HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer Review: The Ultimate Verdict on This Budget-Friendly Printer

We’ve all been there. That moment of mild panic when an urgent document needs printing. It might be a concert ticket for tonight, a crucial form for tomorrow morning’s appointment, or a last-minute return label for a package. You send the job to your trusty old printer, only to be met with blinking error lights, cryptic error messages, or worst of all, the dreaded faded streaks that signal an empty ink cartridge. The ensuing scramble to find a local print shop or order expensive new cartridges is a familiar frustration. In a world where so much is digital, the need for a physical document can catch us off guard, turning a simple task into a major inconvenience. This is the exact problem that compact, affordable, all-in-one printers aim to solve: to be the reliable, ever-ready assistant for those occasional but critical printing needs, without breaking the bank or taking over your desk space.

What to Consider Before Buying an All-In-One Printer for Home Use

An All-In-One Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for consolidating your home office needs. It combines the functionality of a printer, a scanner, and a photocopier into a single, space-saving device. This is invaluable for everything from printing a child’s school project and scanning important identification to making a quick copy of a recipe. The main benefit is convenience. Instead of cluttering your workspace with three separate machines, you have one central hub that connects wirelessly to all your devices—your laptop, tablet, and smartphone—allowing you to print from virtually anywhere in your home.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the classic home-use scenario: students who need to print essays, families managing schoolwork and administrative tasks, or individuals working from home who occasionally need to print reports or scan receipts. It’s for the light-to-moderate user who values versatility and affordability over raw speed or professional-grade photo quality. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who run a high-volume business from home or are serious photographers. A small business printing hundreds of invoices a week would be better served by a laser printer for its lower cost-per-page, while a photographer would require a dedicated photo printer with a more sophisticated ink system for gallery-quality results.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Home office space is often at a premium. Before buying, measure the intended location for your printer, accounting for not just its footprint but also the space needed to open the scanner lid and extend the paper trays. The HP DeskJet 2710e is designed to be compact, but ensure its 42.5cm width and 30.4cm depth fit comfortably in your setup.
• Capacity/Performance: This covers print speed, paper handling, and ink yield. Look at the Pages Per Minute (PPM) rating, but be aware that manufacturers often quote the fastest “draft” mode. For day-to-day quality, expect slower speeds. Consider the paper tray capacity—a 60-sheet tray like the one on this HP model is fine for home use but would be tedious in an office setting.
• Materials & Durability: Budget-friendly printers are typically constructed from lightweight plastic. While this makes them easy to move, it can also translate to a less robust feel. The trays and doors may feel flimsy. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for a device that will sit stationary and be used occasionally, but it’s something to be aware of if you have a busy household with kids.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Modern printers live and die by their software. A user-friendly mobile app for setup and operation is critical, as is reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. Also, consider the long-term cost and process of replacing ink. Subscription services like HP Instant Ink can simplify this, but you must understand the terms and conditions before committing.

Keeping these factors in mind, the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer stands out in several areas, particularly for its target audience. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer 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:

Unboxing the HP DeskJet 2710e: First Impressions and Key Features

Upon opening the box, the first thing we noticed about the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer is its clean, modern aesthetic and lightweight build. The two-tone white and grey plastic casing is unassuming and compact enough to fit on a small desk or bookshelf without being an eyesore. It feels every bit the budget printer it is—the plastic is thin, and the paper trays feel a bit delicate, so it requires a gentle touch. But for a device designed to sit in one place, this is perfectly acceptable.

Inside the box, you’ll find the printer itself, a power cord, and a set of starter ink cartridges (one black, one tri-colour). Notably absent is a USB cable, a clear signal from HP that this device is intended to be used wirelessly. The top of the unit features a simple control panel with physical buttons for basic functions like power, cancel, resume, and copying, alongside indicator lights for Wi-Fi and ink levels. There’s no LCD screen, as all advanced controls and setup procedures are offloaded to the HP Smart App. This minimalist approach keeps the cost down and the design simple, but as we discovered, it makes you entirely dependent on a seamless app experience.

A Deep Dive into the HP DeskJet 2710e’s Real-World Performance

A printer’s value isn’t just in its price tag; it’s in its day-to-day reliability, quality, and cost of operation. We put the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer through its paces, moving beyond the spec sheet to see how it performs in a real home environment. We tested everything from the initial setup and everyday document printing to the much-debated HP+ and Instant Ink service that defines this product.

The Setup Experience: Seamless App Integration or Wireless Woes?

HP has gone all-in on app-based setup, and for the most part, it works well. The process involves plugging in the printer, downloading the HP Smart App to a smartphone or computer, and following the on-screen instructions. For us, the app quickly found the printer, connected it to our Wi-Fi network, and guided us through inserting the ink cartridges and printing an alignment page. As one happy user noted, “I found this easy to set up using the HP App on my phone. 5 mins and it was connected.” This seamless experience is the ideal scenario and likely what most tech-comfortable users will encounter.

However, this total reliance on Wi-Fi and app control can be a double-edged sword. We found several user reports that mirrored potential pitfalls. One user mentioned their antivirus software repeatedly blocked the connection, thinking the printer was a threat, requiring them to disable it during setup. Another pointed out that the process “can be a little daunting for some elderly users as there is no USB connection.” This is a crucial point; by forgoing a simple plug-and-play USB setup option, HP risks alienating a segment of its audience. Some users even turned to YouTube tutorials to decipher the cartridge installation and Wi-Fi connection, finding them “alot faster than following the instructions.” The setup also firmly guides you toward creating an HP account and activating HP+, which is necessary to claim the free ink trial. It’s vital to read every screen carefully, as it’s easy to accidentally agree to a paid subscription you didn’t intend to start immediately.

Print Quality and Speed: Good Enough for Home, But Not for Pros

When it comes to the fundamental task of printing, the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer delivers performance that is perfectly aligned with its price point. Let’s address speed first. The official specifications list up to 20 ppm for black and 16 ppm for colour, but these numbers reflect the fastest “draft” mode, which is of lower quality. In our real-world testing of standard quality documents, the speed was considerably more modest, aligning with one user’s assessment that it can be “surprisingly slow” for multi-page documents. For a single return label or a few pages of homework, it’s perfectly adequate, but printing a 20-page report will require some patience.

Print quality is where the printer shows its true colours—both literally and figuratively. For standard black-and-white text documents on plain paper, the output is sharp, clear, and more than sufficient for any home or school need. We found the text to be crisp and legible, confirming reports that “black and white text is fine.” When printing in colour, the results are more mixed. Simple charts, graphics, and school projects come out looking vibrant and well-defined. However, when we pushed it to print a full-page A4 photo, the limitations became apparent. While the maximum colour resolution is a respectable 4800 x 1200 dpi, the two-cartridge system (one black, one tri-colour) can’t replicate the nuance and accuracy of more expensive printers. We noticed what one user described as “dull colours,” and the paper was slightly damp immediately after printing. More concerning are the reports from some users of significant quality control issues, such as “white blotches” or black ink printing “very faint and barely legible.” While we didn’t experience these severe faults, their existence suggests some inconsistency in the hardware.

The HP+ and Instant Ink Ecosystem: Convenience at a Cost?

It is impossible to review the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer without dedicating significant focus to the HP+ and Instant Ink program. This ecosystem is the core of the printer’s value proposition and its most controversial feature. When you activate the optional HP+ during setup, you get two major benefits: an extra year of warranty and a 6-month trial of Instant Ink. Many users report finding codes online to extend this trial even further, to 9 or 10 months of free ink, which is an undeniably fantastic deal. The system is designed for ultimate convenience: the printer monitors its own ink levels and automatically orders new cartridges, which arrive at your door before you run out. For many, this is a game-changer. As one long-time user put it, “they send it you when you run out! No brainer.”

However, this convenience comes with strict conditions. Activating HP+ requires you to maintain a constant internet connection for the printer, have an HP account, and—most critically—commit to using only Original HP Ink cartridges for the entire life of the printer. If you are a user who is comfortable with this, the system can save you a lot of money and hassle. The problems arise when your printing habits don’t fit the model or if you decide to opt-out. We saw alarming reports from users about the service’s downsides. One detailed their experience after cancelling the subscription: “it tells you that even though you have loads of ink left in your cartridges, you will not be able to use them after the subscription ends.” The Instant Ink cartridges are service-based and are remotely disabled when your subscription lapses, forcing you to buy a new set of standard cartridges even if the current ones are full. Furthermore, for those who don’t subscribe, the printer’s running cost can be high, with some users claiming it “uses ink like crazy” and that a new set of cartridges lasted for only “8 full colour pages.” This makes the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer an excellent value with the subscription, but potentially a very expensive one without it. You can see the latest offers including the Instant Ink trial here.

All-In-One Functionality: Scanning and Copying on a Budget

Beyond printing, the “All-in-One” promise is fulfilled by the device’s scanning and copying capabilities. The flatbed scanner on top can handle documents up to A4 size. We found its integration with the HP Smart App to be its strongest feature. You can initiate a scan directly from your smartphone, and the resulting file can be saved as a PDF or JPEG, emailed, or uploaded to cloud storage with just a few taps. It’s incredibly convenient for digitizing receipts, signing and returning forms, or preserving kids’ artwork. The quality is perfectly fine for documents and general-purpose scanning, with one user noting it has “good scanning capability” even while being critical of its printing.

Copying is straightforward. You can place a document on the scanner glass and press either the black or colour copy button on the control panel. The speed is capped at 6 copies per minute for black and white, which is ample for occasional home use. The app also provides more advanced copy options, allowing you to adjust settings before making a copy. While it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning or copying, that’s an expected omission at this price. For the target user who just needs to occasionally copy an ID or a bill, the functionality is simple and effective.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user feedback on the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer paints a picture of a product with two very different identities. The positive sentiment is almost entirely focused on the initial value and ease of use for the tech-savvy. One user sums it up perfectly: “I don’t know why the negative reviews! I found this easy to set up using the HP App on my phone. …Added the 6mths free ink automatically and I managed to get another 4mths using codes… No issues connecting via the app and the print quality is perfect for such a cheap little printer.” This perspective highlights the printer as an unbeatable bargain for those who embrace the app and the Instant Ink trial.

On the other hand, the negative reviews focus on long-term reliability and the restrictive nature of the HP+ ecosystem. A frustrated user shared their experience after two years: “Over the past 2 years I have used this think less than 5 times yet it ran out of ink. Had a plethora of errors and jams all just for a print with dull colours.” Another critical review pointed out the most significant caveat of the Instant Ink service: “I canceled my ink subscription and it tells you that even though you have loads of ink left in your cartridges, you will not be able to use them.” This feedback is crucial for potential buyers, as it illustrates that the long-term ownership experience can be fraught with frustration and unexpected costs if you step outside HP’s intended subscription model.

How Does the HP DeskJet 2710e Compare to the Competition?

The HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer exists in a crowded market. While its low price and ink subscription are compelling, several alternatives from brands like Brother offer a different approach that may be better suited to your needs.

1. Brother DCP-1612W Mono Laser Printer

The Brother DCP-1612W represents a completely different philosophy. As a mono laser printer, it prints only in black and white. Its primary advantage is speed and cost-effectiveness for text-heavy printing. The toner cartridges, while more expensive upfront than ink, yield thousands of pages, resulting in a dramatically lower cost per page. This makes it the superior choice for a home office or student who prints large volumes of essays, reports, or documents and doesn’t require colour printing. It trades the colour versatility of the HP for pure, unadulterated efficiency and long-term savings on monochrome jobs.

2. Brother MFC-J4350DW Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer

This Brother model is a significant step up from the HP DeskJet 2710e, targeting a more demanding home or small office user. It typically offers faster print speeds, a larger paper tray, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning and copying. It provides a more traditional ownership model where you buy ink cartridges as you need them, without being tied to a subscription or requiring a constant internet connection for the printer to function. While the initial purchase price is higher, it could be a more economical and less restrictive choice for someone with higher print volumes who wants to avoid HP’s ecosystem.

3. Brother DCP-J1200W Wireless Colour Inkjet Printer

The Brother DCP-J1200W is perhaps the most direct competitor. It’s a budget-friendly, wireless, all-in-one colour inkjet designed for home use and operated via a mobile app. The key difference lies in the ink system. Brother offers high-yield “Inkvestment Tank” cartridges in the box, promising up to a year’s worth of ink depending on usage. This provides great upfront value without the complexities and requirements of a monthly subscription like HP’s Instant Ink. For users who are wary of subscription models but still want low running costs from the start, this Brother printer presents a very compelling alternative.

Final Verdict: Is the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer Right for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer is clear: it is a product of incredible value, but only for the right person. If you are a casual home user, a student, or someone who prints infrequently, and you are comfortable with modern app-based technology and a subscription model, this printer is an almost unbeatable deal. The rock-bottom purchase price combined with months of free ink delivered to your door removes nearly all initial barriers to owning a capable home printer. For printing the occasional document, scanning a form, or helping with a school project, it performs its duties admirably.

However, we cannot recommend it to those who are skeptical of subscription services, have inconsistent printing needs, or are not confident with app-based setups. The requirement for a constant internet connection and the fact that Instant Ink cartridges are disabled upon cancellation are significant drawbacks that can lead to frustration and unexpected expense. The build quality is also a reminder of its budget price. If you fit the target profile and understand the terms of the HP+ ecosystem, this printer is a brilliant, cost-effective solution. If not, you would be better served by looking at one of the Brother alternatives.

If you’ve decided the HP DeskJet 2710e All-In-One Printer is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.