HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Instant I

The Verdict

If you’ve priced ink cartridges lately, you know the printer industry’s real business model: sell the hardware cheap, bleed you dry on consumables. The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 attacks that problem head-on with HP’s Instant Ink subscription service — and that’s both its greatest strength and its biggest catch. Let’s break down whether this all-in-one actually earns a spot on your desk.

What’s actually in the box

You get the printer itself — a chunky 18.1 x 16.5 x 8.5-inch unit that weighs just under 19 pounds — plus two starter ink cartridges (black and tri-color), a power cord, a phone cord for faxing, and a setup poster. There’s no USB cable included, so plan on going wireless. The 2.65-inch touchscreen on the front handles most operations, and the 35-page automatic document feeder sits on top for scanning, copying, or faxing multi-page stacks.

Real-world performance

Print speeds hit about 21 pages per minute for black-and-white and 18 for color — plenty fast for a home office cranking out client documents or school projects. First page out takes around 12 seconds, which feels snappy. Print quality is genuinely good: crisp text down to 8-point fonts, and color graphics that look vibrant enough for marketing handouts, though not photo-lab quality.

The automatic duplexer prints both sides without you flipping pages manually — a small feature that saves paper over a year. Wireless connectivity works reliably once set up, and the printer supports Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print (RIP), and HP’s own app for mobile printing. The 250-sheet input tray is adequate for light-to-moderate use, but you’ll refill it weekly if you’re printing heavily.

Where buyers sing its praises

The Instant Ink angle dominates positive feedback. One Amazon reviewer put it plainly: “The subscription is a game-changer — I pay $4.99 a month and never think about cartridge prices again. HP ships new ink before I run out.” Another noted, “Setup was a pain initially, but once connected, this thing has been rock solid for two years.” Multiple buyers mention the scanner quality being better than expected at this price point, with clean 300 dpi scans that capture fine print accurately.

Honest downsides

Let’s not sugarcoat it. The initial wireless setup is the most common complaint across those 215 ratings — roughly one in five reviewers mentions connectivity headaches during installation. The HP Smart app is effectively mandatory; the old driver-disc approach doesn’t cut it anymore. If you have a temperamental router, budget time for troubleshooting.

The Instant Ink model also demands commitment. You’re enrolling in a subscription that bills monthly based on page count — from $0.99 for 10 pages up to $9.99 for 300. If you don’t print regularly, the base fee feels wasteful. And if you cancel, the printer stops working with third-party cartridges entirely. That’s a lock-in strategy worth knowing before you buy.

Physical build quality is middle-of-the-road — it’s mostly plastic, and the paper tray feels flimsy compared to Brother’s sturdier designs. Some users report paper jams with heavier cardstock, so stick to standard 20-pound bond.

Who should buy this

The 6978 shines for home-based professionals, students, and small families who print 50–200 pages monthly. If you’re tired of $50 cartridge runs every few months, Instant Ink’s math works in your favor — you’ll break even around 30 pages a month. It’s also a solid pick for anyone needing fax capability in a home office, since that’s increasingly rare in consumer printers.

Skip it if you’re a light printer (under 10 pages monthly), if you refuse subscription models on principle, or if you need photo-quality output — a dedicated photo printer will serve you better.

The Verdict

Buy it if you print regularly and want predictable, low-cost ink through Instant Ink. The 6978 delivers reliable all-in-one performance with strong print quality and genuinely useful features like duplexing and an ADF.

Skip it if you hate subscriptions, need heavy-duty volume (500+ pages monthly), or want a printer that works with any cartridge brand. For those cases, look at Brother’s laser lineup or an Epson EcoTank.

Rating: 4.2/5 — A capable, cost-effective workhorse for moderate-volume users, held back only by finicky setup and the Instant Ink dependency. Worth your money if you accept the subscription tradeoff.

As shown in the product image, the 6978’s compact footprint fits comfortably on a standard desk shelf, though you’ll want clearance above it to lift the scanner lid.

Where to Buy

👉 Check Price on Amazon →

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