HP Smart Tank 5101 Review — Low-Cost Home AIO
In-depth review of the HP Smart Tank 5101: refillable ink, high yield, borderless photo printing — ideal for home offices and families.
Introduction
If you’re printing a lot at home — school projects, family photos, event flyers or day-to-day documents — the running cost and convenience quickly become more important than flashy extras. The HP Smart Tank 5101 arrives as a clear answer to that problem: a refillable ink-tank all-in-one that promises years of ink in the box, consistent photo-capable color, and easy wireless setup. It targets households and home offices that want both low-cost volume printing and the ability to produce borderless photos without fuss.
Beyond the cost savings, the Smart Tank 5101 addresses productivity and creativity simultaneously. With print speeds up to 12 ppm black and 5 ppm color, flatbed scanning and copying, and an app-first control scheme, it streamlines everyday tasks while delivering high-resolution, frame-worthy photos when you want them. For anyone who juggles document work and occasional photo printing, this model balances performance, value and user friendliness.
Overview
Physically the HP Smart Tank 5101 is compact and light, finished in white with a low-profile footprint (14.23″D x 17.11″W x 6.19″H) that fits neatly on a desk or shelf. It uses HP’s Thermal Inkjet printing technology combined with visible external refillable ink tanks — a straightforward design that makes monitoring ink levels and refilling fast and mess-resistant. The machine includes four original HP ink bottles in the box (three 50ml color bottles and a 135ml black), providing a substantial initial yield.
Under the hood the 5101 is an all-in-one: print, copy and flatbed scan. It supports borderless photo sizes up to 8″ x 10″ and prints at up to 4800 x 1200 dpi for color output, which is strong for an ink-tank home printer. Connectivity focuses on wireless convenience: Wi‑Fi with self‑healing functionality (2.4 GHz), mobile app control via the HP Smart app, plus USB 2.0 for local connections. Its target user is a home office worker, family printer or hobbyist photographer who needs low-cost, high-volume color printing combined with reliable photo results.
Features
High-Capacity Refillable Ink Tank: Visible refillable ink tanks and included HP ink bottles (up to 6,000 pages out of the box). Advantage: Dramatically lowers cost per page and reduces interruptions to refill. Benefit: You get months — even years — of everyday printing without constant cartridge swaps, keeping work and family projects moving.
Borderless Photo Printing & High Resolution: Maximum color resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi and support for borderless prints up to 8 x 10. Advantage: Produces detailed, vibrant photographs and sharp color documents. Benefit: Create frame-ready photos and crisp marketing materials at home without outsourcing to a photo lab.
Smart Wireless Connectivity & App Control: HP Smart app compatibility, self-healing Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz), and USB 2.0. Advantage: Simple setup across smartphones, tablets and laptops with automated reconnection if wireless drops. Benefit: Print from anywhere in the house and manage jobs or scans on the go without tethering to a single workstation.
All-in-One Utility with Simple Maintenance: Flatbed scanner, copy functions, manual duplex and a 100-sheet input capacity. Advantage: Multi-function capability for documents and photos in a compact machine, with easy-to-access tanks and app-guided maintenance. Benefit: Save counter space and simplify daily tasks — scanning receipts, copying homework or digitizing documents — with minimal fuss.
Benefits
Lowest Cost per Page in Home Printing
Large initial ink supply and refillable tanks cut ongoing ink expense dramatically versus cartridge printers. For families and small home offices that print hundreds of pages a month, savings compound quickly.
Reliable Photo Output Without Extra Gear
High dpi and borderless capability mean you can produce lab-quality photos at home for scrapbooks, gifts or small prints, eliminating time and cost of third-party printing services.
Simplified Everyday Productivity
App-driven setup, wireless printing and an intuitive control flow reduce the friction of multi-device households. Quick setup and reliable operation keep the printer out of your way and the pages flowing.
Less Waste, Fewer Interruptions
Refillable bottles and larger black ink capacity mean fewer discarded plastic cartridges and fewer interruptions for replacements — better for the environment and for productivity.
Usages
Perfect for Home Offices
Print invoices, client documents and internal memos with crisp black text and dependable color for occasional reports. The included two years of ink is ideal for heavy home-office use without surprise refill costs.
Family Photo Printing and Crafts
Make borderless 4×6, 5×7 or 8×10 photos for albums and framed prints. The high color resolution supports photo projects, greeting cards and craft prints with vivid color.
Students and Remote Learners
Print study guides, assignments, worksheets and color diagrams. Affordable ink usage makes printing long assignments or multiple practice tests economical.
Small-Batch Marketing and Flyers
Produce colorful event flyers, invitations or product sheets in small runs, saving time and money versus sending jobs to print shops for quick home distribution.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very low ongoing ink cost thanks to refillable tanks and large included ink bottles
- High color resolution (4800 x 1200 dpi) for detailed photo prints
- Strong initial yield (up to 6,000 pages) straight out of the box
- Easy wireless setup and HP Smart app control with self-healing Wi‑Fi
- Compact footprint fits well in home offices and living spaces
- Flatbed scanner for versatile document and photo capture
Cons
- No automatic duplexing — only manual two-sided printing
- Wi‑Fi limited to 2.4 GHz (no 5 GHz support)
- 100-sheet tray is modest for very heavy office use
- No Ethernet port or ADF (automatic document feeder)
- USB 2.0 is available but only a single local port
FAQs
Does the HP Smart Tank 5101 support automatic duplex printing?
No. The 5101 does not offer automatic two-sided printing; it supports manual duplex where you flip paper yourself. For many home users the trade-off is acceptable given the low running cost and compact size.
How long will the included ink last and what is the replacement process?
HP quotes up to 6,000 combined color or black pages from the included bottles, which equates to roughly two years of typical home use. Refilling is simple: open the refill port and pour from HP’s replacement ink bottles designed for the tank system.
Can I print from my phone or tablet?
Yes. The printer works with the HP Smart app on Android and iOS for printing, scanning and setup. It also supports mobile workflows through standard wireless printing protocols, but it operates only on 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi networks.
Is this printer good for photo lab-level longevity?
The Smart Tank 5101 uses dye-based color inks — excellent for vivid color and quick-drying photos — and pigment-based black for sharp text. Prints look great for everyday display, though for archival longevity you may want specialized photo papers and storage conditions.
What devices and file types are supported for scanning and copying?
The flatbed scanner works with Windows and macOS via the HP Smart app and scanner drivers. Scans can be saved to common formats (PDF, JPEG) through the app and shared to cloud services or email.
Product Specifications
| Printer Type | Inkjet, Refillable Ink Tank All-in-One |
| Print Speed (PPM) | Black: up to 12 ppm; Color: up to 5 ppm |
| Resolution (DPI) | Color: up to 4800 x 1200 dpi; Black: up to 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Connectivity | Wireless (Wi‑Fi 2.4 GHz, self-healing), USB 2.0, HP Smart app (Android/iOS) |
| Duplex | Manual duplex (no automatic duplex) |
| Supported Media Sizes | 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, A4, A6, Half Letter, Letter, Legal (up to 8.5 x 14 inches) |
| Ink/Toner Type | Pigment-based (black); Dye-based (color), refillable ink bottles (HP 31/32/32XL compatible) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 17.11″ x 14.23″ x 6.19″ |
| Weight | 11.09 pounds |
| Max Input Sheet Capacity | 100 sheets |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed scanner |
| Maximum Copies per Run | 99 |
| Initial Page Print Time | A4 Black 14 sec; A4 Color 21 sec |
| Control Method | HP Smart app, onboard buttons |
| Memory Storage Capacity | 64 MB |
| Power Consumption (Standby) | 0.11 Watts |
| Warranty | Limited warranty (manufacturer specified) |
| Included Components | HP 31 Cyan/Magenta/Yellow 50ml bottles; HP 32XL Black 135ml bottle; HP Smart Tank 5101 printer |
Ratings
| Print Quality (Color & Sharpness) | 4.6 |
| Ink Efficiency / Yield | 4.9 |
| Connectivity & App Integration | 4.2 |
| Print Speed (Pages per Minute) | 3.8 |
| Build Quality & Design | 4.1 |
| Value for Money | 4.7 |
Recommendation
If you print frequently at home and want the lowest ongoing ink cost plus the flexibility to produce occasional high-quality photos, the HP Smart Tank 5101 is a smart buy. It’s ideal for families, home offices and hobbyists who value savings and photo capability over enterprise features like automatic duplexing or an ADF.
Choose this model when you prioritize strong color output, long initial ink supply, and easy mobile printing through the HP Smart app. If your workflow requires heavy two-sided printing, network Ethernet or a larger input capacity, consider an office-focused MFP instead.
Conclusion
The HP Smart Tank 5101 balances cost-efficiency, print quality and convenience in a package built for home and small office environments. Its refillable ink tanks and generous included ink dramatically lower cost per page, while high-resolution color printing and borderless support make it capable for photo projects as well as everyday documents. The compact design and app-first workflow simplify setup and management, keeping printing fast and predictable for most household needs.
No printer is perfect: the lack of automatic duplex, no ADF and 2.4 GHz-only Wi‑Fi are limitations for some users. Still, when you weigh those trade-offs against long-term savings, print quality and the convenience of a reliable all-in-one device, the Smart Tank 5101 delivers substantial value. For anyone who wants quality color printing at home without recurring cartridge costs, it’s a compelling option.
