Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Review — Low-Cost Supertank MFP

Introduction

The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is a cartridge-free, surefill inkjet all-in-one designed to solve two persistent office printing problems: exploding consumable costs and frequent interruptions to replace cartridges. By pairing Epson’s high-resolution MicroPiezo printhead with large, refillable ink bottles, the ET-4800 targets users who need reliable color output, low running costs, and basic office workflows (print, copy, scan, fax) in a compact footprint.

Beyond cost savings, the ET-4800 focuses on real-world productivity improvements: a 30-sheet ADF for multi-page scanning and faxing, wired Ethernet and Wi‑Fi Direct for flexible network deployment, and borderless photo capability for occasional picture printing. It’s positioned to boost day-to-day efficiency for home offices, small businesses, and creative hobbyists who want professional-looking output without the premium toner price tag.

Overview

Physically, the ET-4800 is compact and lightweight for a multifunction unit — about 14.8″ wide and under 11 pounds — with a simple white housing that blends into home offices or small workspaces. The control surface is minimal: a 1.44″ color LCD for menu navigation and status, supported by voice-activated printing and the Epson Smart Panel app for mobile control. Design decisions prioritize cost and convenience: a single front paper tray, visible front ink tanks, and user-accessible refill bottles.

Under the hood this is a 4-color (CMYK) drop-on-demand MicroPiezo inkjet. It delivers up to 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution and uses small droplet sizes (as small as 3 picoliters) for fine detail on documents and photos. Connectivity is broad: Hi-Speed USB, Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) with Wi‑Fi Direct, and wired Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) for office networks. The feature set — print, copy, scan and fax with an ADF that handles legal size media — makes this a true multifunction device best suited for small offices, home offices, and users who print moderate volumes but want ultra-low ongoing ink costs.

Features

EcoTank Cartridge-Free Ink System: Refillable ink tanks with large bottles included (65 mL each bottle). Advantage: Delivers up to 2 years of ink in the box and replacement sets rated for roughly 4,500 black pages / 7,500 color pages. Benefit: Dramatically lowers per-page costs and eliminates frequent cartridge swaps — ideal for high-volume document workflows and cost-conscious operations.

High-Resolution MicroPiezo Print Technology: 4-color drop-on-demand MicroPiezo printhead with up to 5760 x 1440 dpi and 3-picoliter droplets. Advantage: Produces fine text, smooth gradients and borderless 4″ x 6″ photos. Benefit: Provides sharp business graphics and respectable photo quality for marketing materials, client handouts, and family snapshots without needing a separate photo printer.

Multifunction Office Workflow (ADF + Fax): 30-sheet ADF (single-sided scanning up to legal 8.5″ x 14″), flatbed scanner and fax with 100-page memory. Advantage: Speeds multi-page scanning, copying and faxing tasks while handling legal-sized documents. Benefit: Reduces manual page feeding and streamlines back-office workflows for small teams that still rely on physical paperwork.

Flexible Connectivity & Mobile Printing: Wi‑Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Wi‑Fi Direct, wired Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB and voice printing via assistants. Advantage: Supports traditional networked environments, ad-hoc mobile printing and hands-free commands. Benefit: Makes it simple to print from PCs, smartphones, and tablets across varied setups — from dedicated home offices to shared small business networks.

Benefits

Lower Cost Per Page

Refillable 65 mL bottles and high-yield replacement sets reduce recurring supply expenses by an order of magnitude compared with standard cartridges. For moderate to heavy users this yields clear annual savings and predictable operating costs.

Improved Small-Office Productivity

The 30-sheet ADF and fax capabilities speed routine administrative tasks like scanning invoices, sending fax batches, and copying multi-page documents, cutting time spent on manual chores.

High-Quality Output For Mixed Jobs

With 5760 x 1440 dpi and small droplet sizes, the ET-4800 handles everything from crisp mono text and business graphics to borderless photos, removing the need for a separate photo-focused device for most casual photo needs.

Flexible Deployment and Mobile Access

Ethernet plus reliable Wi‑Fi options and Wi‑Fi Direct let the printer fit into wired small office networks or serve as a shared wireless device for remote workers and mobile smartphones, simplifying setup and daily use.

Usages

Perfect for Home Offices

Prints invoices, reports and client materials cost-effectively. The small footprint and low running costs make it a solid choice for entrepreneurs and remote workers who balance document work with occasional color printing.

Small Business Document Hub

Acts as a central MFP for small teams: photo-quality marketing flyers, legal-size contracts via ADF, and reliable fax/scan capabilities. Refillable inks keep supply budgets predictable while supporting moderate daily volumes.

Hobbyist Photo & Craft Printing

Borderless 4″ x 6″ photo printing and high-resolution output are suitable for scrapbookers and hobbyists who need occasional photo prints, labels, or craft projects without buying specialty hardware.

Student & Home School Use

Affordable long-term ink supply and multi-function scanning help students produce assignments, scan study materials, and print color visuals for presentations while minimizing family supply expenses.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Extremely low running costs with high-yield refill bottles
• High maximum print resolution for detailed documents and photos
• 30-sheet ADF with legal-size support and fax capability
• Multiple connectivity options: Wi‑Fi Direct, Ethernet, USB
• Compact footprint for a multifunction surefill printer

Cons

• No automatic duplex printing (simplex only)
• Mixed user reports on Wi‑Fi stability and setup experience
• Color photo output is competent but not studio-grade
• 1.44″ LCD control is small for advanced menu navigation

FAQs

How much will the ink actually save compared to cartridges?

Epson’s EcoTank bottles deliver thousands of pages per replacement set — typically advertised as up to 4,500 black and 7,500 color pages. In practice the per-page cost can be a fraction of cartridge-based printers, especially for mixed black-and-color workloads.

Does the ET-4800 support automatic duplex printing?

No — this model is simplex only for printing. Documents can still be manually double-sided but the printer does not have an automatic duplexing mechanism.

Is setup and wireless connectivity straightforward?

Setup is generally manageable using the Epson Smart Panel app and built-in Wi‑Fi, but some environments may require Ethernet or manual network configuration. Users with mixed Wi‑Fi hardware have reported occasional setup variability, so following the app prompts and firmware updates is recommended.

Can this printer handle legal-size scanning and faxing?

Yes — the ADF supports legal-size (8.5″ x 14″) single-sided scanning and faxing, and the flatbed handles standard letter-size scanners. Fax memory and speed dials support reasonable small-office faxing needs.

Are replacement ink bottles easy to install without mess?

Epson’s bottle design is engineered for secure refills, and the front-facing tanks with clear level indicators make it easy to monitor and refill. Careful handling during refills is advised to avoid spills.

Product Specifications

Printer Type	Supertank Inkjet All-in-One (Print/Copy/Scan/Fax)
Print Speed (PPM)	10.0 ISO ppm (black), 5.0 ISO ppm (color)
Resolution (DPI)	Up to 5760 x 1440 dpi
Connectivity	Hi-Speed USB, Wi‑Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n), Wi‑Fi Direct, Wired Ethernet (10/100 Mbps), Voice printing
Duplex	Simplex (manual duplex only)
Supported Media Sizes	Up to 8.5″ x 14″ (Legal); borderless 4″ x 6″ photos supported
Ink/Toner Type	Bottled Ink (EcoTank 522 bottles included)
ADF Capacity	30 sheets (Letter), 10 sheets (Legal)
Scanner Type	Color Flatbed + Automatic Document Feeder (CIS sensor)
Copy Speed	7.7 ISO cpm (black), 3.8 ISO cpm (color)
Fax	Yes — 33.6 Kbps transmit, up to 100-page receive memory
Dimensions	14.8″ W x 13.7″ D x 9.3″ H (manufacturer footprint listed)
Weight	Approximately 11.0 lb
Display	1.44″ color LCD
Warranty	Limited warranty (manufacturer)

Ratings

Print Quality (Color & Sharpness)	4.4
Ink Efficiency / Yield	4.9
Connectivity & App Integration	3.6
Print Speed (Pages per Minute)	3.8
Build Quality & Design	4.1
Value for Money	4.7

Recommendation

The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is recommended for home offices, freelancers and small businesses that prioritize low operating costs and multifunction convenience over industrial print speed or automatic duplexing. It’s especially appealing for users who print a lot of documents and want predictable supply budgets.

Avoid this model if automatic two-sided printing or ultra-fast production printing is a must. For occasional high-end photo work, a dedicated photo printer would deliver better color fidelity and paper handling.

Conclusion

The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 strikes a clear balance: it pairs Epson’s high-resolution MicroPiezo technology with a surefill EcoTank system to remove a major pain point — ongoing consumable cost — while offering the basic office workflows small teams need. The result is a versatile, compact MFP that handles documents, legal-size scanning and casual photos with a low total cost of ownership.

While not perfect — the lack of automatic duplexing and mixed wireless setup experiences will matter to some buyers — the ET-4800 offers tangible long-term value. For buyers who print regularly and want predictable, reduced running costs without sacrificing respectable quality, it’s a compelling, budget-smart choice that consistently returns savings month after month.