HP DeskJet and HP Envy are two of the most popular choices when it comes to choosing an inkjet printer for home or small office use. Both series of printers have their own unique features and capabilities, designed to meet the needs of different users. So, HP DeskJet vs Envy, which one to choose? This article will compare these two printers in detail from multiple dimensions and provide some purchasing advice to help you choose the right product for your needs.
Quick View of HP DeskJet vs. Envy Printer
HP DeskJet and Envy printers differ in many aspects, including price, features, design, print quality and speed, and more. They are both home inkjet printer series manufactured by HP for different user needs. Here is a quick comparison between the HP DeskJet and Envy.
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Comparison Dimension |
HP DeskJet Printer |
HP Envy Printer |
|
Image |
 |
 |
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Printer Type |
Inkjet |
Inkjet |
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Purchase Price |
Lower |
Higher |
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Ink Costs |
Small ink cartridges, lower unit price, support HP Instant Ink |
Large ink cartridges, higher unit price, support HP Instant Ink |
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Print Quality |
Good document printing, average photo printing |
Higher print quality for documents and photos |
| Print Speed | Slower, for non-intensive printing needs | Faster, for frequent printing needs |
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Features |
Basic features (print/scan/copy), limited wireless support |
Advanced features like duplex printing, and more wireless functions |
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Control Panel |
Push-button operation |
Touchscreen interface |
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Wireless Connection |
Basic wireless connection Single-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) |
More wireless connection options Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz) |
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Connection Option |
WiFi, mobile printing, USB, Bluetooth, cloud printing |
WiFi, mobile printing, USB, Bluetooth, cloud printing, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet |
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Appearance Design |
Compact and lightweight, simple design, suitable for small spaces |
Larger size, modern and refined design, sturdier build quality |
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Target Users |
Students & home users with limited budgets/ moderate printing needs |
Home users & creative workers with high quality photo printing needs |
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Applicable Scenes |
Everyday document printing, occasionally photo printing |
Everyday documents and high-quality photo printing |
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Maintenance |
Low maintenance costs but short lifespan |
Higher maintenance costs but more durable |
Comparison of HP DeskJet vs. HP Envy Printer
When faced with the question of how to choose between HP DeskJet and Envy, you can consider the following aspects. These comparisons can help you make the best choice based on your printing needs, budget, and usage requirements.
1. Price
HP DeskJet: One of the main advantages of HP DeskJet printers is the affordable initial purchase price, making them ideal for users on a limited budget. This series of printers is generally positioned in the entry-level to mid-range market. It is equipped with basic printing, copying, and scanning functions and is targeted at home users and small offices. Entry-level printer models are priced between $30 and $80, and mid-range models may rise to $100-$150 and provide more features.
HP Envy: HP Envy printers are aimed at users who demand higher print quality and functions, making them significantly more expensive than DeskJet. But its more advanced features and better print quality make it more cost-effective in the long run. Its basic model costs about $80-$150, but it offers more functions and design advantages than DeskJet of the same price. High-end models can cost up to $250-$400 or more, with more additional features, faster print speeds, and better print results.
2. Print Quality
HP DeskJet: DeskJet printers have a lower print resolution and are suitable for everyday home use, schoolwork, or basic printing tasks in small offices. They perform well in text printing quality, especially in black-and-white document printing, delivering crisp, clean text output. But for image and photo printing, DeskJet's color performance is weaker and less detailed than HP Envy's. The DeskJet can meet basic needs if you only print non-professional photos or ordinary images occasionally.
HP Envy: Envy printers offer higher print resolutions, especially models designed for photo printing. For example, HP Envy Photo 7155 and HP Envy Inspire 7255e printers can print at a maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi. In addition, Envy's text print quality is comparable to that of the DeskJet, and it can handle finer font and graphic details. Many models in the Envy series feature more advanced color management and optimization settings. This allows them to handle photos and artwork better while maintaining excellent text clarity.
3. Print Speed
HP DeskJet: DeskJet series generally have slower print speeds and are suitable for lightweight, everyday printing needs. Black and white print speeds are usually around 7-10 pages per minute (ppm), and color prints are around 5-7 ppm. Due to the positioning of DeskJet printers towards basic functionality, they are slower when printing photos, usually taking several minutes to complete the output of a high-quality photo. These speeds apply to printing in standard document mode and may be reduced when selecting high-resolution or high-quality print modes.
HP Envy: Envy series usually print faster than DeskJet, especially the higher-end models. Black and white print speeds are typically 10-15 pages per minute, and color prints are around 7-10 ppm, more suitable for medium to high-volume printing needs. Envy printers perform better in photo printing, and it takes less time than DeskJet to print a high-quality photo, usually less than a minute. Some models of the HP Envy series come with a fast print mode, which can significantly increase printing speeds at the expense of less print quality.
4. Features
HP DeskJet: HP DeskJet is primarily designed as a basic printer to meet the everyday printing needs of households, students, and small offices. It supports black-and-white and color printing, along with simple scanning and copying functions. Most DeskJet models have a small paper tray capacity and limited paper handling, making them suitable for lightweight printing tasks. Additionally, not all models support automatic duplex printing, and many low-end versions require manual page flipping. Basic models typically feature simple button operations, while a few include small-sized displays, offering a straightforward user experience.
HP Envy: HP Envy is designed as a multi-function printer, suitable for homes or small offices, especially for users with high requirements for image and photo printing. In addition to standard printing, scanning, and copying functions, Envy printers support high-quality photo printing. Most models offer automatic duplex printing and enhanced paper handling, making them suitable for medium- to large-volume jobs. Besides, Envy printers also feature a modern touchscreen panel, with some high-end models offering additional features for easier task management.
5. Connection
HP DeskJet: Most HP DeskJet printers support single-band Wi-Fi connectivity, meaning they can only connect to 2.4GHz wireless networks. This is sufficient for general home and small office wireless printing needs, such as printing documents, web pages, photos, etc. DeskJet also supports the HP Smart app, Apple AirPrint, and Google Cloud Print, and can print wirelessly and remotely from mobile devices such as smartphones. In addition, DeskJet HP printers come with standard USB connection ports, and some models support Bluetooth connectivity, though these connection features are more basic.
HP Envy: HP Envy series generally supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and has more stable USB and Bluetooth connectivity for a smoother printing experience. Moreover, Envy printers have richer and more powerful mobile and cloud printing capabilities, with almost all models supporting HP Smart, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint, and Mopria Print. Besides, many of its printer models support Wi-Fi Direct and have Near Field Communication (NFC) functions, making it easy to establish a connection with just a touch.
6. Users & Scenarios
HP DeskJet: HP DeskJet printers mainly aim at home users, student groups, and small offices or home offices. DeskJet is designed for lightweight printing tasks, suitable for those who print infrequently, print less, have limited budgets, and focus on cost-effectiveness and basic functionality. It can be used for occasional color or photo printing and is more focused on everyday document printing, such as letters, reports, learning materials, web pages emails, etc.
HP Envy: HP Envy printers are primarily aimed at users who demand higher print quality and functionality, including home users, small offices, photography enthusiasts or creative workers. The Envy series is positioned towards high-quality image output, suitable for printing family albums, color reports, photography, promotional materials, etc. For offices with medium to large document printing needs, or those who need to print in color, Envy provides higher printing speeds and excellent color performance.
Recommended Models for HP DeskJet & Envy Printer
Here are some popular printer models recommended for the HP DeskJet and HP Envy series. HP DeskJet printers mainly use HP 61/61XL, HP 63/63XL, HP 65/65XL, HP 67/67XL ink cartridges; HP Envy printers mainly use HP 62/62XL, HP 64/64XL, HP 67/67XL, and HP 65/65XL ink cartridges.
These HP ink cartridges are available in two versions, standard yield and high yield (XL), with the latter suitable for users who print more. They also available in black ink cartridges and tri-color ink cartridges (including cyan, magenta, yellow). The exact type of ink used by the HP Envy and DeskJet printers depends on the model.
Conclusion: HP DeskJet vs Envy, Which One to Choose?
Choosing between HP DeskJet and HP Envy depends mainly on your budget, printing needs, printing frequency, and usage scenarios. Here are some key factors and selection suggestions to help you make the right decision.
Choose HP DeskJet Printer If:
- You have a limited budget and need an affordable printer;
- You mainly print documents and occasionally need to print photos;
- Your printing needs are low and you don’t require high printing speeds;
- You need basic printing functions without complicated operations.
Choose HP Envy Printer If:
- You have a higher budget for a better printing experience;
- You need to print high-quality color images or photos frequently;
- You print more frequently and want faster printing speeds;
- You want advanced printing features and more connection options.
Final Verdict:
Overall, there is a significant price difference between HP DeskJet and Envy printers, but this is consistent with the value they each offer. Therefore, when choosing a printer, you should base it on your specific needs, budget, and requirements for print quality and features.
If you need a cost-effective printer with basic printing functions and do not require high print speeds and advanced features, then HP DeskJet series is a good choice. Conversely, if you need to print photos frequently, want faster printing speeds and more advanced features, and have a sufficient budget, HP Envy series will be more suitable for your needs.
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