Two used Epson Stylus Pro 9880 wide-format printers are on the table, and they look almost identical. Both are large-format inkjet machines with the same model name, both turn on, and both may need some attention before they are dependable. The meaningful difference is in the bundle: one includes four ink cartridges and carries a higher price, while the other includes three cartridges and costs less. Is the extra cartridge worth the price gap, or should the cheaper roll-fed unit be the pick?
Quick verdict
If you want the biggest ink head start and can work with a sheet-fed arrangement, the 4-cartridge unit at $480 has the edge. If you want to spend less upfront and prefer the roll-fed setup, the 3-cartridge unit at $400 is the smarter buy. Both use the same 44-inch Epson Stylus Pro 9880 platform, so the decision is about ink, setup preference, and service expectations.
| Detail | 4-cartridge Epson Stylus Pro 9880 | 3-cartridge Epson Stylus Pro 9880 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 480.00 | USD 400.00 |
| Relative price | ||
| Included ink | Four cartridges: Vivid Magenta, Light Magenta, Vivid Light Magenta, Magenta | Three cartridges: Vivid Magenta, Light Magenta, one other color |
| Feed setup | Sheet-fed; roll-fed possible | Roll-fed |
| Print engine | 8-color UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta; 2880 x 1440 dpi | Same 8-color UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta; 2880 x 1440 dpi |
| Known caveats | Powers on; service error notice on control screen; may need print-head or other maintenance; ink-slot cover hinge broken | Powers on; unused for over a year; print-head maintenance may be required; ink-slot cover hinge broken |
Where each product wins
- The 4-cartridge Epson Stylus Pro 9880 wins on included supplies: you get a fourth cartridge and a more complete set of magenta inks to work with.
- The 3-cartridge Epson Stylus Pro 9880 wins on price: it costs less upfront, leaving a little budget room for the ink and maintenance you will likely need.
Epson Stylus Pro 9880 with 4 Ink Cartridges
This version makes sense when you want the largest ink bundle you can get with the printer. Four cartridges are included - Vivid Magenta, Light Magenta, Vivid Light Magenta, and Magenta - so you can replace more of the color set before spending extra money. That is a real advantage when you are buying a used wide-format printer and need to get it producing prints. The trade-off is that the control screen comes up with a service error notice, so this is not a plug-and-play machine. If you are comfortable doing some troubleshooting and value the included supplies, this is the one to start with.
Epson Stylus Pro 9880 with 3 Ink Cartridges
The appeal here is the lower upfront cost and the fact that the printer is already set up for roll-fed use. If you plan to work from paper rolls, this saves you the setup step. The catch is that it comes with three cartridges - Vivid Magenta, Light Magenta, and one other color - so you will probably need to buy more ink before using the full color set. It also sat unused for over a year, so expect to spend time checking the printer before you rely on it. This is the better value if you want to keep the initial spend down.
Final choice by use case
Pick the 4-cartridge version if you want more ink in the box before you spend another dollar on supplies. Pick the 3-cartridge version if you want the lower upfront price and plan to handle the extra setup or maintenance yourself. Both are used wide-format printers, so set your expectations around service and repair time.
