Aficio SP 3500N
Every small office reaches the point where passing a USB cable around stops making sense, and the Ricoh Aficio SP 3500N is the step past it: a monochrome printer with Ethernet networking as standard. It prints from the 406989 black toner cartridge, rated for up to 6,400 pages, available here in pack sizes from one cartridge to ten.
Once a printer lives on the network it becomes everyone's printer, and page counts climb accordingly. The 3500N's cartridge keeps that affordable — a mid-size yield that keeps cost per page in check without asking a small team to warehouse toner.
Toner Cartridges for Aficio SP 3500N
| Cartridge | Color | Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 406989 (Single cartridge) | Black | Up to 6,400 pages |
| 406989 (2-pack) | Black | Up to 6,400 pages |
| 406989 (3-pack) | Black | Up to 6,400 pages |
| 406989 (5-pack) | Black | Up to 6,400 pages |
| 406989 (10-pack) | Black | Up to 6,400 pages |
Which cartridge should you buy?
Let your monthly page count decide. A single 406989 is the right buy for an office that prints in bursts and reorders as needed. Steady daily printing points to the 3 or 5 pack — same cartridge, lower cost per page, and a spare ready when the network's most popular printer announces it is empty. The 10 pack is the set-and-forget option for heavier sites. There is no separate standard or high-yield version in this family to second-guess; the 406989 is the one cartridge, in five different box sizes.
Chip, toner and everyday use
Swap day is uneventful by design: the cartridge's chip identifies it to the printer as soon as it is seated, and toner tracking continues from the new unit. If the last stretch of a cartridge prints faintly on one side, take it out and rock it slowly side to side — the toner settles level again and print usually evens out until the replacement goes in. Ratings like the 6,400 pages quoted here are measured on standard pages, so budget a little shorter life if your office prints dense reports. Keep spares boxed, flat and out of direct sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the SP 3500N a network printer?
Ethernet connectivity comes standard on this model, so it connects to the office network directly and is shared by the whole team rather than tethered to one computer.
Which toner fits the SP 3500N?
The 406989 black cartridge — the same supply used by the entire 3500 and 3510 family, so stock bought for any of those models works here.
How far does one cartridge go?
Up to 6,400 pages at standard coverage. Offices printing a few hundred pages a month will find one cartridge lasts a long time; heavier use shortens that in proportion.
Are multipacks worth it for a small office?
Usually, yes, at the modest end: a 2 or 3 pack keeps a spare in the building and trims cost per page, without committing to the volume of the largest boxes.
More printers that use the same cartridges
One cartridge serves the whole 3500 and 3510 family:
Aficio SP 3500DN, Aficio SP 3500SF, Aficio SP 3510DN, Aficio SP 3510SF