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Best HP Printer 2024 for the office and home

We look through HP printers, finding you the best all in one models for business or the home

Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock

Last Updated on January 5, 2024
Best HP Printer

HP or Hewlett Packard is one of the world’s most recognized electronics brands. It’s well known for a wide variety of products, including its printer lineups. From laser to inkjet and all-in-one printers, the best HP printers cater to different user needs and budgets.

If you’re in the market for a new HP printer, you’ve likely come across dozens of models, which can make your buying decision not that easy to make.

This guide aims to help you choose the best printer from HP for your printing needs. So let’s dive into it right away!

Products at a Glance

How we choose the best HP printer

We’ve shortlisted the best HP printers based on what they can do and how fast and reliable they are, as well as their ink economy and initial price tags.  

Depending on why you need an HP printer, you should be able to pick the right unit for your use case by the end of this roundup. But don’t worry, we’re not here to confuse you even further, so we’ve made things easier by highlighting what each printer is best for. 

Our Recommended

Product Reviews

1
PROS
  • Fast print speed
  • Can scan and copy documents
  • Prints in mono and color
  • Low cost per page
  • Has an auto document feeder
CONS
  • The cost per page could be lower
  • Doesn’t support automatic double-sided printing

The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is a laser printer that provides a well-rounded package to suit different needs. 

This printer is capable of printing highly detailed documents with sharp text at a maximum print speed of 29 pages per minute. And while it’s not intended to be a photo printer, it produces surprisingly good photos with rich colors.

It’s equipped with a toner that can yield up to 2400 pages, which should easily last you a year or more. You can optionally opt for higher-yield toners later on. 

The cost per page is relatively low compared to HP’s inkjet printers in this price range. However, we’ve definitely encountered laser printers from other manufacturers with lower printing costs.

Replacing the toner isn’t exactly cheap, but considering that it can yield a lot of pages, we see it as a solid investment. 

The MFP M479fdw is an all-in-one model, so it can scan and copy documents with its flatbed scanner. There’s also a 25-page automatic document feeder that allows for unattended scanning and copying of large documents. 

The only major downside of the MFP M479fdw is that it doesn’t support auto-duplexing.

2
PROS
  • Compact design
  • Low cost per page
  • Supports Wi-Fi Direct printing
  • Auto on and off
  • Fast print speed
CONS
  • No auto double-sided printing
  • Small paper tray
  • No LCD screen

If you don’t really need to print photos or color documents at home, the HP LaserJet Pro M15w has a lot to offer for your home office setup. It’s one of the most affordable laser printers out there. 

It can print documents at up to 19 pages per minute, so it’ll be much faster than any home inkjet printer you’ve tried. 

What’s more, the M15w flaunts a sleek, compact form factor that is almost the same size as a sheet of A4 paper. It’ll barely occupy any space on your desk.

The printer turns on and off automatically depending on whether you need to print something or not, which not only saves energy but also boosts your productivity. 

On top of that, the M15w supports USB and Wi-Fi. There’s no Ethernet port, though, which isn’t surprising considering the printer’s form factor. 

The good news is that the M15w supports Wi-Fi Direct, enabling you to print directly from your devices with a peer-to-peer connection, even if you’re in a place with no internet connection.

The HP Smart app makes smartphone printing quick and straightforward. You can also set up and save custom jobs to save time on repetitive printing tasks.

The cost per page is pretty low relative to other budget printers, but unfortunately, the M15w doesn’t support auto duplexing, so you’ll probably end up spending more money on paper. 

There’s no LCD panel either, so interacting with the printer’s settings is only possible via the app. Of course, since this is a compact printer, the main paper tray’s capacity is quite limited, being capable of holding up to 100 sheets only.

3
PROS
  • Fast print speed
  • Excellent ink economy
  • Self-healing Wi-Fi
  • Has a flatbed scanner for scanning and copying
  • Can print borderless images
CONS
  • Small paper tray
  • No LCD screen
  • No auto document feeder

The HP Smart Tank 5101 is an all-in-one printer that will make printing documents and photos at home much less costly for you. It’s equipped with a refillable ink tank system that’s much cheaper to refill than having to buy conventional ink cartridges. 

What’s even better is that the print quality is barely affected. Black and white documents come out crisp and clear, while photos flaunt good color reproduction with deep contrast. What’s more, the Smart Tank 5101 can print borderless photos. 

Since this is an all-in-one model, you can use it for much more than just printing. Using the flatbed scanner, you can easily scan, copy, and fax your documents without requiring additional devices.

Print speed is pretty decent for an inkjet printer, rated at 12 pages per minute for mono documents. We also love that it comes with up to years’ worth of ink out of the box. 

And while there’s no LCD screen, you at least get a low-on-ink sensor that informs you when you need to refill the tank of each color. 

Connectivity-wise, the Smart Tank 5101 supports USB, Bluetooth, and self-healing Wi-Fi. Cloud printing works great with the HP Smart app, and you can set up task shortcuts to speed up your workflow. 

Despite all these great features, the Smart Tank 5101 is lacking in some areas. First, there’s no auto document feeder, so you’ll have to manually scan or copy each paper individually. Also, the paper tray is small and can only take 100 sheets.

4
PROS
  • Great photo print quality
  • Dedicated photo paper tray
  • Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct
  • Can scan and copy documents
  • Can print borderless photos
CONS
  • Slow
  • The cost per page could be better

The HP Envy 7855 is one of HP’s best releases for photo printing. It can print stunning, borderless 8” x 10” with a tremendous level of detail and excellent color reproduction. We also love the fact that HP added a dedicated tray for photo paper along with the main tray. 

Photo printing isn’t the only area where the Envy shines; it’s also capable of printing mono documents with clear, smudge-free text. Additionally, it’s equipped with a flatbed scanner that enables you to scan, copy, and fax documents and photos without breaking a sweat.

Further, the Envy 7855 has an auto document feeder that makes scanning documents and photos much faster. You can also print double-sided documents with auto-duplexing.

There’s a touchscreen panel that makes interacting with the printer faster and smoother. You can use it to make quick commands and configure the printer’s settings. 

In terms of connectivity, the HP Envy 7855 supports printing via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB. Bluetooth works great for quick prints too. On top of that, the Envy supports Wi-Fi Direct, which lets you print photos from your mobile device directly with a wireless connection that doesn’t require a router. 

The only noticeable downside here is the slow printing speed, especially in photo printing. It’s also worth noting that the HP 7855 is compatible with HP’s Instant Ink subscription ink which helps you save on ink costs with discounted ink cartridge orders. Otherwise, opting to buy individual cartridges will result in a high cost per page. 

5
PROS
  • Large LCD panel
  • Small footprint
  • Affordable
  • Can scan and copy documents
  • Supports wireless printing
CONS
  • Doesn’t print double-sided documents
  • Small input and output trays
  • No USB printing
  • Somewhat slow

The HP DeskJet 3755 offers the essentials at a competitive price tag. It enables you to print, copy, and scan your documents with a single, compact device. But instead of using a flatbed scanner, the printer is equipped with a feeder that can accommodate a wide range of paper types. There’s no auto duplexing, though.

In terms of paper handling, the DeskJet 3755 can print on paper sizes up to 8.5” x 14”, which is great considering its small footprint. Additionally, a large LCD screen lets you adjust the printer’s settings and monitor ink levels with ease.

On top of that, the  HP DeskJet 3755 is compatible with HP’s Instant Ink service. Once you subscribe, you’ll get up to 6 months’ worth of ink for free, then you’ll continue to receive ink cartridges at a small monthly fee.

In the connectivity compartment, the DeskJet offers printing using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and cloud services like iCloud, Dropbox, and Google Cloud Print. There’s no USB port, which is a bummer as it means you won’t be able to print directly from a USB drive.

Another concern with the HP DeskJet 3755 is the paper tray. It’s very small, accommodating just 60 sheets at a time. It’s also one of the slower inkjet printer models, but we’ve seen worse.

HP Printer features and considerations

These are some of the things you to keep in mind when choosing an HP printer:

Printer vs All-in-One

HP’s printer models are made for only one thing: printing. If that’s all you need from a printer, that’s great! You’ve got yourself a compact printer with fewer parts that could break in the future.

On the other hand, HP’s all-in-one printers also offer document and photo scanning, copying, and faxing. If these functions are important to you, consider getting an all-in-one HP printer. 

Connectivity

Most HP printers feature at least one wired and one wireless connectivity option, typically Wi-Fi and USB. 

These should be enough for most users, but Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct, for example, can make wireless printing possible when there’s no router, while a memory card slot allows for direct printing from your camera’s SD card.

A USB port that can also take a USB stick can definitely be a nice addition. 

Speed

Print speed is a crucial factor that can affect your productivity, especially if you need to print large volumes of documents in an office environment.

HP’s LaserJet printers tend to be much faster than DeskJet, OfficeJet, and Smart Tank printers. For example, a laser HP printer can print at an average of 22 pages per minute, while the average HP inkjet printer’s speed is just 10 pages per minute. 

Also, keep in mind that these numbers are often used to refer to mono printing speeds. Color photos and documents typically take longer to be printed on both color laser printers and inkjet printers

Paper Tray Capacity

If you need to print large quantities of documents or photos, you’d definitely appreciate a larger paper tray. Some HP printer models have large paper trays that can take 250-500 sheets, while other compact models have sheet trays with capacities as low as 60-100 sheets.

Additionally, some units have dedicated rear trays for special types of paper. If you value tray capacity over compactness, you should definitely consider getting a model with a larger tray. 

Ongoing Costs

Many people only consider the initial price of a printer when looking for a model that suits their budgets. And while you should definitely consider the price tag of a printer before buying it, you should also calculate how much it’ll cost you in the long run.

Some HP printers, especially the LaserJet models, tend to have a low cost per page. Other models that rely on ink will likely cost you more money than you think. 

The good news is you can still buy an inkjet printer with an acceptable cost per page if you opt for a Smart Tank model. These models use refillable ink tanks that will cost you less than ink cartridges.

Alternatively, you can enroll in HP’s Instant Ink service to save on ink costs. 

Additional Features

Some HP printers support auto duplexing, which makes double-sided printing easier. Relying on this feature can help you boost productivity and reduce paper waste. We also like HP printers that have LCD screens as they’re easier to use and troubleshoot than models that only rely on status lights. 

In all-in-one modes, an automatic document feeder would definitely help you scan or copy documents faster with less manual work.

Which HP printers are better: DeskJets or LaserJets?

DeskJets are inkjet printers that use ink sprayed by ink nozzles to print your documents and photos. 

LaserJets, on the other hand, beam the information onto a drum that causes static electricity to build. This attracts dry powder (toner) onto the paper. This powder is fused with heated rollers to print your documents and photos. 

DeskJets are better for multipurpose printing (docs, photos, etc.), while LaserJets are faster and more economical when printing large amounts of documents.

Is HP better than Epson?

HP printers print documents faster than Epson printers at comparable qualities. On the flip side, many Epson printer models are capable of producing better-looking photos than HP printers.

 

Are HP printers any good?

HP printers are generally good for normal black-and-white or color document printing. However, in terms of photo printing, HP printers are lagging behind the competition. 

How long does HP’s printer warranty last?

HP offers a limited one-year warranty on all of its printers. It covers manufacturing defects and problems that arise from normal, non-abusive use of the printer. You can optionally opt for extended 3-year warranties.

Our Verdict

These were some of the best HP printers that can handle all of your printing needs.

The HP LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is easily our favorite printer from HP. It’s super fast, and it won’t cost you much to keep running. It also offers great print quality, both in color and mono modes.

If you don’t have a Wi-Fi router and need an HP printer that supports Wi-Fi Direct, check out the HP LaserJet Pro M15w. It offers many of the features that its older sibling, the LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw, possesses in a more compact and affordable package. 

Finally, consider getting the HP DeskJet 3755 if you’re on a tight budget. It’s great for light printing needs, and you can even use it as a copier or scanner.