HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One Review: The Compact Workhorse for Your Home Office?

We’ve all been there. The critical document is finalised, the deadline is looming, or the kids need that school project printed *right now*. You hit ‘Print’, and… silence. Or worse, a series of grinding noises followed by a cryptic error message. The frustration of wrestling with an old, unreliable, and disconnected printer is a uniquely modern torment. In an age where we can manage our entire lives from our smartphones, being tethered to a PC by a tangled USB cable just to print a return label feels archaic. This bottleneck doesn’t just waste time; it adds unnecessary stress to our daily lives, turning simple tasks into complicated chores. A modern printing solution should be seamless, intuitive, and ready when you are, from any device you choose.

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 your home office or family’s administrative needs into a single, compact device. It solves the problem of clutter by combining a printer, scanner, and copier, saving valuable desk space and reducing the number of required power outlets and connections. The main benefit is convenience. Whether you’re archiving important documents, making copies of receipts for expenses, or printing high-quality photos and reports, a multifunction printer streamlines your workflow, making you more efficient and organized. It’s the central hub for turning digital files into physical copies and vice-versa, a crucial bridge in our hybrid digital-physical world.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daily demands of a home office, a student managing coursework, or a family juggling school assignments, photo printing, and administrative tasks. If your printing needs are sporadic but varied—sometimes a text document, other times a colour photo, and occasionally a quick scan of an ID—an all-in-one inkjet is designed for your exact use case. However, it might not be suitable for those who need to print hundreds of monochrome pages weekly. In that scenario, a dedicated laser printer might be a more cost-effective alternative due to its lower cost-per-page for text. Similarly, professional photographers will likely seek a specialized, high-end photo printer for gallery-quality work.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your available space before buying. The HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One is compact at 48 x 36 x 19 cm, but you still need to account for clearance for the paper tray and for lifting the scanner lid. Consider its footprint on your desk and whether its height will fit on a shelf.
• Capacity/Performance: Look at the paper tray capacity and print speed. A 60-sheet input tray is fine for home use but would be a constant hassle in a busy office. Quoted print speeds (like 20 ppm for black and white) are often ‘draft mode’ estimates; real-world performance for high-quality documents will be slower, so manage your expectations accordingly.
• Connectivity & Ease of Use: Wireless connectivity is non-negotiable for most users today. Check for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile app support. A seamless setup process and an intuitive app, like HP’s Smart App, can make the difference between a great user experience and a frustrating one. Some users find app-driven setups difficult, while others find them incredibly simple.
• Running Costs & Maintenance: The initial purchase price is only part of the story. Investigate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and their page yield. Consider subscription services like HP Instant Ink, which can offer significant savings for consistent users but might be less economical for very infrequent printing.

Keeping these factors in mind, the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One stands out in several areas, particularly for its blend of compact design and modern connectivity. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.

While the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One is an excellent choice for its target audience, 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: Unboxing the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One

Upon its arrival, the first thing we noticed about the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One was its compact and lightweight nature. Tipping the scales at just 3.42 kg, it’s incredibly easy to handle and position. The clean, two-tone Silver and White design gives it a modern aesthetic that blends nicely into a home office without looking like a bulky piece of corporate hardware. Lifting it from the box, the plastic construction feels adequate for its price point—it doesn’t scream premium, but it feels solid enough for everyday home use.

Inside the box, the contents are straightforward: the printer itself, a power cord, and two starter ink cartridges (one black, one tri-colour). One immediate observation, which was later confirmed by several user reviews, is the conspicuous absence of a USB cable. This is a clear signal from HP that this device is designed from the ground up to be a wireless-first machine, heavily reliant on its Wi-Fi capabilities and the HP Smart app ecosystem. While this modern approach is great for tech-savvy users, those who prefer a simple plug-and-play wired connection will need to purchase a cable separately. The touch controls on the top panel are minimalist and clearly labelled, contributing to the printer’s overall user-friendly appearance.

A Deep Dive into the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One’s Performance

A printer’s value is ultimately determined by how well it performs its core functions day in and day out. We put the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One through its paces, moving beyond the spec sheet to understand its real-world capabilities, from the initial setup to the final printed page. We focused on the aspects that matter most to a home user: ease of setup and use, print quality across different media, the power of its wireless ecosystem, and the long-term running costs.

The Setup Saga: Simplicity and Stumbling Blocks

The setup experience for the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One is a tale of two realities, a fact strongly echoed in user feedback. For many, especially those comfortable with app-driven processes, the setup is a breeze. Our own experience using a smartphone was largely positive. The HP Smart app provides clear, step-by-step video and text instructions that guide you through unboxing, removing the packaging materials, installing the ink cartridges, and connecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network. From our phone, we were ready to print our first test page in under 15 minutes, a process that felt modern and intuitive. This aligns with comments from users who found it “very easy” and were impressed by how quickly it found and connected to their WLAN.

However, there’s another side to this story. The process is not without its hurdles, which can become significant frustrations for some. A major point of contention is the mandatory requirement to create an HP account to unlock the printer’s full functionality. During the setup, we encountered several prompts to sign up for HP’s Instant Ink subscription and other services. While these can be declined, they add extra steps to what should be a simple process. One user detailed their experience, stating the installation took about an hour due to navigating “several commercial incitations” and “useless options.” We can certainly sympathise with this; for someone who just wants to print a document quickly, being forced into an ecosystem of accounts and subscriptions feels like an overreach. This mandatory online activation is a crucial factor to consider before purchasing.

Print Quality & Performance: The Everyday Achiever

When it comes to the fundamental task of printing, the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One delivers results that are impressive for its price bracket. For general document printing, black text is sharp and clear, with a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi ensuring that even small fonts are legible. While the advertised speed of 20 ppm is optimistic and likely measured in a low-quality draft mode, we found the real-world speed for standard documents to be perfectly adequate for home use. It’s not a speed demon, but it won’t leave you waiting impatiently for a single page to emerge.

Where this printer really surprised us was its colour and photo printing capabilities. We tested it with a few high-resolution images on standard A4 paper and then on dedicated glossy photo paper. The difference was night and day. On plain paper, colours were decent but a bit muted. On photo paper, the results were vibrant and detailed, easily rivalling what you’d get from a local photo kiosk. One user perfectly captured this sentiment, noting, “In maximum quality and using photographic paper, excellent results are achieved. Nothing to envy from the photo house on the corner.” This makes it a fantastic and versatile choice for families who want to print school projects one minute and family photos the next. The flatbed scanner also performs its duties reliably, producing clear digital copies of documents and photos at a respectable resolution, perfect for archiving or sharing via email.

Connectivity and The HP Smart App Ecosystem

The true strength of the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One lies in its seamless integration with the modern, mobile-centric world. This is a printer built for the smartphone era. The HP Smart app is the command centre for everything, and it is remarkably powerful. We found the ability to print documents, photos, and web pages directly from our phones—without ever touching a computer—to be incredibly liberating. As one user aptly put it, it’s an “extremely practical printer – I can print directly from my laptop and my mobile phone, even when I’m not at home.” This remote printing capability is a game-changer for productivity on the go.

The app’s functionality extends well beyond just printing. We used it to initiate scans directly to our phone’s storage, effectively turning the printer into a wireless digitisation station. You can check ink levels, order new supplies, and even use a feature called Mobile Fax to send documents securely from your phone. This comprehensive app experience is what elevates the printer from a simple peripheral to a smart home office tool. The reliance on this app-based ecosystem is the reason for the aforementioned exclusion of a USB cable. HP is nudging users towards a wireless future, and for the most part, it’s a future that is more convenient and flexible. For those seeking this level of effortless mobile integration, the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One is an outstanding choice.

Running Costs and The HP Instant Ink Question

No printer review is complete without discussing the long-term cost of ownership: the ink. The HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One comes with starter cartridges, and it’s important to be aware, as one user wisely pointed out, that these are “minuscule.” They contain enough ink to get you through the setup process and print a handful of pages, but they will need replacing relatively quickly. This is standard practice in the industry, designed to get you up and running without adding too much to the initial retail cost.

This is where HP heavily promotes its Instant Ink subscription service. We explored the trial offered with the printer. The concept is simple: you pay a monthly fee based on the number of pages you print, not the amount of ink you use. The printer then automatically orders new cartridges, which are delivered to your door before you run out. For the right user, this is a fantastic system. Printing a full-page, high-resolution colour photo costs the same as printing a single line of text, which can lead to huge savings for those who frequently print graphics or photos. Many users were delighted with the free trial period (some reporting up to four months), which allows for printing up to 700 pages per month. However, if your printing is very infrequent and consists mainly of black-and-white text, a traditional pay-as-you-go approach with high-yield XL cartridges might be more economical in the long run. It’s crucial to assess your own printing habits before committing to the subscription post-trial.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across a wide range of feedback, a clear picture of the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One emerges. The overwhelming majority of users are highly satisfied, especially considering its accessible price point. Many, like one happy customer, were “really surprised” by the quality from such a low-cost product, praising its good colours and excellent mobile connectivity. Another user echoed this, stating they were “very happy with the purchase,” and that it “fulfills expectations” for home use, communicating easily with their phone.

However, the feedback isn’t universally positive, and the criticisms are consistent. The most common complaint revolves around the setup process. One frustrated user documented a two-to-three-hour ordeal, calling it an “incredible waste of money” and ultimately deeming the printer impossible to install. While this seems to be an outlier, it highlights how the app-dependent, account-required setup can be a major barrier for some. A more practical design flaw noted by a German user is the complete lack of an output tray. “There is no catch tray or shelf for the printed pages, so they fall on the floor after printing.” We observed this as well; it’s a curious cost-saving measure that can be a genuine annoyance if you’re printing multiple pages.

How Does the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One Compare to the Alternatives?

While the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One excels in the budget home-use category, different needs call for different solutions. It’s important to see how it stacks up against other popular models, each with its own unique strengths.

1. HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One Printer

The HP OfficeJet 250 represents a completely different proposition: ultimate portability. If your office is wherever you happen to be—a client’s site, a hotel room, or your car—this is the device for you. It packs printing, scanning, and copying into a compact, battery-powered chassis that can fit into a backpack. Compared to the stationary DeskJet 2820e, you’re paying a significant premium for this freedom. The print speed and paper capacity are lower, but its ability to function completely untethered from a power outlet makes it an invaluable tool for mobile professionals, field agents, and consultants who need to produce documents on the spot.

2. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4820DWF Wireless Inkjet Printer

The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4820DWF is a significant step up, aimed at a demanding home office or small business environment. It outshines the DeskJet 2820e in almost every performance metric. It boasts much faster print speeds, a larger 250-sheet paper tray, automatic duplex (two-sided) printing, and a crucial feature for productivity: an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning and copying. While it shares wireless and mobile printing capabilities, its entire design is geared towards higher volume and greater efficiency. This is the logical upgrade for someone who finds the DeskJet’s capacity and manual processes too limiting for their growing business needs.

3. Brother HL-L3220CWE Colour Wireless LED Printer

The Brother HL-L3220CWE offers a different technology altogether. As a single-function colour LED printer (similar to laser), its primary focus is on speed, efficiency, and lower cost-per-page for text-heavy documents. It lacks the scanning and copying functions of the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One, so it’s not a true “all-in-one” device. However, if your primary need is printing reports, invoices, or business documents quickly and you rarely, if ever, need to scan or copy, the Brother is a superior choice. Its toner-based system is more economical for high-volume text printing, and it offers faster output than a comparable inkjet.

Our Final Verdict: Is the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict is clear: the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One is an exceptional value for its intended audience. It is the ideal solution for students, families, and home users with light-to-moderate printing needs who prioritise convenience and modern connectivity above all else. Its ability to print high-quality documents and surprisingly good photos directly from a smartphone is its killer feature, making it a joy to use in a mobile-first world. The compact, stylish design ensures it won’t be an eyesore in your living space.

However, it’s not without its compromises. The mandatory HP account and app-driven setup can be a hurdle, the lack of an output tray is a strange oversight, and it’s not built for high-volume office work. But for printing homework, return labels, concert tickets, and the occasional holiday photo, it hits a sweet spot of affordability, quality, and functionality that is very hard to beat. It successfully bridges the gap between our digital lives and our physical needs with remarkable ease.

If you’ve decided the HP DeskJet 2820e All-in-One is the right fit for your home, you can check its current price and purchase it here.