What is it?
Light duty wireless all-in-one home printer with Instant Ink technology which allows the printer to contact HP to request ink when you are running low. HP say that signing up to Instant Ink will save you at least £78 a year compared to other ad-hoc devices with their subscription plans.
Good points?
Cheap printers usually mean expensive ink cartridges but HP has bucked the trend with Instant Ink subscription. The Deskjet 3630 retails at £40 – and can be found online for even less. The quality of the printed pages is surprisingly good with little compromised in the way of print speeds. You can easily get 10 full pages output in under a minute which stands up against most printers costing significantly more.
The HP ePrint allows portable devices to contact the printer directly without the need for a wireless internet router to act as a middle-man. This feature is very clever and is unusual among the top brand manufacturers.
Bad points?
Design and construction of the unit feels cheap and flimsy to the point where I was quite nervous when opening and closing the copy flap in case it broke off at the hinges in my hands.
Best for ...
Those who have occasional need for a home printer and want reliability.
Avoid if ...
You don't like being tied into contracts as Instant Ink won't be for everyone.
Score
7/10. Cheap and cheerful printing.
HP Deskjet 3630, £40 (hp.com)
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