Finding the right home printer can be a daunting task with all the options available from HP. As an experienced tech writer and blogger, I’ve tested and reviewed many HP home printers over the years. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the key factors to consider when choosing an HP home printer, provide an overview of the top models, and make some personalized recommendations to help you pick the best one for your needs and budget.
Key Factors to Consider
Here are some of the most important things to think about when shopping for an HP home printer:
- Print quality – How crisp and vibrant do you need text documents and photos to look? Laser printers generally have better text quality while inkjet printers excel at photos.
- Print speed – Do you need to quickly churn out documents or can you wait a few more seconds per page? Faster print speeds come with a higher price tag.
- Special features – Do you want/need scanning, copying, faxing, WiFi, mobile printing, duplex printing, etc? More features mean more versatility but also more cost.
- Ink or toner – Inkjet printers use cartridges while laser printers use toner. Ink is generally cheaper upfront but more expensive over time. Toner costs more initially but prints far more pages per cartridge.
- Print volume – How many pages do you expect to print per month? High print volumes may offset higher upfront costs of laser printers.
- Size and weight – Is desk space limited or will you need to move the printer around frequently? Compact and portable printers have tradeoffs.
- Operating costs – Factor in not just printer cost but also ongoing costs for replacement cartridges/toner over time.
Top HP Printer Picks
Based on the above factors, here are my top recommendations for HP home printers:
Best Overall: HP LaserJet Pro M477fdw
The LaserJet Pro M477fdw is my choice for best overall HP home printer. Here’s a quick overview of the key features and benefits:
- Print quality – Excellent laser printing with sharp black text.
- Print speed – Fast 30 pages per minute.
- Special features – Scan, copy, fax, wireless, mobile printing, auto 2-sided printing.
- Toner – High-yield toner cartridge prints 2,600 pages.
- Recommended print volume – Up to 4,000 pages per month.
This laser printer delivers fast, high-quality prints, scans, copies and faxes, all in a relatively compact footprint. It’s feature-packed and great for moderate home office use. The only downside is higher upfront cost but running costs are low.
Best Budget: HP DeskJet 2655
If you’re looking for an affordable but capable home printer, I recommend the DeskJet 2655. Here are the highlights:
- Print quality – Good quality color documents and photos.
- Print speed – Average 7.5 pages per minute.
- Special features – Wireless, mobile printing.
- Ink – Low-cost standard cartridges.
- Recommended print volume – Up to 1,000 pages per month.
For under $60, you get wireless printing, scanning and copying in a super compact form factor. Print speeds are relatively slow but print quality is very good for the price. Operating costs are affordable too making this an excellent budget choice.
Best Photo Printer: HP Envy Photo 7855
Photographers and photo enthusiasts should consider the Envy Photo 7855. Key details:
- Print quality – Borderless lab-quality photo printing up to 8.5×11″.
- Print speed – Average 15 pages per minute black, 10 ppm color.
- Special features – 2-sided printing, WiFi, Bluetooth, touchscreen.
- Ink – 5 individual ink cartridges for glossy photos.
- Recommended print volume – Up to 800 pages per month.
With a focus on high-quality photo printing, this printer delivers vivid and accurate image reproduction. The five ink system provides expanded color gamut and blacks for professional looking photos. It also has robust connectivity and a convenient touchscreen.
Best Compact Printer: HP Tango
If you need a printer for tight spaces like apartments or dorm rooms, I suggest the uniquely designed Tango. Key specs:
- Print quality – Decent color prints and scans.
- Print speed – Average 9 pages per minute.
- Special features – Ultra compact, wireless printing from anywhere.
- Ink – 2 low-cost cartridges.
- Recommended print volume – Up to 500 pages per month.
This mini printer easily fits into drawers or on shelves to tuck away out of sight. Despite the tiny size, it delivers respectable print quality and can be placed anywhere to enable wireless printing from all your devices. Just keep print volumes low.
Key Spec Comparison
To help summarize the key specs and features of the top HP home printer picks, here is a helpful comparison table:
| Printer Model | Print Quality | Print Speed | Key Features | Ink/Toner | Recommended Print Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP LaserJet Pro M477fdw | Excellent text, Good graphics | 30 ppm | Print, scan, copy, fax, duplex, wireless | High-yield toner, 2,600 pages | Up to 4,000 pages/month |
| HP DeskJet 2655 | Very good text and graphics | 7.5 ppm | Print, scan, copy, wireless | Low-cost cartridges | Up to 1,000 pages/month |
| HP Envy Photo 7855 | Excellent photo quality | 15 ppm black, 10 ppm color | 2-sided, wireless, Bluetooth, touchscreen | 5 ink cartridges | Up to 800 pages/month |
| HP Tango | Good text and graphics | 9 ppm | Ultra compact, wireless anywhere printing | 2 low-cost cartridges | Up to 500 pages/month |
Choosing What’s Right For You
With this overview of the top HP home printers and their key differences, you hopefully have a clearer picture of the right model for your specific needs. Here are a few final tips for choosing the best HP printer for your home:
- Prioritize the features and performance specs that matter most to you – print quality, speed, wireless, photo printing etc.
- Consider your monthly print volume to pick a robust enough printer that won’t wear out quickly.
- Factor in operating costs not just hardware prices – replacement ink/toner is vital.
- Think about the footprint size that would work best in your home office or space.
- Check latest prices as models frequently go on sale.
Doing a little research upfront into your specific printing needs will pay off in the long run in terms of both satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. I hope these HP home printer recommendations give you a head start in finding just the right fit. Let me know if you have any other questions!
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