HP DeskJet 2827e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, S

The Verdict

The HP DeskJet 2827e is the kind of printer that looks like a steal at first glance — an all-in-one with wireless printing, scanning, and copying for under $100. But here’s the catch that every budget printer buyer needs to hear: the machine is cheap because HP makes money on the ink. That tradeoff defines every interaction you’ll have with this device.

What You Actually Get

Out of the box, you get the printer itself, two “setup” ink cartridges (black and tri-color), a power cord, and a quick-start guide. The HP Smart app walks you through setup, and honestly, it’s one of the smoother experiences I’ve tested — connect to Wi-Fi, create an HP account, and you’re printing within minutes. The 2827e also supports Bluetooth and AirPrint, so mobile printing from phones and tablets works without fuss.

The physical footprint is genuinely compact at 17.1 x 11.9 x 7.4 inches and 10.7 pounds. It’s light enough to move around and slim enough to tuck onto a bookshelf. The 60-sheet input tray and 35-sheet output tray feel flimsy — they’re thin plastic that flexes under pressure — but they function fine for light use.

Real-World Performance

Print quality is respectable for an entry-level inkjet. Black text comes out crisp at 1200 x 1200 dpi — good enough for resumes and client documents. Color photos are acceptable but lean slightly warm and lack the punch you’d get from a dedicated photo printer. Scanning at 600 dpi handles documents and receipts well, though the flatbed scanner is slow, taking about 20 seconds per page.

The 7.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm color speeds are the biggest practical limitation. If you’re printing a 30-page document, you’re waiting four minutes. That’s tolerable for home use but a non-starter for a busy office.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

The wireless reliability earns the most positive feedback. One reviewer noted, “Setup was painless and it connects to my phone and laptop without issues every single time.” Another said, “For a basic home printer, the scan quality is surprisingly good.” The HP Smart app’s ability to scan directly to phone or email is a feature people genuinely use and appreciate.

The Instant Ink trial is also a genuine value — HP sends you new cartridges before you run dry, and the 3-month free trial covers roughly 300 pages. If you print regularly, that’s real money saved.

Where It Falls Short

The ink economics are the elephant in the room. The starter cartridges contain barely enough ink to get through setup — expect maybe 20-30 pages before you’re hitting “low ink” warnings. Full replacement cartridges run $30 for black and $35 for tri-color, which works out to roughly 8-10 cents per page. That’s roughly double the cost per page of a comparable Canon or Brother.

The HP+ requirement is the other sore spot. Activating HP+ is mandatory to use all features, and it ties you to HP’s cloud services and ink subscription. If you’re buying this specifically to avoid subscriptions, that’s a dealbreaker. One reviewer summed it up: “It’s a decent printer trapped inside a razor-and-blades business model.”

Who Should Buy This

This printer is for the light home user — someone printing school forms, shipping labels, or a few documents a week. It’s also a reasonable pick for a student who needs occasional printing and scanning without a big upfront investment. If you print more than 50 pages a month, the ongoing ink costs make a laser printer or a Brother inkjet with refillable tanks a smarter long-term buy.

FAQ

Is the HP DeskJet 2827e good for photos? Acceptable, not great. Color prints look fine at 4x6 for casual snapshots, but you’ll notice banding and slightly muted colors compared to a dedicated photo printer. For documents, it’s solid.

Can I use generic third-party ink cartridges? Technically yes, but HP’s firmware updates have historically blocked generic cartridges or degraded print quality. You’ll likely get error messages and reduced functionality. Budget for genuine HP ink.

Does it work with Chromebooks and tablets? Yes — the HP Smart app supports ChromeOS, iOS, and Android. AirPrint works natively with Apple devices, and the Bluetooth pairing makes mobile printing straightforward.

The Verdict

Buy it if you need a compact, reliable all-in-one for occasional home printing and you’re comfortable with HP’s ink subscription model. The wireless performance and app integration genuinely make it one of the easier printers to live with.

Skip it if you print regularly, hate subscriptions, or want low ongoing costs — the ink prices and HP+ requirement will drive you up the wall. Spend the extra $50 on a Brother inkjet with refillable tanks instead.

Rating: 4.2/5 — A solid budget printer that’s honest about what it is: cheap upfront, pricey to feed.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.