HP Smart Tank 520 A4 Color Inkjet All-In-One Printer

Design and Build Quality

The HP Smart Tank 520 boasts a simple, compact design that can easily fit into most small office spaces. The build is primarily plastic, but it feels solid and durable for its price point. It features a front-loading ink tank system, which is a standout design choice, allowing users to see the ink levels clearly. The control panel consists of basic buttons for navigation, though it's not touchscreen-based, so users might need some practice to navigate through the settings. Overall, the design is functional and easy to use.

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Pros:

- Compact size, ideal for small office/home use.

- Clear ink tanks for easy monitoring of ink levels.

- Solid build quality for its price.

Cons:

- No touchscreen for easier navigation.

- The display can feel outdated compared to more modern models.

Printing Quality and Speed

The HP Smart Tank 520 offers excellent print quality, especially for its price. It handles both text and graphics well, with sharp, crisp text and vibrant colors for images. It is especially efficient for high-volume printing tasks, and the ink tanks are designed to handle this load without frequent replacements. This makes it an attractive option for businesses or households that need frequent printing.

In terms of speed, it's not the fastest printer on the market, but it gets the job done efficiently for non-intensive workloads. Black-and-white printing is faster than color, but even color prints are delivered at an acceptable pace for most office tasks.

Pros:

- High-quality print output for text and color documents.

- Excellent cost per page thanks to the refillable ink tanks.

- Can handle high-volume printing without frequent ink refills.

Cons:

- Slower print speeds for color prints.

- May not be the best choice for heavy photo printing or professional graphics design.

Ink Efficiency and Cost Per Page

One of the standout features of the HP Smart Tank 520 is its cost-effectiveness. It uses refillable ink tanks instead of traditional cartridges, which significantly lowers the overall printing cost. HP claims that the ink bottles can print up to 6,000 pages in black and 8,000 in color, making it an ideal option for users who need to print frequently without worrying about ink replacement costs.

Ink refills are reasonably priced, and the bottles are designed to be user-friendly, reducing the risk of spills or mess during refills. This model is an excellent choice for budget-conscious users who prioritize long-term savings over initial costs.

Pros:

- Extremely low cost per page compared to cartridge-based printers.

- Long-lasting ink supply (up to 8,000 color pages).

- Easy and mess-free ink refills.

Cons:

- Upfront cost may be higher than basic cartridge printers.

- Ink may dry out if not used frequently over time.

Scanning and Copying Features

The scanning and copying functions are standard, but effective. The HP Smart Tank 520 can scan documents at a decent resolution, suitable for most office and personal needs. However, it's not the best choice for high-resolution image scanning or professional-grade tasks. Copying is similarly efficient, offering both black-and-white and color copies with clear text and graphics, though like printing, it's not the fastest.

The lack of an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) may be an inconvenience for users who frequently need to scan or copy multiple pages at once, as they will need to feed documents manually.

Pros:

- Decent scanning resolution for documents.

- Reliable copying for both text and graphics.

Cons:

- No Automatic Document Feeder (ADF).

- Scanning speed can be slow for multi-page documents.

Connectivity and Software

The printer supports both USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows users to print directly from their devices, including smartphones and tablets, through the HP Smart app. This app is intuitive, making it easy to set up, print, scan, or copy remotely. While there’s no Ethernet connection, the Wi-Fi functionality should suffice for most home offices.

The HP Smart app makes printing easy, especially for those who rely on mobile devices. Cloud printing services such as Google Drive and Dropbox are integrated, making document sharing seamless. However, users might find the lack of support for some advanced connectivity options a limitation.

Pros:

- Wireless printing via Wi-Fi and the HP Smart app.

- Easy setup and app-based printing from smartphones and tablets.

- Integrated with cloud services like Google Drive.

Cons:

- No Ethernet connection for wired network setups.

- Lacks advanced connectivity features found in higher-end models.

Conclusion

The HP Smart Tank 520 A4 Color Inkjet All-In-One Printer is an ideal choice for home offices or small businesses seeking cost-effective printing solutions. Its refillable ink tank system offers significant long-term savings, especially for high-volume printing. While it might lack some advanced features like ADF or fast color printing speeds, it delivers solid performance where it counts: print quality and affordability.

Final Rating: 4/5

Pros:

- Excellent print quality for text and graphics.

- Extremely low cost per page with refillable ink tanks.

- Compact and functional design.

- Reliable Wi-Fi and mobile app integration.

Cons:

- Slow print speeds, especially for color.

- No Automatic Document Feeder (ADF).

- Basic control panel without touchscreen.

This printer is best suited for low to medium-high volume users who prioritize low operating costs and solid printing quality over speed and advanced features.

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