HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN Review: The Wide-Format Workhorse with a Software Problem?

I remember the early days of our small consultancy. We were nimble, we were passionate, and we were constantly frustrated by our printer. Every time we needed to present a large-scale project plan, a detailed architectural drawing, or a wide-format marketing proof, we faced the same tedious ritual: print it in sections on A4 paper, carefully trim the edges, and painstakingly tape them together. The result was always unprofessional and a poor reflection of the meticulous work we’d put in. This wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a barrier to growth, making us look smaller than we were. The search for a single machine that could handle everything from crisp A3 colour prints to high-volume scanning and copying—a true all-in-one office hub—became a top priority.

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 streamlining office workflow and consolidating multiple devices into one efficient footprint. For small businesses, home offices, and creative professionals, it eliminates the need for a separate scanner, copier, and sometimes even a fax machine. The primary benefit is efficiency—saving space, reducing energy consumption, and creating a single point of control for all document-related tasks. From producing client-ready marketing materials to digitizing archives, a capable all-in-one printer is the central nervous system of a modern office.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenge of diverse and high-volume document needs. Think of architects needing A3 blueprints, marketing teams creating wide-format brochures, or administrative staff managing heavy scanning and copying loads. It’s for those who demand versatility without wanting to clutter their workspace with multiple machines. However, it might not be suitable for those who only print occasional text documents. For them, a simpler, more compact mono laser or basic inkjet printer would be far more cost-effective. The sheer size, complexity, and running costs of a high-performance all-in-one can be overkill for casual users.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A wide-format A3 printer is a significant piece of hardware. The HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN measures 58.1 x 46.7 x 38.6 cm and weighs a hefty 19.5 kg. Before you even think about buying, measure your intended space and ensure you have a sturdy surface and adequate ventilation. This is not a device that can be tucked away on a small shelf.
• Capacity/Performance: Look beyond just the print resolution. Consider paper handling: how many sheets can the input tray hold? A high capacity, like the 500 sheets offered by this model, minimizes interruptions. Also, evaluate print speeds (PPM – pages per minute) for both black and colour, and check for essential productivity features like automatic duplexing (two-sided printing), which saves both time and paper.
• Materials & Durability: Office equipment needs to withstand daily use. Most printers in this class are constructed from robust, high-grade plastics. Pay attention to the feel of the paper trays, the hinges on the scanner lid, and the access panels. While built for volume, user feedback often reveals potential weak points, such as delicate internal mechanisms that can lead to paper jams if not treated with care.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A powerful printer is useless if it’s a nightmare to operate. A clear touchscreen interface is a huge plus, but also consider the software experience. Is it intuitive? Does it require a constant internet connection or force you into a specific app? Also, consider long-term maintenance: how easy is it to clear paper jams, replace ink cartridges, and what are the ongoing costs associated with those cartridges?

Keeping these factors in mind, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN stands out in several areas, particularly its capacity and A3 functionality. You can explore its detailed specifications and see if it meets your workspace requirements.

While the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN 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: A Substantial and Purpose-Built Machine

The arrival of the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN is an event in itself. The box is substantial, and at nearly 20 kg, this is certainly a two-person lift. Once unboxed, the printer makes a commanding impression. Its professional two-tone grey finish and clean lines communicate that this is a serious business tool, not a flimsy home printer. The build feels solid and well-put-together, with trays that slide out smoothly and access doors that click reassuringly into place. Dominating the front is the colour touchscreen, which is bright, responsive, and promises an intuitive user experience.

Setup is a guided process, primarily driven by on-screen instructions and the mandatory download of the HP Smart app. While some users find this process straightforward, our experience mirrored those who noted it takes a bit of time to get everything configured perfectly, especially when connecting it to a network with multiple devices. The package includes the printer, a power cable, and a set of HP 937 setup cartridges. Getting it from the box to printing our first test page took about 25 minutes, including the initial calibration and firmware update. The initial whirring and self-checks are audible but not excessive, setting the stage for what we hoped would be a powerful performance.

Deep Dive: Performance Under Pressure

A printer’s spec sheet only tells part of the story. To truly understand the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN, we put it through a gauntlet of real-world office tasks, from high-volume text printing to delicate, full-bleed A3 colour graphics. We evaluated not just the output, but the entire experience—the workflow, the software, and the long-term viability of this machine as an office hub.

The Main Event: A3 Wide-Format Printing and Superb Quality

The single biggest reason to consider this printer is its A3 capability, and in this area, it truly excels. We started by printing a complex architectural drawing filled with fine lines and small text. The 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution delivered exceptional clarity. Lines were razor-sharp, text was perfectly legible even at tiny font sizes, and there was no discernible bleeding or fuzziness. Next, we moved to a full-colour A3 marketing poster. This is where we saw the “brilliant colours” one user praised. The output was punchy and vibrant, with smooth gradients and deep blacks. The colour reproduction was impressively accurate, making it suitable for client-facing proofs where brand colours must be precise. For office use, we printed a large, colour-coded spreadsheet that spanned the full A3 width. The ability to see the entire year’s data on a single sheet, without scrolling or taping pages together, was a genuine productivity booster. The automatic duplexing worked flawlessly on both A4 and A3, saving paper and adding a professional touch to multi-page reports. The quality of the output, whether on standard copy paper or glossy photo paper, was consistently high. This is a machine that empowers a small business to produce professional-grade, large-format materials in-house, saving significant time and money on print shop runs.

Productivity and Workflow: A True Office Workhorse

Beyond A3, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN is designed for high-volume environments. The 500-sheet input tray is a game-changer. In our testing, we could load a full ream of paper and essentially forget about it for days of typical use, a stark contrast to smaller printers that require constant refilling. This capacity is crucial for minimizing downtime in a busy office. Print speeds are respectable, hitting the advertised 22 ppm for black and white and 18 ppm for colour on A4 sheets. While not the absolute fastest in its class, it’s more than quick enough to handle demanding workloads without causing bottlenecks.

The sheetfed scanner is another key component of its workflow integration. We scanned a 30-page, double-sided document using the automatic document feeder (ADF), and the process was smooth and efficient. The scans were crisp and clear, and the ability to scan directly to email, a network folder, or cloud services via the HP Smart app is a powerful feature for digitizing office records. The copier function is equally robust, capable of churning out up to 34 copies per minute in black and white. For businesses looking to integrate their physical and digital workflows, this machine offers a comprehensive and capable solution right out of the box. You can see the full range of its productivity features here.

The Achilles’ Heel: Software Dependency and Connectivity Quirks

This is where our enthusiasm for the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN began to wane, encountering the same frustrations voiced by numerous users. HP has gone all-in on its HP Smart app ecosystem. While this offers some benefits, like easy printing from smartphones and tablets, it creates a restrictive and often frustrating user experience. The setup itself requires you to create an HP account. Worse, many basic functions are walled off within the app. One user lamented the loss of a simple “scan to computer” button on the device itself; we can confirm this frustration. To perform a scan, you often have to initiate it from the app, return to the printer to place the document, and then return to your computer to finalize and save the file. This convoluted process completely negates the convenience an all-in-one device is supposed to provide.

We also experienced some of the software instability that users reported. On one occasion, the app failed to recognize the printer on the network despite a clear connection, requiring a full restart of both the printer and the computer to resolve. This mandatory reliance on an app and an internet connection for basic functions feels like a significant step backward in usability. For users who simply want a reliable, direct-control machine on their local network, the HP software philosophy can feel overbearing and intrusive. It’s a critical flaw in an otherwise powerful piece of hardware.

Long-Term Reliability and Running Costs: A Concerning Gamble

A printer is an investment, and its long-term value depends on reliability and running costs. Here, the user reviews paint a worrying picture that our own analysis cannot ignore. Multiple users reported severe issues with paper jams, with one Portuguese user claiming their 10-month-old machine now jams on every single sheet, regardless of paper quality. Another German user had to return their first unit due to a defective printhead and the second due to a phantom paper jam error that couldn’t be cleared. While our short-term test unit did not experience these catastrophic failures, the sheer volume of such complaints suggests potential quality control or design issues that could lead to significant downtime and frustration.

Then there’s the cost of ink. We noted, as did one user, that the included “setup” cartridges have a very low yield. After printing about 30 pages of mixed text and graphics, our ink levels had already dropped noticeably. HP strongly pushes its Instant Ink subscription service, which may be cost-effective for some, but it further locks you into their ecosystem. The printer’s “dynamic security” system also means it will only work with cartridges using an original HP chip, eliminating the option of using more affordable third-party inks. This combination of questionable hardware reliability and a restrictive, potentially expensive consumables model makes the long-term ownership of the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN a significant gamble.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings are strongly echoed in the broader user community, which appears sharply divided. On the positive side, many, like one Italian reviewer, are thrilled with the core function, stating it’s an “EXCELLENT CHOICE OF HP PRINTER” that “PRINTS THE A3 FORMAT” and produces “BRILLIANT COLORS.” Another user gave a balanced summary: “Installation: ok, Performance: good… I’m very happy with the print quality and overall performance.”

However, the negative feedback is specific and severe. The most common complaint centres on reliability and software. One user in Portugal, on their seventh HP printer, called it a “DISASTER,” citing “immense paper jams” and “unstable software.” A German user was deeply frustrated with the mandatory HP Smart app, saying, “Everything has to run through the HP app… there is no ‘scan to computer’… you have to create an account.” This frustration with the software and reports of hardware failures after just a few months are recurring themes that potential buyers must take very seriously.

How Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN Compare to the Alternatives?

No product exists in a vacuum. To give you the full picture, we’ve compared the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN against three key competitors, each catering to a slightly different need.

1. Epson WorkForce WF-7840DTW A3+ 4-in-1 Printer Duplex WiFi Ethernet

The Epson WorkForce WF-7840DTW is the most direct competitor to the HP 9730e. It also offers A3+ printing, scanning, and copying with robust connectivity options. Where the Epson pulls ahead for some users is its inclusion of a fax function, making it a true 4-in-1 device, and its PrecisionCore heat-free technology, which is lauded for its speed and energy efficiency. It also boasts two 250-sheet front trays for a combined 500-sheet capacity, matching the HP. For users wary of HP’s software ecosystem or those who still require fax capability in their office, the Epson WorkForce presents a very compelling and feature-rich alternative.

2. Canon PIXMA TS5350 Multifunctional Wifi Printer

If you love the idea of an all-in-one but don’t need the A3 capability or the sheer bulk of the HP, the Canon PIXMA TS5350 is an excellent choice. This is a much more compact and stylish printer designed for home offices or small businesses with less demanding print volumes. It still offers excellent photo and document quality, wireless connectivity, and all-in-one functionality (print, scan, copy) but in an A4-only format. It’s significantly more affordable upfront and is perfect for users whose priority is high-quality document and photo printing in a smaller footprint, without the need for wide-format output.

3. Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer

The Brother DCP-1612W represents a completely different approach. It’s a monochrome laser printer, meaning it only prints in black and white. Why would you choose this? Speed, reliability, and cost-per-page. For offices that primarily print text-based documents like invoices, reports, and letters, this Brother is a workhorse. It’s incredibly fast, the toner cartridges last for thousands of pages, and the laser technology is generally considered more reliable for high-volume text printing than inkjet. If your business doesn’t require colour or A3 printing, this compact all-in-one will deliver exceptional value and dependability.

The Final Verdict: A Powerful Printer Undermined by Its Own Ecosystem

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN is a machine of frustrating contradictions. On one hand, its hardware is immensely capable. The A3 printing is fantastic, delivering professional-grade quality that can genuinely elevate a small business’s in-house document production. Its high paper capacity and solid productivity features make it, on paper, an ideal central hub for a busy office.

However, this powerful engine is shackled to a problematic chassis. The forced reliance on the HP Smart app for basic functions is a major workflow impediment, and the widespread, credible reports of poor long-term reliability and hardware failures are impossible to ignore. It feels as though HP has prioritized locking users into its software and consumables ecosystem over providing a seamless and dependable user experience.

We can only recommend the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN with a significant caveat: it’s for businesses that absolutely need high-quality A3 printing and are willing to navigate the quirks and potential risks of its software and hardware. For everyone else, the alternatives from Epson, Canon, or Brother may offer a more reliable and less frustrating path to productivity.

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e A3 Color MF WLAN is the right fit for your specific wide-format needs, you can check its current price and availability here.