The HP ENVY 6055e is an affordable all-in-one printer aimed at home and small office users who want a device that can print, scan, and copy documents and photos. In this detailed review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the key features, pros, cons, and performance of the HP ENVY 6055 to help you decide if it’s the right all-in-one printer for your needs.
Overview
The HP ENVY 6055e is a low-cost inkjet all-in-one printer with print, scan and copy functionality. Key features include:
- Printing, scanning, copying
- Print speeds up to 10 pages per minute black, 7 pages per minute color
- Flatbed scanner with 1200 dpi optical resolution
- 35-sheet auto document feeder for scanning and copying multi-page documents
- 2.2” color touchscreen display
- Built-in wireless and Ethernet networking
- Print from anywhere with HP ePrint feature
- Duplex printing for two-sided pages
- Compatible with HP Instant Ink subscription service
The HP ENVY 6055e uses HP 63 black and tri-color ink cartridges, which are affordable and widely available. It’s compact enough to fit on most desks at 17.5 x 14.5 x 5.83 inches.
Pros
Here are some of the key advantages of choosing the HP ENVY 6055e all-in-one printer:
- Affordable price point
- Strong print quality for the price
- Fast print speeds
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 35-page auto document feeder for scanning and copying stacks of pages without intervention
- Easy networking with built-in Ethernet and wireless connectivity
- Convenient printing from smartphones and tablets with HP ePrint
- Compatible with HP Instant Ink for low-cost ink replenishments
- Compact size takes up minimal desk space
- Intuitive 2.2” touchscreen interface
- Energy efficient with low power consumption
Cons
However, there are some downsides to consider as well before purchasing:
- Ink costs can add up over time without an HP Instant Ink subscription
- No fax capability
- Lack of USB thumb drive connectivity
- Small paper input tray limited to 100 sheets
- Cannot use high-capacity XL ink cartridges
- No display screen customization options
- No advanced copy features like ID card or booklet copying
- No third-party ink support
Print Quality
The HP ENVY 6055e produces reasonably good print quality for home printing and everyday documents. Text is sharp and easy to read even at small font sizes. Graphics and photos print with fairly accurate colors and decent detail.
However, print quality is not as vibrant compared to more expensive inkjet models using 6 or more ink cartridges. The ENVY 6055e uses a 2-cartridge system with black and tri-color inks, which produces good but not outstanding photo prints. Solid blacks and shadow details lack some depth compared to costlier photo-centric printers.
Print Speeds
Print speeds on the HP ENVY 6055e are relatively fast for the price. When printing in black-and-white, it can output a full page per minute up to 10 ppm. For color pages, speeds are almost as quick at 7 ppm. Two-sided printing speeds are slower at just 3.5 ppm, but the auto duplexer allows convenient two-sided printing to conserve paper.
These speeds allow you to efficiently print everyday text documents and occasional photos. However, the ENVY 6055e lacks the performance for very high print volume offices. For heavier workloads, a bulkier office-oriented inkjet would be a better choice.
Scanning and Copying
Scanning and copying functions are handled well on the HP ENVY 6055e. It comes equipped with a 35-page capacity auto document feeder that allows you to easily scan or copy stacks of pages without having to place down and lift up each sheet manually.
Optical scan resolution reaches up to 1200 dpi for capturing fine detail and text. Enlarged copies can be made up to 400% bigger. The lack of shortcut buttons for ID cards and booklet copying is disappointing but can be worked around using custom settings. Overall, the scanning and copying versatility of the ENVY 6055e is very good for the price.
Ink Costs and HP Instant Ink Savings
Original HP 63 ink cartridges have a relatively high cost per page, at around 13 cents per black page and 19 cents per color page. Buying XL high-capacity cartridges helps lower ink costs but is not an option on the ENVY 6055e.
To save substantially on ink costs, using HP’s Instant Ink subscription service is the best solution. Instant Ink provides automatic ink deliveries before you run out to ensure uninterrupted printing. Page prices start at just 5 cents per page for black and 7 cents for color, representing savings of up to 50% over original HP cartridge costs. Instant Ink plans allow you to print anywhere from 50 to 700 pages per month.
If you print 100 pages or less per month, Instant Ink savings may not make financial sense over buying standard cartridges as needed. But for heavier average monthly print volumes, Instant Ink brings significant cost savings on the ENVY 6055e.
Design and Build Quality
The HP ENVY 6055e has a sleek, modern design with clean lines and a minimal footprint. It takes up very little desk space at just 17.5 inches across. The primarily white color looks attractive and resists visible dust buildup. Buttons and ports are located conveniently within reach.
While plastics dominate over metal components, the ENVY 6055e feels solidly built with quality construction and materials. Paper trays, scanner lid, and cartridge access points have sturdy movement. For the affordable price, HP did not cut many corners on design and durability.
Setup and Ease of Use
Setting up the HP ENVY 6055e is simple, especially if connecting via wireless. Just install the ink cartridges, load paper, and follow the prompts on the display screen to connect to your network. Software installation is swift as well when using the included HP printer software or downloading drivers from HP’s support website.
The 2.2” color touchscreen provides effortless navigation of the printer’s functions using intuitive menu icons. You can easily make copies in single or multi-page sets, scan to various destinations, or manage wireless connections. For scanning and copying, simply raise the scanner lid and place originals directly on the glass or into the handy document feeder.
While not loaded with shortcut buttons like costlier all-in-ones, the clean control interface is focused on core tasks and very user-friendly even for novices.
Conclusion
The HP ENVY 6055e delivers very good value and performance for an inkjet all-in-one printer costing less than $100. It prints faster than competitors, delivers solid print quality for the price, and includes an automatic document feeder for simplified scanning and copying tasks. The sleek modern design looks attractive in any home office or workspace.
Drawbacks like mediocre photo printing, small paper capacity, and lack of USB connectivity prevent it from earning top marks. But for general home and home office duties, the HP ENVY 6055e handles printing, scanning and copying needs reliably while keeping ink costs low when used with HP Instant Ink. Overall, it’s a great choice for an affordable, feature-packed all-in-one.
