HP Envy Inspire 7955e Review: Family-Friendly All-in-One Printer
Read our comprehensive review of the HP Envy Inspire 7955e printer. Learn about its features, performance, and value for money. Perfect for families and home offices.
Introduction
The HP Envy Inspire 7955e aims to be the heart of the modern family’s creative and productive hub. It tackles the constant demands for everything from homework assignments and vital documents to vibrant family photos and creative projects. Many home users struggle with printers that are either too basic for their needs or overly complex and expensive. The 7955e promises to bridge this gap, offering a premium all-in-one experience that’s both accessible and feature-rich. With a three-month Instant Ink trial included and HP+ smart features, this printer attempts to ease the ongoing costs and complexities typically associated with home printing.
Beyond just printing, the HP Envy Inspire 7955e offers scanning and copying capabilities, streamlining everyday tasks. The focus is on providing a user-friendly experience for families, allowing everyone to easily participate in printing, sharing, and creating. The inclusion of automatic duplex printing and a dedicated photo tray highlights HP’s commitment to balancing convenience and quality.
Overview
The HP Envy Inspire 7955e is a wireless, color inkjet all-in-one printer designed for home use. Its clean, modern aesthetic blends seamlessly with most home décor. Featuring a 2.7-inch touchscreen for intuitive navigation and a host of smart features driven by HP+, it aims to provide a premium experience without the steep learning curve. While boasting a compact footprint, it doesn’t compromise on functionality, offering automatic duplex printing, a dedicated photo tray, and an auto document feeder (ADF) for handling multi-page documents. HP’s focus with this series is to integrate print, scan, and copy functionality with the convenience of mobile printing and cloud connectivity.
The printer utilizes HP’s Instant Ink subscription service, which aims to automate ink replacement and potentially lower long-term printing costs. It’s best suited for families who need a versatile printer for everyday tasks, occasional photo printing, and document creation, rather than heavy-duty, high-volume printing needs. The inclusion of HP+ functionality provides a subscription-like experience with access to exclusive features and automatic updates.
Features
High-Speed Duplex Printing: The automatic duplex printing feature prints on both sides of the paper, saving paper and reducing environmental impact. This is particularly valuable for families printing numerous documents, reports, or school projects. This feature contributes to both cost savings and a more sustainable printing practice, simplifying the process and removing manual flipping of pages.
Seamless Wireless Connectivity & HP+ Smart Features: The printer offers a variety of wireless connection options, including Wi-Fi and mobile printing via the HP Smart app. HP+ unlocks advanced features such as automatic updates, security enhancements, and extended warranty support, providing a more integrated and hassle-free printing experience. The HP Smart App also enables remote printing and scanning functionalities.
Dedicated Photo Tray & Vibrant Photo Quality: A dedicated photo tray ensures that photo paper is handled with care, delivering vibrant and high-quality prints. The printer’s ability to produce true-to-phone quality prints, along with customizable photo features in the HP Smart app, elevates the home photo printing experience. Optimized support for 5×5” square and 4×12” panoramic photo paper sizes further enhances creative possibilities.
Auto Document Feeder (ADF) for Multi-Page Documents: The ADF allows for quick and easy scanning and copying of multi-page documents without manual intervention. This feature significantly reduces the time and effort required for handling large document sets, making it perfect for family projects or business paperwork.
Benefits
Reduced Printing Costs with Instant Ink: The three-month Instant Ink trial and ongoing subscription option can significantly lower long-term printing costs compared to traditional cartridge purchases, providing predictable and potentially cheaper ink replacements.
Simplified Printing Workflow with HP+: HP+ functionality streamlines the printing process through automatic updates, enhanced security, and extended warranty support, eliminating common printer frustrations.
Enhanced Photo Printing Quality and Creativity: Dedicated photo tray and optimized paper support allow for high-quality, vibrant photo prints, and the HP Smart App provides tools to personalize and share creations.
Increased Productivity with Automatic Duplex Printing: Automatic two-sided printing saves paper and time, promoting efficient document creation and reducing environmental impact.
Convenient Document Handling with ADF: The ADF simplifies document scanning and copying, saving time and effort when dealing with multi-page documents.
Usages
Perfect for Home Offices: The 7955e is well-suited for home offices, providing reliable printing, scanning, and copying capabilities for documents, reports, and correspondence.
Ideal for Family Photo Printing & Creative Projects: The dedicated photo tray and vibrant print quality make it an excellent choice for printing family photos, scrapbooking, and other creative projects. The HP Smart App supports personalized designs and easy sharing options.
Streamlining Schoolwork & Homework: The automatic duplex printing and ADF make it a practical tool for students and families managing schoolwork, reports, and assignments.
Small Business Tasks: Small business owners can use this printer to handle basic administrative tasks like invoices, letters, and marketing materials.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy setup and user-friendly touchscreen
- Vibrant photo prints and dedicated photo tray
- Automatic duplex printing saves paper
- HP+ features provide added value
- Compact design suitable for home use
Cons
- Print speed is relatively slow compared to laser printers
- Some users report connectivity issues
- HP+ requires an HP account and internet connection
- Print quality can be inconsistent according to some reviews
- Color accuracy can be a concern for professional photographers
FAQs
What is HP+ and how does it work?: HP+ is a subscription-like service that provides extended features and support for your printer, including automatic updates and extended warranty. It requires an HP account and internet connection to function.
How much ink does the HP Envy Inspire 7955e use?: Ink usage depends on the types of documents and photos you print. HP Instant Ink helps manage ink usage and potentially lowers long-term costs.
What types of paper can I use with this printer?: The printer supports a wide range of paper types, including plain paper, photo paper, card stock, envelopes, and labels. Check the printer specifications for maximum paper sizes and weights.
Is the printer compatible with mobile devices?: Yes, the printer supports mobile printing via Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint, and the HP Smart app for iOS and Android devices.
What does the printer mean by Instant Ink?: Instant Ink is a subscription service that delivers ink to your door before you run out, based on your printing volume. It’s designed to simplify ink replenishment and potentially lower costs.
Product Specifications
| Printer Type | Color Inkjet All-in-One |
| Print Speed (PPM) | 10 ppm (Color), 15 ppm (Monochrome) |
| Resolution (DPI) | 4800 x 1200 DPI (Color), 1200 x 1200 DPI (Monochrome) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, Ethernet |
| Duplex | Automatic |
| Supported Media Sizes | Legal (8.5 x 14 inches) |
| Ink/Toner Type | HP Ink Cartridges |
| Dimensions | 15.08″D x 18.11″W x 9.21″H |
| Warranty Type | Extended Warranty |
Ratings
| Print Quality (Color & Sharpness) | 4.0 |
| Ink Efficiency / Yield | 3.8 |
| Connectivity & App Integration | 3.7 |
| Print Speed (Pages per Minute) | 3.5 |
| Build Quality & Design | 4.2 |
| Value for Money | 3.9 |
Recommendation
The HP Envy Inspire 7955e is an excellent choice for families and home users who want a versatile all-in-one printer with vibrant photo printing capabilities and smart features. It’s ideal for those who value convenience and ease of use over high-volume printing speeds.
Conclusion
The HP Envy Inspire 7955e delivers on its promise of a family-friendly printing experience. The combination of smart features, vibrant photo printing, and automatic duplex printing makes it a valuable addition to any home. While not a high-performance workhorse, its versatility and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a reliable and convenient all-in-one printer.
By embracing HP+ and Instant Ink, users can mitigate the potential downsides of cartridge costs and ensure their printer remains up-to-date with the latest features. The HP Envy Inspire 7955e represents a thoughtful balance between functionality, design, and value, making it a solid choice for modern households.
