Wall Printer Printheads Explained: Epson I1600 vs I3200 vs Ricoh G6 vs DX7

When you compare wall printers, the spec sheet line that matters most is the one most buyers skip: the printhead. Two machines that look identical can carry heads that differ several-fold in speed, durability and replacement cost. This guide explains the heads you will see in wall-printer listings and what each means for you as an operator.

The heads you will see

Epson DX7. An older piezo head used in many first-generation wall printers and budget imports. It prints well at high resolution but is slower than newer heads and is increasingly sold as a compatible or refurbished part rather than new. If a listing says "DX7," ask how old the design is and where replacements come from.

Epson I1600 (I1600-U1). A newer Epson piezo head designed for UV ink. It has 1,600 nozzles arranged in rows that can be split across ink channels, supports variable droplet sizes for smooth gradients, and is the head Vertiq fits as standard on the Hypermural and Immersive platforms. It balances speed, cost and print quality for a mobile machine.

Epson I3200 (I3200-U1). Epson's higher-throughput UV head with 3,200 nozzles — effectively double the nozzle count of the I1600 at the same native resolution. It prints more area per pass, which is why it appears in production-oriented machines. It costs more to buy and to replace. Vertiq machines support the I3200 as an option.

Ricoh G6 (Gen 6). An industrial head from Ricoh designed for continuous production, with ink recirculation that helps keep white ink moving and reduces nozzle clogging. It is robust and long-lived, and priced accordingly. Vertiq machines support the Ricoh G6 as an option for operators who want industrial duty cycles.

"XC90" and other unbranded names. You will see heads in importer listings under names that are not Epson or Ricoh part numbers. Some are legitimate alternative heads; some are relabelled or refurbished Epson parts. Always ask for the manufacturer part number and a photo of the head's label.

What the differences mean on a wall

Speed. More nozzles per pass means fewer passes to cover a wall. An I3200 will generally out-pace an I1600, which out-paces a DX7 — all else being equal. Actual square metres per hour also depends on resolution, surface and how much white is needed.

Quality. All of these heads can produce a photo-quality mural at 2880 × 1440 DPI. The visible difference on a wall is usually the machine's rail stability and colour management, not the head's native resolution.

White ink. White UV ink is heavy and settles. Heads and ink systems with stirring or recirculation (the Ricoh G6 is designed for this; Vertiq machines add a white-ink stirring function) keep white printing reliable on dark surfaces.

Durability and replacement. A printhead is a consumable on a multi-year horizon. Know the replacement price before you buy the machine, and know where the part ships from. A head that ships from California in a few days is a different ownership experience from one that ships from overseas in a few weeks.

Quick comparison

Head	Nozzles (approx.)	Best for	Watch-outs
DX7	older design	budget imports	age of design, replacement sourcing
Epson I1600	1,600	mobile wall printers, balanced speed/cost	—
Epson I3200	3,200	higher throughput	higher head cost
Ricoh G6	industrial	continuous production, white-heavy work	price

Figures are manufacturer nozzle counts; performance in practice depends on the machine's ink system, RIP and rail.

What Vertiq fits

Vertiq machines ship with the Epson I1600 as standard and support the Epson I3200 and Ricoh G6 as options. Tell us what you plan to print — surfaces, typical job size, how many jobs a week — and we will recommend the head for that workload. Replacement parts and printheads are supplied from California; terms are confirmed in writing with your quote.

Before you buy any wall printer

Get the exact printhead part number in writing.

Ask the replacement cost and lead time.

Ask whether white has its own head or channel and how it is kept from settling.

Ask to see a print on a dark surface, not just a white wall.

Ask who supports the machine in your time zone.

See how the heads are configured on Hypermural X, Hypermural Dual and Immersive Dual, or request a demo to watch one print.