Xerox ColorQube 9301 / 9302 / 9303 — Review: Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use

The Xerox ColorQube 9300 series (models 9301, 9302, 9303) is Xerox’s mid-range color multifunction family that tries to do something different: deliver office-grade color output with a lower environmental impact and simpler consumable economics. Instead of conventional powder toner cartridges, the ColorQube line uses solid ink blocks (sometimes described as “solid sticks”) and high-efficiency imaging, which reduces packaging waste and can lower the total cost of color printing for the right workload.

This review looks at what the ColorQube 9301/9302/9303 actually deliver in a busy office: hardware and modular options, print quality and performance, consumables and running costs, deployment considerations (security, fleet management), best business use cases, and the strengths/limitations you should weigh before buying.

Product positioning — who the ColorQube 9300 series is for

Xerox designed the 9300 series for workgroups and departments that need robust color for internal and external documents (presentations, brochures, training materials, signage) but want to avoid the higher waste and supply overhead of cartridge-based color lasers. The three model numbers represent three speed tiers and throughput choices, so buyers can pick the model that matches their monthly volume:

9301 — entry speed for smaller groups,
9302 — mid-tier speed for medium teams,
9303 — fastest in the family for larger workgroups.

All models share the same imaging technology, finishing options and software platform — the differences are primarily pages-per-minute, paper handling configurations and recommended monthly volumes.

Key features & hardware highlights

Solid ink color system: Xerox’s signature approach eliminates traditional disposable toner cartridges. Solid ink comes in compact sticks that are melted and applied to an imaging drum; this produces vibrant color and reduces cartridge packaging waste.
Multifunction capabilities: Print/copy/scan standard — many SKUs also offer integrated finishing (stapling, hole punch), large paper trays and optional high-capacity feeders for heavy duty environments.
Automatic duplex: Two-sided printing is standard; this reduces paper use and helps meet sustainability goals.
Robust paper handling: Standard cassettes plus optional feeders to reach multi-thousand-sheet capacities, supporting media from thin office paper to heavy cardstock and banners.
Network & mobile printing: Gigabit Ethernet, PCL/PS drivers, and mobile printing support (AirPrint, Mopria, Xerox apps) — useful for BYOD environments.
Security & manageability: Secure Print, user authentication options (card readers), hard-drive encryption/wiping, and integration with Xerox CentreWare and other MPS (managed print services) tools for fleet management.
Touchscreen UI: A color touchscreen control panel with workflow apps and one-touch scan destinations simplifies recurring tasks.
Low emissions & eco design: Solid ink delivers low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and Xerox emphasizes low packaging and reduced waste compared with cartridge-based color lasers.

Practical specifications (what matters in the office)

Rather than a long table of technical minutiae, here are the practical spec takeaways you’ll use when choosing among the 9301/9302/9303 family:

Speed tiers: Models scale by rated ppm — choose higher model for higher shared demand. (Confirm the exact ppm for the SKU you’re evaluating.)
Duty & recommended monthly volumes: Built for departments — expect duty cycles and recommended monthlies that support thousands to tens of thousands of pages.
Resolution & color quality: Native color quality is excellent for office graphics — crisp text, stable solids and saturated imagery that looks “printed,” not washed out.
First page out: Good first-page times for both color and mono from ready state — an asset when users print frequently and want near-instant results.
Scan speed & ADF: Duplex ADF for multi-page scanning and standard network scanning features make it useful for digital archiving and workflows.

Because Xerox sells many optional trays and finishers, check the SKU carefully; some dealers list base units with minimal trays while others sell popular configurations with extra capacity and finishing out of the box.

Print quality & real-world performance

Text and office documents. The ColorQube delivers excellent mono and color text; the solid-ink process produces dense, legible blacks and reliable greyscales for contract pages, reports, and forms.

Color graphics & marketing collateral. For color charts, slides and short-run collateral, ColorQube output is vivid and eye-catching. Solid ink tends to produce smooth color fills and strong saturation that’s very good for in-house handouts, posters and training materials. While it’s not a proofing press for press-grade color management, many marketing teams find it adequate for proofs and short runs — a clear advantage if you want to avoid sending every job out.

Speed & throughput. In everyday mixed workloads the 9300 series holds up well. Drivers (PCL vs PostScript) and driver settings affect spool time; complex jobs with many images will take longer to RIP and print, but the mechanical throughput is consistent. For sustained heavy printing, the higher-end 9303 is the safer choice.

Reliability. Solid-ink engines have fewer consumable moving parts than cartridge lasers; many customers report reliable run times and fewer service calls when the devices are installed and maintained under a service contract.

Consumables, running costs & sustainability

Solid ink economics. Solid ink sticks are priced differently than toner cartridges. Per-page costs can be competitive for color-heavy environments because the ink is efficient and waste collectors are lower. However, savings depend heavily on your print profile:

If your office prints a lot of color (full-page images, posters), ColorQube can be cost-effective.
If your environment is predominantly black-and-white text, a dedicated mono laser may be cheaper.

Waste & recyclability. One of ColorQube’s selling points is reduced waste: minimal packaging, fewer disposable cartridges and smaller residual waste. Xerox programs often accept used sticks and parts for recycling under managed print contracts.

Energy & emissions. Solid-ink devices warm up to melt ink, so startup power may be notable; however, once in ready mode they are energy-efficient and emit fewer VOCs than some comparable cartridge devices.

TCO planning. To model TCO, calculate monthly pages, color vs mono ratio, expected yields of ink sticks, service contract costs and optional finishing. Xerox partners or resellers typically provide TCO worksheets and can model scenarios (3-year TCO is common).

Deployment & IT considerations

Security. The 9300 series includes enterprise security features: secure print release, HDD encryption and wipe, Active Directory integration and support for secure authentication options (PIN, card readers). For regulated industries (legal, finance, healthcare), enable secure printing and network segmentation.

Fleet management. Use Xerox CentreWare or MPS tooling to monitor consumables, enforce defaults (duplex, mono for internal), and obtain automated supply ordering. These tools reduce admin overhead and help optimize costs across multiple devices.

User training & workflows. The touchscreen UI supports custom apps and one-touch scan/print flows. Train users to use presets — “internal draft,” “client proof,” and “poster” — to prevent accidental high-quality color printing for internal jobs.

Service & parts. Because the solid-ink path is different from toner lasers, ensure that the service contract covers any unique consumable handling and maintenance. Xerox certified technicians know the platform nuances.

Best business use cases

Marketing & communications teams that print short runs of proof and POP material internally.
Training & HR departments that produce bound handouts, posters and color charts.
Front office / reception where high-impact color signs and announcements are printed on demand.
Small print shops or retail environments doing quick customer jobs where outsourcing would take too long.
Organizations with sustainability goals that value reduced plastic and packaging waste.

Strengths & limitations — quick checklist

Strengths

Vibrant, consistent office color with low waste footprints.
Simple consumable replacement (solid ink sticks) and predictable yields.
Good build and finishing options for departmental use.
Strong security and fleet management for enterprise deployments.
Lower packaging waste and recyclable program options.

Limitations

Not a replacement for press-grade proofing — color management for exact press matches can be limited.
Startup/warmup energy to melt ink may be higher than a standby laser — consider sleep/ready settings.
Per-page economics depend heavily on color ratio — high mono environments may find better value in mono lasers.
Solid-ink familiarity is lower for some IT teams — brief training and planning needed.

Final verdict

The Xerox ColorQube 9301/9302/9303 family is a smart, differentiated choice for organizations that print a lot of color and care about sustainability. If your department needs vibrant short-run color, reduced consumable waste, and enterprise manageability, the ColorQube line offers excellent value and a compelling environmental story. Choose the model (9301, 9302 or 9303) by matching rated speed and tray/finisher options to your monthly needs, then lock down driver defaults and user presets to control costs.

If your environment prints mostly mono pages or you require color with exact press matching, evaluate a mono laser fleet or add a dedicated proofing solution to your workflow. For many marketing, HR and front-office scenarios, however, the ColorQube 9300 series delivers the right mix of color quality, sustainability and operational manageability — and that combination is why many organizations choose it as their central departmental color hub.

Xerox ColorQube 9301/9302/9303 Printer Driver Download Free For Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Mac. Find the complete driver and installation software for the Xerox ColorQube 9301/9302/9303 printer driver.

Supported products

Xerox ColorQube 9301/9302/9303 Printer

Sprachen

Englisch,Français,Español,Italiano,Deutsch,Dansk.

Windows-Betriebssystem:
Windows 10 32 & 64 bit
Windows 8.1 32 & 64 bit
Windows 8 32 & 64 bit
Windows 7 32 & 64 bit
Windows XP 32 & 64 bit
Windows Vista 32 & 64 bit