HP DeskJet 2855e Review — Compact Wireless All-in-One
Honest review: HP DeskJet 2855e — compact wireless all-in-one inkjet with AI formatting, Instant Ink trial, and mobile-first workflow.
Introduction
The HP DeskJet 2855e is an entry-level wireless all-in-one inkjet that promises color printing, scanning, and copying in a compact package tailored for home users. With HP’s AI-enabled formatting, three months of Instant Ink included (with HP+ activation), and a slim footprint, it aims to solve the familiar problems of wasted pages, awkward web prints, and ink-runouts that slow down home productivity.
For busy households and home offices that need reliable everyday prints—recipes, school assignments, invoices, and occasional photos—the DeskJet 2855e targets convenience over high-volume throughput. It trades industrial paper-handling for a small, affordable design and a mobile-first workflow that simplifies printing from phones and tablets while offering a path to predictable ink supply through Instant Ink.
Overview
Design-forward and compact, the DeskJet 2855e measures under 17 inches wide and weighs just 7.55 pounds, making it easy to tuck onto a shelf, desk, or counter. The white chassis has minimal controls and relies heavily on the HP Smart app for setup and daily operation. Internally it uses HP’s inkjet printing technology with pigment-based inks and supports color printing at a maximum 4800 x 1200 dpi for photos and rich color documents, while black text prints up to 600 dpi.
Connectivity centers on single-band Wi‑Fi and USB 2.0, plus app-driven features such as mobile scan and print. The printer is AI-enabled to clean up web pages and remove unwanted content automatically, reducing wasted pages and reprints. With a 60-sheet input tray and 25-sheet output capacity, the DeskJet 2855e is best suited to home users, students, and very small home offices who prioritize convenience, low initial cost, and app-centric workflows over heavy-duty throughput.
Features
HP AI-Formatted Printing: HP’s built-in AI tools analyze web pages and emails to remove ads, navigation, or other clutter before printing. The result is cleaner, more usable pages that avoid wasting paper and ink on irrelevant content. This is especially helpful when printing articles, recipes, and boarding passes directly from the web.
Wireless-First Connectivity with HP Smart App: Single-band Wi‑Fi and the HP Smart app provide guided setup, remote printing, mobile scanning, and cloud workflows. The app simplifies common tasks—scan-to-email, scan-to-cloud drives, and one-tap reordering of supplies—so those who primarily use phones and tablets can operate the printer without a PC.
Compact All-in-One Design: A flatbed scanner integrated into a slim housing makes the 2855e suitable for tight desks and shared living spaces. Though it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF), the flatbed supports high-quality scans of books, photos, and documents up to legal size, making copying and scanning straightforward.
Instant Ink Trial and Pigment-Based Inks: The package includes a three-month Instant Ink trial (activation with HP+) that automates cartridge delivery before you run out. The printer uses HP 67 cartridges with pigment-based black ink for sharper text and dye color inks for photos, balancing everyday document clarity with decent color reproduction for casual photos.
Benefits
Reduced Paper Waste and Cleaner Prints
Feature: HP AI-Formatted Printing
Advantage: Automatically removes unwanted elements and reformats web content.
Benefit: Save money and time by printing only the content you need—no more cropping, wasted pages, or manual editing.
Mobile Convenience and Simple Setup
Feature: HP Smart App & Wireless Connectivity
Advantage: Guided installs, cloud access, and printing from smartphones/tablets.
Benefit: Set up quickly and print from anywhere in the house without wrestling with drivers or a desktop computer.
Predictable Ink Management
Feature: 3-Month Instant Ink Trial
Advantage: Cartridges are delivered automatically based on your usage.
Benefit: Avoid unexpected out-of-ink moments during homework nights or last-minute prints; budget for ink with a subscription model after the trial.
Space-Saving Versatility
Feature: Compact footprint and flatbed scanner
Advantage: Fits small workspaces while handling scanning and copying duties.
Benefit: Keeps your home office tidy and functional without sacrificing core multifunction features.
Affordable Entry-Level Cost
Feature: Lightweight construction and basic paper handling
Advantage: Lower purchase price and lower running expectations.
Benefit: Ideal for price-conscious buyers who need occasional color prints and basic scanning without enterprise features.
Usages
Perfect for Home Offices
Print invoices, invoices, receipts, and short business documents with decent black text clarity and low upfront cost.
Student and Family Printing
Homework assignments, school projects, color illustrations, and printable worksheets—mobile printing and Instant Ink help families stay stocked.
Casual Photo and Craft Prints
Borderless photos and glossy paper support allow for occasional snapshots, greeting cards, and craft prints at good-looking resolution for home display.
Scan and Archive Occasional Documents
Flatbed scanning lets you digitize receipts, certificates, and single-page documents for upload to cloud services or email.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact, lightweight design fits small desks and shelves
- AI-driven printing reduces wasted pages and improves web print formatting
- Three-month Instant Ink trial minimizes running-out scenarios during initial months
- Mobile-first workflow via HP Smart app simplifies printing and scanning from phones
- Good photo resolution for occasional snapshots (up to 4800 x 1200 dpi)
Cons
- Limited paper handling (60-sheet input, 25-sheet output) not suited for high-volume use
- Manual duplex only—no automatic two-sided printing
- Single-band Wi‑Fi has reported connectivity problems for some users
- No automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning
- Mixed customer feedback on reliability and speed consistency
FAQs
Does the DeskJet 2855e support automatic duplex printing?
It supports manual duplex (you must flip pages yourself), not automatic two-sided printing. Manual duplex is useful for occasional double-sided needs but not ideal for high-volume duplex jobs.
Can I print directly from my smartphone or tablet?
Yes. Use the HP Smart app for iOS and Android to print, scan, and manage ink. The app makes mobile workflows easy, though some advanced settings are only available from the app or a connected computer.
What comes in the box and is ink included?
The printer ships with HP 67 setup black and tri-color cartridges and a power cord. It also includes a three-month Instant Ink trial when you activate HP+ at setup.
Is the Wi‑Fi connection reliable?
The DeskJet 2855e uses single-band Wi‑Fi and includes HP’s tools to detect and resolve common connectivity problems. Some users report intermittent Wi‑Fi issues; a strong home network and running the HP Smart app for setup usually resolve most problems.
Does it have an automatic document feeder (ADF)?
No. The DeskJet 2855e uses a flatbed scanner only, so multi-page scanning and copying requires manual page placement.
Product Specifications
| Printer Type | Color Inkjet All-in-One (Print/Scan/Copy) |
| Print Speed (Black PPM) | 7.5 ppm (maximum) |
| Print Speed (Color PPM) | 5.5 ppm (maximum) |
| Resolution (Color DPI) | Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi (color) |
| Resolution (Black DPI) | 600 dpi (black) |
| Connectivity | Single-band Wi‑Fi, USB 2.0, HP Smart App |
| Duplex | Manual two-sided printing (user flips pages) |
| Supported Media Sizes | 3 x 5 inches up to 8.5 x 14 inches (legal) |
| Ink/Toner Type | HP 67 cartridges; pigment-based black, dye color inks |
| Input Tray Capacity | 60 sheets |
| Output Tray Capacity | 25 sheets |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed scanner |
| Max Copy Speed | 7.5 ppm (black & white) |
| Control Method | HP Smart App (mobile-first) |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 11.97″ D x 16.7″ W x 6.06″ H |
| Weight | 7.55 pounds |
| Memory | 64 MB |
| Warranty | Extended Warranty |
| Included Cartridges | HP 67 Setup Black and HP 67 Setup Tri-color |
| Initial Page Out Time | Approximately 15 seconds |
Ratings
| Print-Scan-Copy Performance | 3.8 |
| Document Feeder Reliability | 3.1 |
| Connectivity & Smart Features | 3.0 |
| Print Speed & Output Quality | 3.4 |
| Ink / Toner Efficiency | 3.9 |
| Value for Money | 3.6 |
Recommendation
The HP DeskJet 2855e is recommended for home users, students, and anyone who needs a compact, app-driven multifunction printer for low-to-moderate print volumes. If your priorities are mobile convenience, clean web-page printing, and predictable ink replacement via Instant Ink, this model is a sensible, budget-friendly choice.
Conclusion
The DeskJet 2855e packs several meaningful conveniences into a compact, value-oriented package. HP’s AI formatting and the HP Smart app stand out as practical differentiators: they reduce wasted pages, streamline mobile printing, and make routine tasks accessible to users who prefer smartphones over PCs. The Instant Ink trial further eases the transition by handling ink reorders automatically during the initial period.
However, the printer is not without compromises. Manual duplexing, modest sheet capacity, the absence of an ADF, and mixed reports about Wi‑Fi reliability mean it is best matched to households and small home offices with modest monthly page counts. For buyers who need higher volumes, automatic duplex, or robust network features, stepping up to a more capable MFP or a laser model will yield better long-term throughput and fewer connectivity headaches. For casual users seeking affordability and convenient mobile workflows, the DeskJet 2855e delivers solid value.
