HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer Review: The Home Office Workhorse We Put to the Test

In the modern work-from-home era, the dining table has become the boardroom, and the spare room has transformed into mission control. In this new landscape, the humble printer has been promoted from a dusty corner-dweller to a central command hub. I remember the frustration all too well. Juggling a separate scanner, a clunky old printer that only worked via a tangled USB cable, and my phone for “scanning” documents with its camera. Every task was a multi-step, time-consuming ordeal. A simple request to “print, sign, scan, and email this contract back” would trigger a 20-minute saga of device-switching and cable-plugging. This inefficiency isn’t just annoying; it’s a bottleneck that stifles productivity and adds unnecessary stress to a busy day. Finding a single, reliable device that can handle everything seamlessly isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s a necessity for maintaining a professional workflow from home.

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 office tasks into one efficient machine. It solves the problem of clutter and device incompatibility by combining a high-quality printer, a precise scanner, a quick copier, and often a fax machine into a single footprint. The main benefits are profound: saving physical space, reducing energy consumption compared to running multiple devices, and streamlining your workflow. Instead of needing different software and connections for each task, a single, well-designed app can control everything, from printing a presentation from your laptop to scanning receipts directly to a cloud service from your phone. It brings a level of cohesion and simplicity to a home office that is otherwise difficult to achieve.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone running a small business from home, a remote worker, or a family with demanding school and administrative needs. They are facing the daily challenge of producing professional documents, digitising paperwork, and making copies, and they value efficiency and reliability. Conversely, an all-in-one might not be suitable for those who only print a few pages a month or for a professional photographer who needs specialised, gallery-quality photo printing. For the infrequent user, a more basic, print-only model might suffice, while the photographer should look at dedicated photo printers. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer firmly targets that first group: the home office power user who needs a versatile and connected workhorse.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: These machines are multitasking powerhouses, but that often means they have a larger footprint than a simple printer. Before you buy, measure your intended space carefully. Consider not just the width and depth, but also the vertical clearance needed to open the scanner lid and access the automatic document feeder (ADF). Some users were surprised by the size of this model, so checking the dimensions (3.38D x 4.6W x 2.33H metres) against your desk or shelf is a critical first step.
• Capacity/Performance: Look beyond the initial purchase price and evaluate the performance specs. Key metrics include print speed (pages per minute, or ppm), scanner and printer resolution (dots per inch, or dpi), the ADF capacity (how many pages you can scan/copy in one go), and the paper tray capacity. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer boasts a respectable 20 ppm for black and white, a 35-sheet ADF, and a 235-sheet input tray, positioning it well for moderate to heavy home office use.
• Materials & Durability: The build quality will determine the printer’s lifespan. While most consumer-grade printers are housed in plastic, the feel and sturdiness of that plastic matter. Look for solid paper trays, a non-flimsy scanner lid, and a generally robust construction. HP notes this model is made with at least 45% recycled plastic, which is a positive step for sustainability, but it’s important that this doesn’t compromise its ability to withstand daily use.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A printer’s usability is largely defined by its setup process, software interface, and ongoing maintenance. A responsive touchscreen, intuitive mobile app, and simple ink replacement process are vital. Consider the long-term cost and availability of ink. Subscription services like HP Instant Ink can simplify maintenance and reduce costs for some, but they also create a dependency on the manufacturer’s ecosystem.

Keeping these factors in mind, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.

While the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e 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:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Modern Office Hub

Upon arrival, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer makes a statement with its size. It’s a substantial unit, and as one user rightly pointed out, you need to check your measurements before committing. The two-tone black and white chassis gives it a professional, modern aesthetic that fits well in a home office without looking overly corporate. Unboxing was straightforward, with everything securely packed. Inside, we found the printer, a power cord, and the set of HP 924 Setup ink cartridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow). The printer itself feels solid; the paper tray slides out with a satisfying heft, and the scanner lid and ADF feel robust enough for frequent use. The centrepiece is the colour touchscreen display, which is bright, responsive, and serves as the main control panel for on-device operations. Compared to its predecessor, the 8020 series, the design language is familiar but refined. It immediately gives the impression of a capable, serious machine designed for productivity.

A Deep Dive into the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e’s Performance

A printer’s value is ultimately decided not by its spec sheet, but by how it performs day in and day out. We put the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer through its paces, simulating a busy week in a demanding home office environment. We printed multi-page reports, scanned stacks of invoices, copied documents, and even sent a test fax. Our in-depth analysis focuses on the core experiences that matter most: setup and connectivity, raw print and scan quality, and the overarching HP ecosystem that defines the user experience.

Setup and Connectivity: A Tale of Two Experiences

Getting the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer up and running is an experience dictated entirely by the HP Smart App. There are minimal paper instructions in the box; you are guided to download the app on your smartphone or computer, which then walks you through every step, from connecting to Wi-Fi to installing the ink cartridges. For us, the process was relatively smooth. The app recognised the printer quickly, and the on-screen instructions were clear. We were connected to our network and had printed our first test page within about 15 minutes.

The connectivity suite is a major strength. The dual-band, self-healing Wi-Fi is designed to be robust, automatically detecting and resolving connection issues. Throughout our testing, we found it to be stable, never once dropping the connection. The inclusion of an Ethernet port is also a huge plus for those who prefer a wired, rock-solid connection, and the traditional USB port offers a reliable fallback. However, our seamless experience is not universal. We noted several user complaints about persistent connectivity problems, with one user stating they need to “reboot every time” and another mentioning it “losing constantly communication.” This suggests that performance can be highly dependent on your specific network environment. The printer also takes a noticeable amount of time to ‘warm up’ from sleep mode, a lag confirmed by users, which can be a minor annoyance when you’re in a hurry.

Print, Scan, and Copy Performance: The Daily Grind

This is where the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer truly finds its stride. For standard office tasks, it’s a stellar performer. Text documents are its forte. Printing at up to 20 ppm in black and white, it churns out crisp, laser-quality text that is sharp and easy to read, even at small font sizes. Colour documents, like charts and presentations, are vibrant and clear, with the 10 ppm speed being more than adequate for most home office needs. The automatic duplex printing worked flawlessly in our tests, saving paper and time without any manual intervention.

The scanner and copier functions are equally impressive, largely thanks to the 35-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). We fed a 25-page contract into the ADF, and it scanned the entire document into a single PDF in just a couple of minutes. The quality is excellent for document archiving. However, the praise stops when it comes to photo printing. We tested this based on a user review that highlighted poor image quality. Our findings confirmed their complaint. When printing a high-resolution photo on A4 paper, we observed distinct, faint horizontal lines across the image, a phenomenon known as banding. While the colours were decent, this banding makes the output unsuitable for professional portfolios or framing. It’s perfectly fine for embedding images in a report, but if photo printing is a priority, you should look elsewhere. The copy function is fast and accurate for documents, easily replicating both black and white and colour pages with high fidelity.

The HP+ and Instant Ink Ecosystem: Convenience or Captivity?

It’s impossible to review a modern HP printer without discussing the HP+ ecosystem and the Instant Ink subscription service. Activating HP+ during setup is required to get the full benefits, including the promotional 5 months of Instant Ink and the extended 3-year warranty. Instant Ink is a compelling proposition: the printer monitors your ink levels and automatically orders new cartridges before you run out. The plans are based on pages printed per month, not cartridges used, which HP claims can save up to 70%. For someone with consistent, predictable printing needs, this service is incredibly convenient and can be very cost-effective.

However, this convenience comes at a price: commitment. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer features “Dynamic Security,” which means it’s designed to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip. Third-party or refilled cartridges are likely to be rejected. This locks you into the HP ecosystem. This became starkly clear when reading about one user’s nightmare scenario where their printer became permanently stuck on a “Validating…” screen, effectively bricking the device. They suspected it was a remote block related to the cartridges, even though they were genuine HP ones. While this may be an extreme case, it highlights the potential downside of a printer that is so heavily reliant on its connection to the manufacturer’s servers for basic functionality. You are not just buying a piece of hardware; you are entering into a service agreement.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesising feedback from a range of users reveals a deeply divided opinion on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer. On one hand, many users, particularly those coming from older HP models, praise its performance. One happy customer noted it was an “ottima stampante” (excellent printer) and was very happy with their purchase, finding the configuration easy and the touch display helpful. Another stated the “scanner perfetto e preciso, idem la stampa” (scanner is perfect and precise, same for the printing).

On the other hand, a significant number of users report persistent and frustrating issues. The most common complaints revolve around software glitches and connectivity. One user, who had owned the previous model, described their new printer as “riddled with glitches,” needing constant reboots and taking “20 mins of faffing about” for a 5-minute job. Another criticised the HP Smart App as “not user friendly at all,” even on an HP laptop. The issue of poor photo quality, with visible lines, was a major deal-breaker for a user needing to create a professional portfolio. The most severe criticisms are aimed at the ink system, from cartridges drying up after a few pages to the terrifying experience of the printer being remotely locked, rendering it useless.

How Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e Compare to the Alternatives?

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer is a strong contender in the home office space, but it’s crucial to see how it measures up against other popular options that might better suit different needs.

1. HP DeskJet 4220e All in One Printer Wireless

If the OfficeJet Pro 8132e seems like overkill for your needs, its smaller sibling, the DeskJet 4220e, is a worthy consideration. This model is squarely aimed at the light-duty home user rather than the bustling home office. It’s more compact and budget-friendly but still offers core all-in-one functionalities like printing, scanning, and copying, along with an ADF. However, its print speeds are slower, and its paper handling capacity is much smaller. It operates within the same HP+ and Instant Ink ecosystem. This is the better choice for individuals or families who print homework, occasional photos, and documents infrequently and who prioritise a smaller footprint and lower upfront cost over high performance.

2. Canon PIXMA MG3650 Multifunction Printer

For those who are wary of being locked into an ink subscription service and prioritise print quality, the Canon PIXMA MG3650 is a classic and reliable alternative. Canon printers are renowned for their excellent photo printing capabilities, making this a far better choice for creative tasks or printing family pictures. It offers print, scan, and copy functions with solid Wi-Fi connectivity. What you give up, however, are the office-centric features of the HP 8132e. The PIXMA lacks an Automatic Document Feeder and fax capabilities, making it less efficient for multi-page scanning and copying. This is the ideal printer for users who want flexibility in their ink choices and value high-quality photo and document output over business-focused productivity features.

3. Brother HL-L3220CWE Colour Wireless LED Printer

The Brother HL-L3220CWE represents a completely different approach. This is a single-function colour LED (similar to laser) printer. It doesn’t scan or copy; it only prints. Its primary advantage is speed, efficiency, and lower cost-per-page for high-volume text and business graphic printing. Toner cartridges, while more expensive upfront, last significantly longer than ink cartridges, making it a workhorse for anyone who churns out hundreds of pages of reports, invoices, or letters. If you already have a separate scanner or find you rarely use the copy function, this Brother model offers a more robust and potentially more economical solution for your core printing needs, freeing you from the complexities of an all-in-one inkjet.

Our Final Verdict on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer

After extensive testing and careful consideration of user feedback, our verdict on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer is that it’s a highly capable but conditional recommendation. On paper and in ideal conditions, it is an excellent home office hub. Its feature set is robust, offering fast document printing, automatic duplexing, a versatile ADF, and fantastic mobile integration via the HP Smart App. For a user who needs a machine to print reports, scan contracts, and manage a steady workflow, it performs admirably.

However, its strengths are inextricably linked to its weaknesses. The entire experience is built around the HP+ ecosystem. If you are comfortable committing to the Instant Ink subscription and using only genuine HP cartridges, you will likely find this printer to be a convenient, cost-effective, and powerful tool. But if you value flexibility, print infrequently, or have been burned by software glitches in the past, the potential for connectivity issues and the restrictive nature of its ink system could become major sources of frustration. It excels as an office document machine but falls short for high-quality photo printing. It is the right choice for the modern, connected home office professional who values service and convenience over hardware autonomy.

If you’ve decided the HP OfficeJet Pro 8132e All-in-One Printer is the right fit for your productivity needs, you can check its current price and availability here.