The HP DeskJet 2855e is an inexpensive all-in-one inkjet printer built for occasional home printing, school assignments, forms, and basic scanning or copying. Its compact footprint, wireless connectivity, and straightforward mobile controls make it approachable for households that do not need office-level speed. The trade-offs are equally important: it has a small paper tray, slow color output, manual two-sided printing, and cartridge costs that can become significant at higher volumes. This review examines its specifications, realistic running costs, setup experience, print quality, owner feedback, buying timing, and alternatives. The assessment is based on published specifications, expert coverage, and recurring user reports rather than first-hand laboratory testing.
Quick Answer: Yes, if you want an affordable, compact wireless printer for light household use. No, if you print frequently, need automatic duplexing, or want consistently low ink costs.
1.1 Core Specifications
The DeskJet 2855e combines printing, flatbed scanning, and copying in a small chassis. It is designed around low purchase cost and simple wireless use rather than speed or advanced paper handling. Specifications can vary slightly by region or retail bundle, but the following details describe the commonly sold configuration.
1.2 What's in the Box
Retail contents can differ by country and promotion, so buyers should confirm the listing before ordering. A typical package includes the essential setup items below.
1.3 Technical Highlights
2. Price & Value Analysis
2.1 Current Pricing
The DeskJet 2855e usually competes in the entry-level printer tier. A sensible 2026 target is roughly $50 to $70, with a price below $55 representing a particularly attractive hardware deal. Bundles that include extra paper, full-yield cartridges, or a useful ink-plan promotion may justify paying slightly more. Do not evaluate the printer solely by its shelf price, however: replacement ink can exceed the original hardware cost over time.
| Price band | Value assessment | Best response |
|---|---|---|
| Below $55 | Strong hardware valueWinner | Buy if your print volume is low |
| $55-$70 | Fair everyday price | Compare cartridge and bundle terms |
| Above $70 | Less compelling | Consider a better-equipped alternative |
2.2 Is It Worth Buying?
It is worth buying for a household that prints a few pages each week and values a low upfront cost. Text is suitable for homework, recipes, tickets, and general forms, while color output works for casual charts and craft pages. It is less economical for regular multi-page jobs because small cartridges create a higher cost per page than refillable-tank systems. User feedback also suggests that satisfaction depends heavily on stable Wi-Fi and understanding the account and ink-service prompts presented during setup.
Retail prices and included promotions change frequently. Compare prices on ShopFox before choosing a bundle.
3. Real User Experience
3.1 Video Reviews Summary
Consumer printer coverage from channels such as The Printer Guy and Just A Dad Videos consistently highlights the same entry-level DeskJet pattern: physical setup is simple, the mobile app can make alignment and wireless installation manageable, and ordinary black text is adequate for home use. Reviewers also caution that patience is required for longer documents and color pages. The lack of an automatic document feeder makes multi-page scanning laborious, while manual duplexing requires users to reinsert paper correctly.
Setup demonstrations are especially useful because they reveal points that a specification sheet cannot: cartridge doors may feel lightweight, the compact controls provide limited status information, and most configuration is easier through the app than through the printer itself. The broader expert consensus is not that this machine performs poorly for its class, but that buyers should keep expectations aligned with its unusually low hardware price.
3.2 What Reddit Users Are Saying
Recurring printer discussions on Reddit divide into three recognizable groups. Light users often report that inexpensive DeskJet models are perfectly adequate for occasional labels, school pages, and forms. A second group objects to the cost and capacity of cartridges, especially after periods of heavier printing. A third group focuses on connectivity, describing either effortless app setup or frustration when routers, guest networks, or changed Wi-Fi credentials interrupt communication.
These discussions are anecdotal rather than controlled evidence, but they reveal an important ownership lesson: the 2855e is most successful when it remains connected, is used often enough to keep ink flowing, and is not expected to handle office-scale volume. Users who print in irregular bursts should run an occasional page and keep spare ink only when necessary, since stored cartridges can age.
3.3 Key User Feedback Themes
4. Performance & Everyday Use
For short black-and-white jobs, the 2855e delivers readable text at a pace that is acceptable in a home but slow for a shared office. Color charts and illustrations emerge more gradually, and full-page graphics use ink quickly. Photo output can be pleasant for casual albums when suitable paper and high-quality settings are used, although this is not a dedicated photo printer and border, color, and detail expectations should remain modest.
The flatbed scanner is useful for identification documents, photographs, and one-off forms. Copying is similarly convenient for individual pages. Neither function is optimized for stacks of paperwork because there is no automatic document feeder. The 60-sheet input capacity is enough for intermittent tasks but requires frequent refilling during larger projects. Research-based editorial scores below summarize suitability within the budget home-printer class; they are not customer ratings.
5. Pros & Cons
- Compact enough for small desks
- Print, scan, and copy functions
- Wireless and mobile printing support
- Adequate text quality for home documents
- Simple flatbed scanning for single pages
- Slow document and color printing
- No automatic duplex printing
- No automatic document feeder
- Small input tray and basic controls
6. Best Time to Buy
6.1 Historical Price Trends
Entry-level printers are frequently discounted because manufacturers expect ongoing cartridge purchases. The most meaningful savings often appear as short promotions rather than permanent reductions. Compare the total bundle: a printer priced a few dollars higher may be better if it includes useful full-yield ink, while a cheap package with low-capacity setup cartridges may not be the better long-term deal.
6.2 Upcoming Sales Events
Prime Day-style retail events, back-to-school promotions, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and post-holiday clearance periods are sensible times to look. Printer discounts also appear around tax season when demand for home-office equipment increases. Rather than waiting for a specific calendar date, set a target of about $55 and account for cartridge prices. You can set a price alert with ShopFox to watch for a genuine reduction.
7. Top Alternatives
The right alternative depends on whether your priority is easier document handling, lower running costs, or black-and-white speed. These models occupy nearby shopping categories but may cost more initially.
Canon PIXMA TS3720
Simple RivalAnother compact cartridge-based all-in-one for light household work. Compare software preferences, photo handling, and local cartridge pricing rather than expecting a major speed upgrade.
Epson Expression Home XP-4200
More FeaturesA useful step up for shoppers who want a display and automatic two-sided printing. It still uses cartridges, so calculate ongoing ink expense before choosing it for frequent jobs.
Brother HL-L2405W
Best for TextA monochrome laser alternative for users who mostly print text and value speed. It does not provide color printing or flatbed scanning, but toner can suit higher document volumes.
| Feature | DeskJet 2855e | XP-4200 | HL-L2405W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color printing | Yes | Yes | No |
| Scanning | Flatbed | Flatbed | None |
| Automatic duplex | No | YesWinner | Varies by configuration |
| Best fit | Low-cost occasional use | Feature-focused home use | Frequent text documentsWinner |
How We Researched This Review
This review compares published manufacturer specifications with recurring observations from professional setup videos, consumer discussions, and owner feedback. We evaluated print functions, paper handling, connectivity, output quality, operating cost, and suitability for typical household workloads. We did not perform a first-hand laboratory test, so editorial scores express our research-based judgment rather than measured benchmarks or aggregated customer ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HP DeskJet 2855e good for home use?
Yes, provided home use means occasional assignments, forms, recipes, tickets, and light scanning. Its small size and wireless controls are convenient in a bedroom, kitchen, or compact office. It is not ideal for a household printing dozens of pages every day because its speed, paper capacity, and cartridge economics are designed around lighter workloads.
What ink does the HP DeskJet 2855e use?
In commonly supported markets, the printer uses HP 67 black and tri-color cartridges, with higher-yield 67XL versions also available. Cartridge numbers can vary by region, so confirm compatibility on the packaging or retailer listing. The tri-color design means the combined color cartridge may require replacement when one color is depleted, even if the others remain.
Does the HP DeskJet 2855e print double-sided automatically?
No. The 2855e supports manual, driver-assisted two-sided printing rather than automatic duplexing. The software prints one side and then asks you to turn and reload the pages. This is manageable for a short document but inconvenient for frequent reports. Buyers who regularly print both sides should consider a model with an automatic duplex mechanism.
Can the HP DeskJet 2855e scan multiple pages?
It can scan multiple pages, but each page must be placed on the flatbed manually because the printer has no automatic document feeder. The mobile or desktop software can help combine individual scans into one file. This works for occasional records, but scanning a long contract or stack of school documents will be considerably slower than using an ADF-equipped model.
Is the HP DeskJet 2855e good for photos?
It can produce casual color photographs on appropriate photo paper, but it should not be treated as a specialist photo printer. The tri-color cartridge, modest speed, and entry-level print system limit efficiency and fine control. It is suitable for an occasional snapshot, school project, or craft image, while dedicated photo printers are preferable for albums, accurate color, and regular borderless output.
Why will the HP DeskJet 2855e not connect to Wi-Fi?
Common causes include changed router credentials, use of an isolated guest network, weak signal, an incomplete app setup, or permissions that prevent a phone from finding nearby devices. Restart the printer and router, move them closer together, verify the network password, and repeat setup through the HP app. A USB connection can also help isolate whether the problem is wireless or printer-related.
Is an ink subscription required for the HP DeskJet 2855e?
A subscription should not be confused with the physical ability to use the printer, but enrollment terms and cartridge behavior depend on the offer selected during setup. Read every prompt carefully and confirm whether a retail bundle includes a trial. If you enroll, review monthly page limits, rollover rules, cancellation terms, and what happens to subscription cartridges after service ends.
How often should the HP DeskJet 2855e be used?
Inkjet printers generally benefit from regular use because long idle periods can contribute to dried ink around the print system. Printing a small color page every week or two is a practical habit for an intermittently used machine. Keep the printer powered as recommended so it can manage maintenance routines, and avoid repeatedly running deep cleaning cycles because those routines consume ink.
Is the HP DeskJet 2855e better than a laser printer?
It is better when low purchase cost, color output, and flatbed scanning matter more than speed. A monochrome laser printer is usually preferable for frequent black-text documents because it prints faster and toner tolerates idle periods well. The DeskJet is the more flexible low-cost choice for occasional mixed-color tasks, while a laser model is the stronger productivity choice for sustained document printing.
Conclusion
The HP DeskJet 2855e remains a reasonable 2026 purchase for shoppers who understand its narrow purpose. It is compact, inexpensive, and capable of handling basic printing, copying, and scanning without occupying much space. Its compromises are slow output, manual duplexing, no document feeder, and running costs that become difficult to justify at higher volume. Buy it for light household work, preferably near or below $55, and compare both the printer price and replacement-ink cost before checking out.
The Verdict
The DeskJet 2855e is worth buying for occasional home printing when upfront affordability is the priority. Students, families, and infrequent users can get useful three-in-one functionality at a low price. Frequent printers should spend more on an automatic-duplex laser or refillable-tank model to reduce long-term inconvenience and ink expense.
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