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7 Best HP Printer Scanners
Linsey Knerl
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May 28, 2019
Choosing a multifunction printer shouldn’t be complicated, but with so many choices on the market, it’s smart to do some research first. Today’s best HP printer and scanner products offer many essential features consumers want most, including fast color printing, wireless capabilities, crisp scans, and touch screen controls.
The top HP printer-scanner models available today include:
- HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 printer
- HP OfficeJet 5255 printer
- HP DeskJet 3755 printer
- HP ENVY Photo 7855 printer
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw printer
- HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdw printer
- HP ENVY Photo 7155 printer
Each of the suggested printers shines in its category, and some lead the competition for price, speed, and design. Find out what makes each of these HP printer scanners special and how to shop with confidence.
What is a multifunction printer scanner?
By definition, an all-in-one or multifunction printer needs to perform one additional function besides printing. Usually, this includes scanning, but it also may include copying and/or faxing. Today’s multifunction printers are a compact, affordable, and efficient way for homeowners and small businesses to do a variety of office tasks with one easy-to-use machine.
How they compare
Printers are as varied and unique as the people who use them. Some models are perfect for stricter budgets and offer simple paper trays, a few buttons, and basic scanning and printing.
As the models become more advanced, you’ll find additional paper trays, duplexing, and touch screen control panels. Print jobs may be sent through wireless connections or, in some cases, via card readers incorporated into the printer design.
Multifunction printers vary in how they process tasks. Some can only do one task at a time, such as printing or scanning. Most should be able to hold all requests within a queue and will perform them in the order received.
One thing to consider when choosing an all-in-one scanner is how it connects to other devices. Modern printers use WiFi, but others will need a phone line for faxing and a USB connection for connecting to older devices.
No matter how complex the features of an HP all-in-one printer can be, the software that these products run on is easy to understand. Also, the devices are ready to use out of the box with limited setup requirements.
Inkjet vs laser: Which is best?
At first glance, it may seem that home users should only consider an inkjet printer. In the past, these were the only affordable option for casual users. Advances in technology have changed that, however, and many models within the HP multifunction laser printer line are a budget-friendly option for high-quality printing at home.
When choosing between inkjet or laser, consider if you’ll use color, black and white, or a bit of both. If you only need black and white, a laser printer can provide crisp prints with incredible efficiency for close to the same price as a standard inkjet printer.
An inkjet printer may be a better choice for those who:
- want photo-quality color prints
- print sparingly
- don’t need the speed of a laser printer
Ink replacement costs vary, but inkjet is usually more affordable, especially when using a printer that’s compatible with the HP Instant Ink program. This subscription program charges you per page printed. It will send you ink automatically through the mail before you need it and saves you money over buying cartridges at retail cost.
The best HP multifunction printers
While HP® offers dozens of options for the home and small business user who needs reliable printing and scanning from a single device, some models stand out among the rest. See what we’ve picked to be the seven best of the HP family of printers and scanners.
1. HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 all-in-one printer
If you’re looking for an HP inkjet all in one printer that’s a top-seller and easy on the budget, consider the HP OfficeJet Pro 8710. It can print, copy, scan, and fax while offering print speeds of up to 22 pages per minute in black and 18 ppm in color.
Featuring borderless printing from a smartphone or other connected devices, its color touch screen display is a favorite perk. For more sensitive jobs, choose to print projects securely using the HP JetAdvantage Private Print feature.
While one of the most affordable devices offered by HP®, it’s also a full-featured machine. It has fast, two-sided printing and can store up to 100 pages in its fax memory. You can send up to 4 color or black and white fax pages per minute, and make 99 copies per job. This machine is a workhorse for its size.
2. HP OfficeJet 5255 all-in-one printer
This HP OfficeJet all-in-one printer is a sleek model with a very low profile. It will fit into the most cramped office spaces and is perfect for home use.
The HP OfficeJet 5255 printer performs the function of printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and photo printing. You won’t need to worry about ordering photo prints from the store if you use this device. And consider signing up for HP Instant Ink to get the right ink for your photos for a low monthly fee.
The print speed on this model is more modest at 7 to 10 ppm. However, it includes automatic two-sided printing and a document feeder that stores up to 35 pages.
The wireless set up is the biggest perk of this printer. It takes less than a minute to connect to your network once it’s out of the box. Start printing right away with jobs from your phone, computer, tablet, or another connected device. You can also use the innovative touch screen control panel to easily start and complete your tasks.
3. HP DeskJet 3755 all-in-one printer
For the best in affordability and simplicity, the HP DeskJet 3755 printer is hard to beat. It’s priced low to meet all budgets and offers reliable printing, scanning, and copying.
With this device, you’ll be able to print your favorite photos, work documents, or emails. Considered the world’s smallest all-in-one printer for the home, this model saves space on your desk, too. Its power-saving features ensure you waste no energy while it’s not in use as well.
The wireless connectivity works for printing photos straight from social media to your home. Scan receipts from your phone and have them ready to print when you get back from your shopping trip. The HP All-in-One Printer Remote mobile app is designed to make printing an effortless task for even those new to printing tech.
The small price and size paired with easy user controls and lab-quality printing abilities make this the right choice for college students, families, schools, and home businesses.
4. HP ENVY Photo 7855 all-in-one printer
Considered HP’s most productive printer for the home, the HP ENVY Photo 7855 all-in-one printer is the right choice for those who value brilliant photo prints at budget prices. This device handles printing, faxes, scanning, copying, and web tasks with ease.
Plus, you’ll be able to skip the expensive photo labs and print your favorite photos yourself. It’s easy to create and share your most treasured moments with the innovative software that comes with this device. Whether you create photos, flyers, labels, or crafts, the price per print is lower than most print shops.
Get up to 15 black and white ppm or 10 rich, colorful ppm and enjoy the 35-page paper feed that requires less work to stock paper. The 2.7-inch color touch screen helps beginner users specify the size and number of each print.
You can also scan and print from your connected phone, PC, or an SD or USB card because this printer has slots to accommodate most memory cards from popular camera brands.
5. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw printer
If you’ve wanted to explore what an HP laser printer with a scanner can do for your small business, consider the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw printer, which prints, copies, scans, and faxes. The 250-sheet paper tray and 50-page document feeder make duplexing even big jobs easier than ever.
Priced right for handling up to 22 ppm in both black and white or color, it excels in creating beautiful copies thanks to the Original HP toner cartridges with HP JetIntelligence tech. The secure, high-yield toner cartridges are backed by HP® quality standards and produce consistent color and crispness with every print. Startup time is fast, too, thanks to a first-page-out speed of 10.3 seconds.
You can also scan and send files in seconds, whether you’re sending directly to email, via connected network folders, or to your mobile device. This printer is perfect for teams who want to do more with shared printing resources.
6. HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdw printer
Not everyone needs color prints, so if you need black and white prints and need them done well, consider the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdw. This HP black and white printer with scanner earns high marks from consumers and small business owners alike.
Print from your mobile device and Apple gadgets, and your projects will scale automatically. Or, choose touch-to-print for jobs from outside the network. You can also send print tasks via email, your computer, or any computer equipped with Google Cloud Print 2.0 tech.
You can save on energy costs with Auto-On/Auto-Off features that keep your printer ready to work but uses less power in standby mode. The 2.7-inch color touch screen makes copying and scanning easy for even those who have never before used an HP device.
For maximum efficiency, printing clarity, and the ability to do fast, two-sided jobs in a number of sizes, this laser printer is a small business favorite. Its slim design makes it a perfect pick for tiny offices.
7. HP ENVY Photo 7155 all-in-one printer
A smaller, sleeker version of other HP ENVY printers, the HP ENVY 7155 printer costs less but gives you the same photo printing power. With scanning and copying features, it’s great for small office tasks too.
While it has no external paper feed tray, it performs print magic using photos sent from your phone’s camera roll or social media feeds. It accommodates SD cards, too, for instant printing minutes after it comes out of the box.
With 9 ppm in color and 14 ppm in black and white, you can finally get those photos off your phone and into the world where they belong, quicker and easier than ever.
Shopping tips to remember
When deciding which of the many multifunction printers to choose from, it’s wise to know how you’ll use it in the home or office. Answer these questions to get a better overall picture of your needs:
- Do I need color? Or will black and white work?
- Am I going to be printing daily?
- Will my jobs need to be collated or sorted?
- How many input trays will I need?
- Will I need to fax?
- If I fax, will black and white suffice?
- What monthly workload will I produce?
- How much room do I have for the printer?
- What connected devices do I want to use for sending jobs?
- Does it need a USB cord to set up? If so, does it come with one?
Most printers offer five to six of the top features at a consumer-friendly price. If you want a printer that does everything, however, you may want to consider a commercial grade machine.
HP’s Enterprise LaserJet line offers a diverse set of solutions for large printing efficiency. Note that any commercial product should be checked to ensure it can be used safely in the home or small office. Some printers are not FCC certified to be used in home settings.
Why multifunction is important
It was just a decade ago that many consumers had to buy a printer, scanner, and fax machine as separate devices. Not only was this expensive, but it also took up room and used more energy than today’s all-in-one solutions.
Today, the options to save money, electricity, and room are endless. Pick any HP all-in-one and be confident that you are picking a reliable option for your paper handling needs.
Whether you want to print family photos at home, need to print out a college term paper, want copies of your legal documents, or have to fax important papers, the right HP device can make the job less stressful and more satisfying.
Without the need to go to a print shop to pay for overpriced copies, a multifunction printer offers freedom for today’s consumer. Which HP all-in-one will you choose?
About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
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