ECOSYS P3050dn
Sitting one rung above the entry model in Kyocera's ECOSYS line, the P3050dn is a monochrome network laser built for workgroups that have outgrown a smaller printer's daily headroom. Duplex printing and Ethernet are standard equipment, and its cartridge is the high-yield TK3172, rated for up to 15,500 pages of black output. That extra capacity over the standard cartridge in the series is the whole point of this tier: the printer is busier, so the toner lasts longer between swaps.
Offices land on the P3050dn when a shared printer starts spending its mornings with a queue. It drops into the same supply routine as the rest of the 3045-3060 family — one black cartridge type, ordered in sensible quantities — while the long-life drum design keeps maintenance from creeping into the workweek. Nobody needs retraining and nobody stocks a second cartridge family; the step up is felt in throughput and in how rarely anyone thinks about toner at all.
Toner Cartridges for ECOSYS P3050dn
| Cartridge | Color | Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| TK3172 | Black | Up to 15,500 pages |
| TK3172 | Black — 2 Pack | Up to 15,500 pages per cartridge |
| TK3172 | Black — 3 Pack | Up to 15,500 pages per cartridge |
| TK3172 | Black — 5 Pack | Up to 15,500 pages per cartridge |
| TK3172 | Black — 10 Pack | Up to 15,500 pages per cartridge |
All five listings are the same high-yield TK3172 cartridge in different carton sizes.
Which cartridge should you buy?
Every option on this page is the high-yield cartridge, so the real question is how your office consumes it. A single TK3172 at roughly 15,500 pages is the right start for a moderate workgroup. Shared printers that serve a whole department do better with the 2 pack or 3 pack: one cartridge in the machine, the rest on the shelf, and no emergency orders when a big job lands on a Friday. The 5 and 10 packs are fleet math — when a cartridge change is a monthly event, buying in quantity trims both the per-page cost and the number of purchase orders your office has to raise across the year.
Chip, toner and everyday use
The compatible TK3172 is chipped for the P3050dn, so toner gauges on the panel stay meaningful right down to the last few hundred pages. Swap the cartridge with the printer powered on and the machine will recognize the new unit during its short calibration. If prints ever look faint mid-cartridge, remove it and rock it gently end to end to level the toner, then reseat it; that usually restores even coverage. Store unopened cartridges flat, out of direct sunlight, and keep one spare per shared printer as a standing rule — it is the cheapest insurance against a stalled workgroup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the TK3172 and the standard cartridge in this series?
Capacity. The standard cartridge in the TK-3160 series is rated around 12,500 pages, while the high-yield TK3172 fitted to the P3050dn is rated for up to 15,500 pages, so each swap covers roughly a quarter more work.
Which toner should I order for the P3050dn?
Order the TK3172. It is the US cartridge number for this model, in single or multipack cartons.
Does the P3050dn need drum replacements?
Not as a routine consumable. Kyocera builds these ECOSYS printers around a long-life drum that stays in the machine, leaving toner as the only regular purchase.
What warranty comes with the compatible cartridge?
Each compatible cartridge is backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.