The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 is our top-rated home printer. It’s an all-in-one inkjet model that excels at producing stunning, vibrant photos. It’s essentially a more affordable version of the flagship Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550. Both printers are excellent, but the ET-8550 offers a larger 8.5×14 flatbed scanner and supports wide-format paper up to 13×19, which might only be necessary for a specific group of users. For most households, the ET-8500 is the better choice due to its lower price and similar performance.
When it comes to printing, both the ET-8500 and ET-8550 deliver sharp, high-quality documents and incredibly detailed photos. They print up to 15 black and 10 color pages per minute, making them efficient for home use. These printers use refillable ink tanks instead of traditional cartridges. A full tank provides thousands of prints, and the replacement ink is cost-effective, minimizing long-term expenses. Even refilling the ink tanks is straightforward, designed to be easy for all users, regardless of technical skill.
The flatbed scanner on these models is excellent for digitizing photos, capturing even the smallest details. However, it’s important to note that they don’t have an automatic feeder, so scanning multi-page documents requires manual handling.
Overall, if your primary need is for a photo printer that can also handle occasional document printing, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 (or its higher-end sibling, the ET-8550) is a fantastic choice, offering superb print quality and cost-effective operation. For those who mainly print documents, there are more affordable options available that can match these printers’ performance.