Choosing the right all-in-one printer for your home or office can be a difficult task. Two popular choices are the HP 7301 Smart Tank Plus and the Epson EcoTank ET-4850. Both offer cartridge-free printing to help save on ink costs over time. But which one is the better choice for your needs?
This comprehensive guide compares the key features and performance of the HP 7301 and Epson 4850 to help you decide.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | HP 7301 | Epson 4850 |
| Print Quality | Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi | Up to 5760 x 1440 dpi |
| Print Speed | Up to 15ppm black/8ppm color | Up to 15ppm black/8ppm color |
| Paper Capacity | 225 sheets | 225 sheets |
| Scanner | Flatbed | Flatbed + ADF |
| Copy and Scan Speed | Unknown | 8.5ppm black/4ppm color |
| Ink System | 4 ink cartridges (CMYK) | 4 high-capacity ink bottles (CMYK) |
| Estimated Page Yield | 6,000 pages black/8,000 pages color | 7,500 pages black/6,000 pages color |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| USB Connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Display | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 18.1 x 16.5 x 11.5 in | 17.7 x 13.7 x 21.3 in |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs | 17.1 lbs |
Overview of the HP 7301
The HP 7301 Smart Tank Plus is a wireless all-in-one designed for home offices and small businesses. It offers cartridge-free printing with easy-to-fill ink tanks instead of cartridges. Key features include:
- Print quality up to 4800 x 1200 dpi
- Print speeds up to 15ppm black and 8ppm color
- 225-sheet paper capacity
- Flatbed scanner with 4800 dpi optical resolution
- 4 individual ink tanks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black)
- Estimated page yields up to 6,000 pages black and 8,000 pages color
- Wireless printing from smartphones/tablets
- USB connectivity
- 2.2” LCD display
- Compact 18.1 x 16.5 x 11.5 in footprint
The HP 7301 utilizes an ink tank system designed to significantly reduce the cost per print compared to cartridge printers. Each of the 4 ink tanks is filled individually as needed. HP estimates page yields of up to 6,000 pages black and 8,000 pages color.
This printer offers standard connectivity options including built-in dual band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and a USB 2.0 port. It supports wireless printing from smartphones and tablets using the HP Smart app. The 2.2” LCD display provides printer status messages and menu navigation.
Also Read: Comparison Between Brother INKvestment and Epson EcoTank
Overview of the Epson EcoTank ET-4850
The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is an EcoTank cartridge-free all-in-one designed for high-volume printing up to thousands of pages per month. Key features include:
- Print quality up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi
- Print speeds up to 15ppm black and 8ppm color
- 225-sheet paper capacity
- Flatbed scanner plus 35-page ADF
- 4 individual ink tanks
- Estimated page yields up to 7,500 pages black and 6,000 pages color
- Wireless/Wi-Fi Direct printing
- USB 2.0 connectivity
- 2.4” color touchscreen LCD
- Compact 17.7 x 13.7 x 21.3 in footprint
Like the HP model, the EcoTank ET-4850 uses an efficient ink tank system for affordable prints. The 4 ink bottles are conveniently refilled as needed for thousands of pages without cartridge replacements.
Epson estimates the included black ink bottle yields up to 7,500 pages and color bottles yield up to 6,000 pages.
The ET-4850 offers versatile print/scan/copy functions with wireless connectivity for printing from mobile devices. It steps up from the HP with a faster copy/scan speed of 8.5ppm black and 4ppm color.
The ADF can scan multi-page documents efficiently. A color touchscreen makes operation smooth and intuitive.
Also Read: Comparison Between Epson EcoTank And HP Smart Tank.
Key Differences Between the HP 7301 and Epson 4850
When choosing between the HP 7301 and Epson 4850, there are some noteworthy differences to compare:
- Print Quality
The Epson 4850 offers a slight advantage in print resolution, with up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi compared to 4800 x 1200 dpi on the HP 7301. This results in crisper, finer details and text. But both produce excellent quality for everyday printing.
- Scan and Copy Speed
While print speeds are equal, the Epson pulls ahead in copy/scan speeds thanks to its ADF. It can copy and scan about 8.5ppm black and 4ppm color, whereas HP does not specify copy/scan speeds. The ADF also enables easy scanning of multi-page documents on the Epson.
- Page Yield
HP estimates somewhat higher page yields for black printing, at 6,000 pages black compared to 5,200 for the Epson. But the Epson yields more color pages at 6,000 compared to 4,000 color pages for the HP.
- Display
The Epson EcoTank takes the lead with its 2.4” color touchscreen display, versus a smaller 2.2” LCD display on the HP model. The touchscreen allows quicker navigation and control.
- Size and Weight
Both models maintain small footprints, but the Epson 4850 is slightly bulkier at 21.3” tall. However the HP 7301 weighs about 2 lbs more than the Epson when full of ink.
- Scanner Type
While both have flatbed scanners, the Epson also includes a 35-page auto document feeder allowing quick scanning of multi-page documents. The HP has flatbed only.
- Ink Bottles
The ink bottle designs differ between the two models. HP uses a plug-in cartridge tank while Epson utilizes refillable ink tank bottles. Both provide affordable prints, but Epson’s bottle design may be easier to refill.
Also Read: Comparison Between the Canon RS40 and Epson FastFoto
- Connectivity
Both the HP and Epson models include the key options of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB connectivity for flexible printing. The Epson adds voice-activated printing as an extra feature.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When it comes to these two specific models, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 holds a slight edge over the HP Smart Tank Plus 7301 in features and performance. Key advantages of the Epson include faster copy/scan speeds, higher color page yields, ADF scanner, color touchscreen, and slightly better print quality. However, the HP 7301 delivers excellent quality and efficiency for the price.
Overall, Epson EcoTank printers tend to outperform HP Smart Tank models in areas like print quality, scan/copy speed, and page yields. A key benefit of EcoTank is the high-capacity refillable ink tank system. But HP Smart Tank printers offer competitive print quality and efficiency at a lower upfront price point in many cases.
Yes, the HP 7301 can produce high quality photos on photo paper thanks to its 4-color ink system with up to 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution. It also allows convenient printing directly from a smartphone or tablet. The printer software includes tools to enhance photos.
The Epson ET-4850 is an upgraded version of the ET-3850. Key improvements include faster print speeds (15ppm Vs. 10ppm black, 8ppm Vs. 5ppm color), higher scan resolution (2400 dpi Vs. 1200 dpi), and a larger 2.4” color touchscreen over the 3850’s 1.44” LCD display. The 4850 also adds voice-activated printing support. Both models deliver excellent print quality and efficiency. But the 4850 provides better performance if your budget allows.
Also Read: Comparison Between Canon Pixma And Epson Ecotank
Final Thoughts
The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 wins out overall with impressive features including its ADF scanner, large touchscreen display, faster copy/scan speeds and high capacity ink bottles. But the HP 7301 Smart Tank Plus still delivers fast, high-quality printing at a lower price point.
HP is ideal for basic home printing needs. Epson is the better choice for frequent scanning and copying, higher volumes, and photo printing.
Consider your usage and budget to choose the right model for your needs. Both eliminate the hassle and expense of ink cartridges for affordable, convenient printing.