivity and performance
- Single or double sided printing
- Photo quality cards
- Operational and cost efficient
- Advanced security
- Read our review of the ZXP7
- Fast print speeds
- Single or double sided printing
- Professional quality cards
- Versatile
- Multiple encoding and security options
- Read our review of the ZXP3
- Affordable and easy to use
- Single sided printing only
- High quality cards
- Compact
- Network manageable
- Read our review of the ZXP1
Compare Zebra ZXP7 to ZXP8 – Printer Specifics
Looking at the two higher-end models, we see that the high-security ZXP 8 printer is designed for the thicker cards used in higher security situations. It prints slower than the ZXP 7 (but it has the best print speed in its class) and prints less images per ribbon roll. But for a high-security environment, its retransfer capabilities can’t be beat.
The ZXP7 is high performance at its best – printing up to 300/225 color cards per hour (single/double-sided) and 1375 monochrome cards per hour. Its ribbons also print significantly more images per roll.
Read our expert review of the ZXP7 here.
Compare Zebra ZXP1 to ZXP3 – Printer Specifics
The most obvious difference between these two ZXP printers is that the ZXP1 is for single-sided printing only and is not smart card capable. It does offer an optional magnetic stripe encoding option – but no other security features.
The ZXP3 printer combines the affordable pricing of the earlier Zebra Value Class printers (Zebra P110i/P120i Series) with the powerful printing capabilities of the earlier Zebra Performance Class Printers (Zebra P330i/P430i Series). This hybrid Zebra card printer can handle complicated access control cards and smart cards to high-security financial cards, including ATM cards! It more than doubles images per ribbon when compared to the ZXP1 – and boasts faster print speeds as well.
Read our expert review of the ZXP1 here and the ZXP3 review here.
Need More Help Choosing an ID Card Printer?
We’re here to help – call us at (877) 868-0012 or check out our helpful how-to series on choosing the best ID Card printer for your needs:
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Introduction
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Top 3 Factors At a Glance
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Part 1: Card Printing Volume
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Part 2: Desired Card Appearance
- Choosing an ID Card Printer – Part 3: Security Options
Read Our Expert Printer Reviews
Find candid reviews of these Zebra printers and all top makes and models written by ID Card Group head of Technical Support, Jeramie Ivie:
- Review: ZXP Series 1 Card Printer by Zebra
- Review – ZXP Series 3 Card Printer from Zebra
- Review – ZXP Series 7 Card Printer from Zebra
- All ID Card Printer Reviews – Top Brands & New Models Reviewed by ID Expert
The ID Card Group Advantage
As a Zebra Premier Partner, ID Card Group can offer all Zebra card printers and Genuine Zebra Color Ribbons and Monochrome Ribbons, Zebra PVC Cards, and Zebra Cleaning Supplies & Kits with the full technical support team at Zebra standing behind us – and we are able to do this at the lowest possible cost to you.
Questions?
If you need additional help choosing the best ID card printer or supplies for your organization’s needs, call our ID experts at 877-868-0012 or [email protected]. We’ll make it easy for you!
ID Card Group offers a price match guarantee, provides free shipping on orders over $100, and accepts purchase orders.
