Toshiba e-STUDIO408P — A detailed look at features, specs, performance and business fit
The Toshiba e-STUDIO408P is an A4 monochrome office printer positioned at small to medium-sized businesses and busy workgroups that need fast, reliable black-and-white output without the cost and maintenance overhead of larger multifunction colour devices. It’s a compact, networked printer focused on throughput, low energy consumption and basic fleet integration — a sensible choice where high-volume mono printing (invoices, contracts, reports) is the priority.
Below I cover the machine’s design and build, key features, full technical specifications, real-world performance, connectivity and security, running costs and the types of business workflows where the e-STUDIO408P makes most sense.
Design and build
The e-STUDIO408P uses a compact desktop form factor that fits on or under a workgroup desk. The styling is functional rather than flashy: a matte housing, modest footprint and user controls designed for simple operation. Paper handling is modular — the base configuration ships with a standard cassette plus bypass; optional cassettes increase capacity to support heavier print volumes without frequent reloads. Toshiba engineered the device with energy-saving modes and a focus on reliability to minimize downtime in busy offices.
Key features (what stands out)
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High mono print speed: up to 40 pages per minute for the 408P model, making it competitive among A4 mono devices in the same class.
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Fast first-print time: shortened warm-up and first-page-out times reduce latency for intermittent print jobs.
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Flexible paper handling: standard 250-sheet cassette plus 100-sheet bypass, expandable with optional additional cassettes to reach larger capacities (useful for larger print runs).
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Network & mobile printing: built-in network readiness with support for mobile printing workflows (AirPrint, Mopria, or vendor mobile apps depending on region and firmware).
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Security & admin features: user authentication, IP/port filtering and support for secure protocols to protect data in transit and control access in shared environments.
Technical specifications (concise reference)
The figures below summarize the main hardware and performance specs you’ll see in product literature and datasheets:
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Model: Toshiba e-STUDIO408P
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Printer type: A4 monochrome laser printer (desktop/workgroup)
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Print speed: Up to 40 ppm (pages per minute).
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Resolution: Typical high-quality laser output (consult datasheet for exact dpi).
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Monthly duty cycle / recommended monthly volume: Designed for medium workloads — check reseller/datasheet figures for precise recommended monthly volumes for your region.
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Standard paper capacity: 250-sheet cassette + 100-sheet bypass (350 sheets). Optional cassettes expand capacity up to around 900 sheets total with accessories.
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Memory & processor: Sufficient onboard memory and a processor tuned for fast rasterisation of typical office documents (exact memory/CPU varies by region/firmware — see datasheet).
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Interfaces: Ethernet (standard), USB (device/host), optional Wi-Fi or mobile printing support via firmware or accessory.
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Toner: High-yield monochrome toner cartridges; page yield depends on cartridge chosen and coverage assumptions.
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Energy & eco: Low power standby and configurable energy-save modes to reduce running costs and environmental footprint.
(For a precise list of supported driver versions, exact memory, processor model and the official duty cycle, consult the official datasheet or local Toshiba documentation — links are included in the references below.)
Performance and print quality
In real-world office work, the e-STUDIO408P’s strengths are its consistent throughput and predictable first-page speed. Toshiba’s design prioritises steady delivery of high volumes of mono documents: short warm-up and quick recovery between jobs means the machine keeps pace with multi-user queues. For text and common office graphics (charts, lines, small logos) the print quality is typically crisp and readable; for fine-detailed graphic work it produces acceptable monochrome output but isn’t aimed at high-end graphic production — it’s a workhorse for documents rather than a specialist graphics printer.
Users upgrading from smaller desktop lasers will notice the improved feed reliability and larger paper capacity; when optional trays are installed, the e-STUDIO408P can handle multi-tray workflows (different stocks in different cassettes) that reduce manual paper changes and speed batch printing.
Connectivity, management and security
Toshiba equips the e-STUDIO408P for managed network environments: it supports standard network printing protocols, SNMP management and integration with fleet management tools that allow IT to monitor toner levels, device status and usage. The company’s software ecosystem (including fleet management portals and admin utilities) is designed to simplify large-scale deployment and remote troubleshooting.
On the security side, the device includes common safeguards: IP address and port filtering, secure protocol support (SSL/TLS where applicable), and options for user-level access control (private printing, authentication). These are essential in offices where sensitive documents are frequently printed and where shared devices must protect data and track usage. Always verify the firmware version and enable available security features — modern threats make it important to keep device firmware updated.
Consumables, maintenance and running costs
A major part of the total cost of ownership (TCO) for mono printers is toner yield and service intervals. The e-STUDIO408P uses Toshiba-specified toner cartridges with yields and prices that vary by region. Typical considerations:
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Toner yield (standard vs. high-yield) — choose high-yield cartridges if your print volume is significant to reduce cost per page.
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Drum and maintenance parts — these components are consumable and will need replacement at recommended intervals; factor them into TCO.
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Energy savings — built-in low-power modes reduce electricity usage during idle hours; for 24/7 shift operations this can still be a meaningful saving.
For procurement, compare per-page costs (toner + maintenance) with competing devices — the e-STUDIO line aims to be cost-competitive in mono throughput, but vendor pricing and service contracts will affect the final numbers.
Who should buy the e-STUDIO408P? Use-case guidance
The e-STUDIO408P is best for organisations with these profiles:
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Small to medium offices: workgroups needing reliable, high-speed A4 mono printing (invoices, reports, contracts).
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Managed print environments: organisations that want devices integrated into fleet tools for monitoring, usage accounting and centralised firmware updates.
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Cost-conscious operations: where mono pages dominate and colour capability is unnecessary (legal firms, accounting, schools, logistics offices).
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Satellite/branch offices: where a compact footprint with decent capacity and network features is valuable.
It’s not ideal for teams that require high-quality grayscale image reproduction for marketing collateral, or for environments where advanced finishing (stapling/punch/folio) inside the device is required — those workflows are better served by higher-end MFDs.
Pros and cons (practical summary)
Pros
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Strong mono throughput (40 ppm) for an A4 desktop device.
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Modular paper handling and optional expansion for larger jobs.
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Networked and mobile printing support for modern office workflows.
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Energy-saving modes reduce operational power draw.
Cons
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Monochrome only — not suitable where colour output is regularly needed.
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Basic finishing compared with larger MFDs; for stapling, booklet making or heavy finishing you’ll need higher-tier models.
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Service and supplies pricing varies by region — total cost should be modelled against expected page volume and local support contracts.
Final thoughts
The Toshiba e-STUDIO408P is a solid, practical choice when your primary need is reliable, high-speed black-and-white printing for a busy office. It focuses on core strengths — throughput, dependable paper handling and network manageability — rather than on extensive finishing or advanced colour features. For organisations prioritising predictable mono print performance and the ability to integrate devices into managed fleets, the 408P delivers a good balance of speed, expandability and energy efficiency. Before purchase, confirm regional specs (memory, exact accessory list), request a hands-on demo if possible, and compare per-page running costs with local supply pricing to ensure the device meets your operational and budget expectations.
Sources & further reading
Official product brochures, technical datasheets and printing guides used for this article: Toshiba product brochure and datasheet (e-STUDIO408P/478P), detailed printing/administration guide, and regional reseller datasheets. For exact numbers (firmware, memory, duty cycle per region and official consumable part numbers) please consult the official Toshiba datasheet and your local Toshiba reseller.
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