HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing Review: The Modern Home Office Workhorse Tested

There’s a unique kind of frustration that only an old, cantankerous printer can induce. It’s that sinking feeling when you’re rushing to print a critical report, boarding passes, or your child’s homework, only to be met with a cryptic error message, a soul-crushing paper jam, or the dreaded “low ink” warning with no replacement cartridges in sight. For years, my home office was powered by a relic that seemed to run on sheer spite, demanding constant troubleshooting and expensive ink that was always gone when I needed it most. This daily dance with technological obsolescence isn’t just annoying; it’s a genuine drain on time and energy. In today’s world of seamless connectivity, the idea of a printer that just works—wirelessly, reliably, and intelligently—feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity. This is the very promise that modern all-in-one devices aim to deliver.

What to Consider Before Buying an All-In-One Printer

An All-In-One Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for consolidating the essential functions of a modern home or small office into a single, compact footprint. It solves the clutter of having a separate scanner, copier, and printer, streamlining workflows and saving valuable desk space. The main benefits are versatility and convenience. You can digitise old family photos one moment, print a multi-page, double-sided business proposal the next, and then make a quick copy of an important document—all from one device, often controlled directly from your smartphone. This centralisation is a game-changer for anyone looking to boost efficiency and declutter their workspace.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daily demands of a hybrid work schedule, a small business owner, a student, or a busy family. They need a reliable machine that can handle diverse tasks from text-heavy documents to vibrant colour photos without fuss. It’s for the person who values the simplicity of wireless printing from any device and is intrigued by modern conveniences like ink subscription services. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who print very infrequently (making a subscription model less cost-effective) or for professionals who require specialised, large-format, or extremely high-volume printing. For them, a dedicated laser printer or a professional photo printer might be a better investment.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Don’t underestimate the footprint. While “all-in-one” implies consolidation, these devices can still be bulky. Measure your intended space carefully, accounting not only for the printer’s dimensions (the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e is 15.1 x 18.1 x 7.5 cm) but also for clearance to open scanner lids and access paper trays. Some users noted this model was surprisingly large, so checking measurements is vital to avoid a cramped workspace.
• Capacity/Performance: Look beyond the initial purchase price to the core performance metrics. Consider print speed, measured in pages per minute (PPM)—here it’s 15 for black and white and 10 for colour. Evaluate the paper tray capacity (125 sheets for this model) to ensure it matches your typical print volume. Features like automatic duplex (2-sided) printing are huge time-savers and should be considered essential for anything beyond occasional use.
• Materials & Durability: Most consumer-grade printers are housed in plastic. The key is the quality of that plastic and the overall build. Does it feel flimsy, or does it feel solid and well-constructed? The HP ENVY Inspire 7220e features a clean, white plastic exterior that feels robust enough for regular home use, but it’s important to handle it with care to ensure longevity.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The user interface is critical. A clear touchscreen, like the one on this model, can simplify operations significantly. However, the most crucial aspect today is the software. Many modern printers are deeply integrated with a companion app (like HP Smart), which can be either a blessing for its convenience or a curse for its bugs and connectivity issues. Also, consider the long-term maintenance: how easy is it to clear paper jams and replace ink cartridges?

Keeping these factors in mind, the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Sleek Design Meets a Polarising Setup

Unboxing the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e, the first thing we noticed was its clean, contemporary aesthetic. The sleek white finish gives it a modern look that blends nicely into a home office environment, a stark contrast to the utilitarian black boxes of the past. It feels substantial and well-built, weighing in at nearly 7kg. Physically setting it up is straightforward: plug it in, power it on, and follow the on-screen prompts on the intuitive colour touchscreen. The dual front-loading paper trays—a main A4 tray and a dedicated tray for photo paper (up to 7×5 inches)—are a thoughtful design choice, making it easy to switch between printing documents and photos without swapping media.

However, the honeymoon period with the hardware is quickly interrupted by the software setup. This printer doesn’t come with a driver disc; instead, it funnels you exclusively through the HP Smart app. This is where the experience becomes deeply divided. While some will appreciate the guided, app-based setup, we found it, like many users, to be a process laden with prompts for data collection and persistent pushes to sign up for HP+ and the Instant Ink subscription. It’s a mandatory, internet-dependent process that can be a significant hurdle for those with less-than-perfect Wi-Fi or a desire for more user control.

A Deep Dive into the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e’s Performance

A printer’s true worth is revealed not on the spec sheet, but in the day-to-day grind of printing, scanning, and copying. We put the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing through its paces, evaluating everything from the controversial setup process to its final print quality and long-term reliability. This is a machine of two halves: capable hardware often let down by a restrictive software ecosystem.

The Setup Gauntlet: Navigating the HP Smart App and HP+

Let’s be blunt: setting up this printer can be a challenge, even for the tech-savvy. Our experience mirrored that of numerous users who found the process far from the “easy start” HP promises. You are required to download the HP Smart app on your computer or mobile device. There is no alternative. The app then guides you through connecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network, a process that, for us, required a couple of restarts to succeed. Once connected, the real push begins: enrolling in HP+. This isn’t an optional feature; it’s a core part of the product. Activating HP+ requires you to create an HP account, keep the printer constantly connected to the internet, and agree to use only genuine HP ink cartridges. This is a significant commitment. As one frustrated user noted, the software “at every step wants you to allow HP collect your data plus constant prompts.” We can confirm this pressure is constant. For those who value privacy and the freedom to choose their own supplies, this is an immediate and substantial red flag. Another user, an experienced IT professional, reported being “unable to install this printer” despite a flawless internet connection, highlighting the software’s potential for inexplicable failure.

Print Quality and Versatility: Where the Hardware Shines

Once you clear the software hurdles, the hardware of the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing begins to show its strengths. We started with a 20-page black and white document. The text was sharp, crisp, and easily legible, with a print speed that felt perfectly adequate for home office tasks. The automatic duplexing worked flawlessly, flipping pages internally without any manual intervention, which is a fantastic feature for saving paper on longer reports. Switching to colour printing, we tested it with a graphics-heavy presentation. Colours were vibrant and well-saturated, with smooth gradients and no noticeable banding.

Where the printer truly impressed us was with photo printing. Using the dedicated photo tray and HP’s glossy photo paper, the results were excellent for a printer at this price point. We printed a variety of 6×4 and 7×5 photos, and they emerged with rich colours, good detail, and true-to-life skin tones. The borderless printing feature works as advertised, producing edge-to-edge prints that look professional. This experience was echoed by a user who replaced an older Epson and was “Very happy with prints (paper and photo).” However, consistency can be an issue, as another user reported a “disaster” with their photo printing, seeing “no Green/Blue color,” suggesting quality control or initial cartridge issues can occur.

Connectivity and Reliability: The Self-Healing Promise

HP heavily markets its “self-healing Wi-Fi,” a feature designed to automatically detect and resolve connectivity issues to keep the printer online and ready. In our testing, the daily wireless connection was generally stable. We could print effortlessly from our MacBook, a Windows PC, and our iPhones via the HP Smart App without issue. However, the online user consensus paints a much more troubling picture of long-term reliability. We found numerous reports of the printer inexplicably falling offline, becoming “unresponsive,” or being undiscoverable by devices on the same network. One user detailed a “dreadful experience” where they were “often unable to print without restarting the printer first.” Another encountered an “Encryption credentials have expired” error after five months, rendering the printer useless from their Mac.

These widespread reports suggest that while the self-healing Wi-Fi might work for minor hiccups, it’s no panacea for deeper software or firmware issues. The printer’s reliance on a constant internet connection for HP+ functionality seems to introduce a critical point of failure. If your internet is flaky or the printer’s software has a bug, you’re not just losing wireless convenience; you might lose the ability to print altogether. This is a critical consideration for anyone who needs a machine that is, above all, dependable.

The Instant Ink Subscription: Convenience or Captivity?

The HP Instant Ink program is perhaps the most divisive feature of the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing. The premise is simple: you pay a monthly fee based on the number of pages you print, not the amount of ink you use. The printer monitors your ink levels and automatically orders new cartridges before you run out. The printer comes with a compelling multi-month free trial, which many users enjoy. One happy customer noted it’s “awesome with its free ink possibility” and that it “saves a lot of money.”

However, this convenience comes with significant strings attached. Firstly, as mentioned, it requires HP+ and the use of only genuine HP cartridges. This became even more restrictive when, as a user pointed out in a May 2023 update, HP released a firmware update to “stop the cheaper compatible cartridges from being used.” This move effectively eliminates consumer choice and locks you into HP’s pricing. Secondly, the system isn’t always perfect. One user reported their subscription was “a bit erratic,” resulting in a stockpile of 11 reserve cartridges. While having extra ink is better than none, it suggests the “just-in-time” delivery system can be overzealous. The model works best for those with predictable, moderate printing habits. If your printing is sporadic, you may end up paying for pages you don’t use, or if you have a sudden large print job, you could exceed your plan’s limits.

What Other Users Are Saying

Diving into the collective user experience reveals a product that people either love or vehemently despise, with very little middle ground. The sentiment is sharply divided along the line of the software experience. On the positive side, a user celebrates it as “awesome,” stating that “the running of this printer is just a piece of cake” and encouraging others to ignore the negative comments, highlighting the value of the free Instant Ink trial.

However, the negative feedback is specific, detailed, and often comes from technically proficient users. The most damning criticism revolves around the HP Smart App and the HP+ ecosystem. One user labels the setup software as “dire,” recounting hours spent with tech support to no avail, concluding the printer was “worse than useless.” Another user’s frustration culminated in a picture of them throwing their previous HP printer in a skip, only to find the new model repeated the same connectivity failures, becoming “unresponsive” after a month of non-use. A recurring and critical complaint, voiced by a user in an “IMPORTANT UPDATE,” is that HP’s firmware updates actively block the use of more affordable third-party ink cartridges, forcing customers to buy HP’s more expensive originals. This perceived anti-consumer practice is a major source of frustration for many.

How Does the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e Compare to the Alternatives?

The HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing operates in a competitive market. To make an informed decision, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against other popular models. We’ve compared it to three key alternatives, each with distinct strengths.

1. Brother HL-L3220CWE Wireless Colour LED Printer

The Brother HL-L3220CWE represents a different technological approach. As a single-function LED printer (similar to laser), its primary focus is on printing documents quickly and efficiently. It will likely outperform the HP in raw text printing speed and cost-per-page for monochrome documents. However, it completely lacks the all-in-one capabilities of the HP ENVY—there is no scanning or copying. This makes it a poor choice for a versatile home office but an excellent option for someone who primarily prints text-based documents in volume and wants to avoid the complexities of inkjet photo printing and app-driven ecosystems.

2. Brother MFC-J4350DW Wireless A4 Inkjet Printer

This Brother model is a more direct competitor, offering all-in-one (print, copy, scan) functionality in an inkjet format. Brother printers are often lauded for their reliability and less restrictive software. While it may also offer an ink subscription service (EcoPro), users typically have more freedom regarding setup and cartridge choice. It’s an ideal alternative for someone who wants the versatility of the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e—including 2-sided printing and wireless features—but is wary of being locked into the mandatory HP+ ecosystem and its constant internet requirement. It’s the choice for users who prioritise control and reliability over HP’s specific app features.

3. HP Envy 6120e All-in-One Thermal Inkjet Printer

The HP Envy 6120e is a sibling to the 7220e from within the same product family. It offers similar all-in-one functionality and operates within the same HP+ and Instant Ink ecosystem. The primary differences will likely be in performance, build, and features. It might have a slightly slower print speed, a smaller paper tray, or lack the dedicated photo tray found on the 7220e. This printer is for someone who is already sold on the HP Instant Ink concept but is looking for a potentially more compact or budget-friendly entry point into that system, and is willing to sacrifice some of the more premium features of the Inspire 7220e model.

Our Final Verdict: A Capable Printer for the Right Kind of User

The HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing is a paradox. The physical hardware is well-designed, attractive, and capable of producing truly excellent documents and photos. Features like automatic duplexing and a separate photo tray are genuinely useful and enhance the user experience. If judged on print output alone, it would be an easy recommendation for most home and small office users.

However, this capable hardware is inextricably tethered to the HP+ software ecosystem, which we found to be its Achilles’ heel. The mandatory internet connection, the required HP account, and the restrictive policy on ink cartridges create a user experience that feels less like ownership and more like a long-term service agreement. While the Instant Ink program offers real convenience and potential savings for some, the numerous reports of software bugs, connectivity failures, and frustrating setups cannot be ignored.

Ultimately, we can only recommend this printer to a specific type of user: one who has a stable, reliable internet connection, prints a predictable number of pages each month, values the convenience of automatic ink delivery above all else, and is perfectly happy to live exclusively within the HP ecosystem. For anyone who prioritises reliability, flexibility, and the freedom to choose their own supplies, we believe there are better, less restrictive options on the market.

If you’ve decided the HP ENVY Inspire 7220e All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer 2-sided printing is the right fit for your needs, you can check its current price and availability here.