The HP Envy 6155e is a sleek all-in-one inkjet printer designed for home users with low-volume printing needs. With an attractive price point and a three-month trial of HP Instant Ink, the Envy 6155e offers a compelling value proposition. This review examines the printer’s performance, print quality, ease of use, and long-term costs, including a comparison of standard cartridge expenses versus the HP Instant Ink subscription service.
Design and Features
The HP Envy 6155e has a sleek and attractive design that blends well with home decor.The HP Envy 6155e sports a modern, two-tiered design with rounded edges and a compact footprint (17.1 x 14.2 x 5.4 inches). Its beige and off-white color scheme allows it to blend seamlessly into most home environments. At just 11.3 pounds, it’s also lightweight and easy to move. The 2.4-inch color touchscreen provides convenient access to printer functions, although the angle is not adjustable. A 100-sheet paper tray accommodates various media types, including standard paper, envelopes, and photo cards. However, the absence of a separate media tray necessitates removing all paper when switching between different sizes or types. The Envy 6155e includes a flatbed scanner for both scanning and copying, but it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF), requiring manual page swapping for multi-page copies.
Printing Performance and Quality
The Envy 6155e has good print quality with accurate colors and crisp text.The HP Envy 6155e delivers good print quality with crisp text and accurate colors. Single-page documents print surprisingly quickly, taking approximately 11 seconds. However, larger documents print at a more moderate pace of 10 pages per minute (ppm) for black text and 7 ppm for color. While not the fastest printer on the market, its speed is adequate for typical home use. The printer offers a maximum print resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi for black text and 4800 x 1200 dpi for color photos on high-quality paper. Photo quality is generally good, with accurate color reproduction even on plain paper, though shadows can appear slightly dark, resulting in some detail loss. The Envy 6155e also supports borderless printing on photo cards and letter-sized sheets. A helpful feature is the on-screen display of estimated ink levels after each print, which is particularly useful given the relatively small cartridge size.
A helpful ink level graph appears after every Envy 6155e print.
Scanning and Copying
The Envy 6155e has a 1200 dpi flatbed scanner.The Envy 6155e’s flatbed scanner provides high-resolution scans (1200 dpi) for both documents and photos. Scanning speeds are reasonable for a home printer. Copying speeds reach up to 8 copies per minute (cpm) for black-and-white and 3.5 cpm for color. As previously mentioned, the lack of an ADF requires manual page feeding for multi-page documents.
Software and Connectivity
HP Envy 6155e setup was simple with the mobile app guiding me through the process.Setting up the HP Envy 6155e is straightforward, thanks to the HP Smart app. The app guides users through the cartridge installation, paper loading, and printhead alignment process. Connecting to Wi-Fi is also seamless through the app. The printer features a USB-B port for direct computer connection, but Wi-Fi connectivity offers greater flexibility. The Envy 6155e is compatible with a wide range of computers and mobile devices. One minor drawback is the HP Smart app’s limitation to 300 dpi for mobile scanning.
Cost Analysis
The HP Envy 6155e is priced at $140, making it an affordable choice for occasional printing. Replacement ink cartridges are relatively inexpensive but have a limited page yield. The standard HP 68 Black cartridge ($23) prints approximately 160 pages (14 cents per page), while the HP 68 Tri-Color cartridge ($23) yields about 120 pages (19 cents per page). However, HP’s Instant Ink subscription service offers significant cost savings. The $5 monthly plan covers up to 50 pages (10 cents per page), while the $28 monthly plan allows for up to 700 pages (4 cents per page). These subscription plans make the Envy 6155e’s long-term running costs competitive with other inkjet and even laser printers.
Conclusion
The HP Envy 6155e is a well-rounded home printer that combines stylish design, good print quality, and user-friendly operation. It’s a suitable option for users with light printing needs who prioritize convenience and affordability. While not designed for high-volume printing, the HP Envy 6155e, especially when paired with an HP Instant Ink subscription, offers a compelling solution for occasional printing tasks.
