HP DeskJet 2855e review:
pros, cons, features & top alternatives. See if it’s the best budget printer for your home.
HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Printer Review.
Overview: The HP DeskJet 2855e is a budget-friendly, entry-level all-in-one printer designed primarily for light home use. It offers wireless printing, scanning, and copying, and includes a 3-month trial of HP’s Instant Ink subscription service, which can be attractive for users wanting predictable ink costs.
Pros:
✅ Affordable Price — One of the most budget-friendly wireless all-in-ones on the market.
✅ Compact & Lightweight — Small footprint makes it suitable for tight home office or dorm spaces.
✅ Wireless & Mobile Printing — Supports Wi-Fi, HP Smart app, Apple AirPrint, and other wireless printing methods for easy phone or laptop connection.
✅ Decent Print Quality (for documents) — Adequate quality for everyday documents and casual color prints.
✅ HP+ Eligible — Comes with 3 months of Instant Ink and extended cloud features with HP+ (optional signup).
✅ Simple Setup — The HP Smart app helps guide setup smoothly, even for non-tech-savvy users.
Cons:
❌ Slow Print Speeds — Around 7.5 ppm (pages per minute) for black and ~5.5 ppm for color—sluggish compared to higher-end models.
❌ High Ink Costs (Without Instant Ink) — If not using the Instant Ink subscription, replacement cartridges can be expensive relative to the printer’s price.
❌ No Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) — Limits scanning/copying of multipage documents to manual one-at-a-time handling.
❌ No Duplex Printing (Manual Only) — Does not automatically print on both sides of a page.
❌ Build Quality Feels Basic — Lightweight plastics and minimal physical controls (feels "cheap," though functional).
❌ HP+ Account Required for Some Features — HP+ activation locks the printer to HP cartridges only (no third-party inks allowed).
Let’s compare the HP DeskJet 2855e against two popular competitors in the same budget/home category:
Key Takeaways:
Canon PIXMA MG3620 → Better for slightly more demanding users who want automatic duplex and better photo print quality. It’s only marginally more expensive but adds useful features.
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 → Best long-term value for high-volume users. Ink refills are super cheap and last thousands of pages, but initial cost is higher.
HP DeskJet 2855e → Best if you want lowest upfront cost and don’t mind basic features or slower speeds. Instant Ink helps mitigate ink cost if you don’t print a lot.
My Honest Verdict:
If you're a very occasional printer, the HP DeskJet 2855e is fine. If you want to print more frequently and like duplex printing, Canon MG3620 is worth the extra ~$20. If you print a LOT (school, home office), the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 pays for itself in ink savings within a year.
Conclusion:
The HP DeskJet 2855e is best suited for casual home users who need an inexpensive printer for occasional printing, scanning, and copying—think homework assignments, boarding passes, or light photo printing. If you’re okay with slower speeds, basic features, and don’t have heavy printing needs, it’s a solid value. However, frequent users or small business owners will likely find the lack of speed, duplexing, and higher ink costs frustrating over time.
Bottom line: Great for light, occasional home use on a budget. Not ideal for high-volume tasks or those who want robust features.
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