HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink Review: The End of the Expensive Ink Cartridge Era?

There’s a universally shared moment of dread among anyone who owns a printer: the critical document is due, the concert tickets need printing, or the kids’ school project is minutes from the deadline, and suddenly, the printer flashes that dreaded “Low Ink” warning. For years, we’ve all been trapped in the same frustrating cycle. We buy an affordable printer, only to realise the true cost lies in the ridiculously expensive, thimble-sized ink cartridges that seem to run dry after printing just a handful of colour pages. It’s a model that has felt exploitative for decades, forcing us to choose between paying a premium for official ink or gambling on third-party cartridges that might clog the print heads. This constant worry about running costs and surprise expenses is precisely the problem the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink aims to solve for good.

What to Consider Before Buying an Ink Tank Printer

An Ink Tank Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for breaking free from the high-cost, high-waste cycle of traditional cartridge-based printing. Instead of replacing small cartridges, you simply refill large, integrated ink reservoirs from cost-effective bottles. This fundamentally changes the economics of printing, making it an ideal choice for households, students, and home offices with high-volume needs. The main benefits are a drastically lower cost-per-page, less frequent need for replenishment, and a reduction in plastic waste. It transforms printing from a carefully rationed activity into an everyday convenience without the fear of a hefty bill waiting around the corner.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the constant need to print multi-page documents, colour presentations, school assignments, or family photos. If you find yourself buying new ink cartridges every couple of months, a tank-based system will likely pay for itself in a short time. However, it might not be suitable for those who print very infrequently—perhaps only a few pages per year. For such light users, the higher upfront cost of a tank printer may not be justified, and there’s a small risk of ink drying or print heads clogging from prolonged disuse. For those users, a more basic, low-cost cartridge printer might suffice.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: While not enormous, the HP Smart Tank 7005 is a substantial piece of hardware. With dimensions of approximately 42.75 cm wide by 36.4 cm deep, it requires a dedicated spot on a desk or shelf. It’s not the kind of compact printer you can easily tuck away in a drawer, so be sure to measure your intended space before committing.
• Capacity/Performance: This is where tank printers shine. The HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink boasts a generous 250-sheet input tray, which means less time spent reloading paper. More importantly, the included ink is rated for up to 12,000 black or 8,000 colour pages, a staggering amount that justifies the “up to 3 years of ink” claim for a typical family’s usage.
• Materials & Durability: HP notes that the printer is constructed with over 25% recycled plastic by weight, which is a commendable step towards sustainability. During our testing, we found the two-tone grey and white design modern and appealing. However, some of the plastics feel a bit lightweight, a sentiment echoed by a few users. It feels solid enough for home use but might not withstand the rigours of a very busy, shared office environment.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The key maintenance task is refilling the ink, and HP has engineered a brilliant spill-free system. The bottles have a unique nozzle that only engages with the correct tank, preventing messy mistakes. Long-term care involves occasional print head alignment, which is an automated process guided by the HP Smart App.

Keeping these factors in mind, the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.

While the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink 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 New Way to Print

The HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink arrived in a sturdy, well-packaged box. One user noted their box was slightly damaged in transit, but the printer inside was perfectly protected, which aligns with our experience. Upon opening, the contents were neatly laid out: the printer itself, a power cord, two separate print heads (one for black, one for tri-colour), and the main event—the ink. We were impressed to find not one, but two XL bottles of HP 32XL Black ink, alongside one bottle each of HP 31 Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. The sheer volume of ink is immediately striking and visually reinforces the product’s core value proposition. A notable omission, however, is a USB cable. This is a clear signal from HP that this printer is designed primarily for wireless use, pushing you towards the HP Smart App for setup, which, for the most part, is a good thing.

A Deep Dive into the HP Smart Tank 7005’s Performance

After unboxing, we put the printer through its paces for several weeks, using it for everything from printing long research papers and scanning documents to printing full-colour photos for a family album. This is where the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink truly reveals its character as a dependable, high-quality home workhorse.

Setup and Ink System: A Spill-Free Revolution

The setup process is arguably one of the most critical—and potentially intimidating—aspects of a new printer. We are happy to report that HP has almost perfected it. The primary setup is managed through the HP Smart App, which you download on your phone or computer. As one user aptly put it, the setup was “easy-peasy,” with the app providing clear, step-by-step animated instructions. You’re guided through removing the packaging tape, plugging in the printer, and then the most satisfying part: filling the ink tanks. We were initially hesitant, picturing ink spills and stained fingers, but the reality was flawless. The HP ink bottles are designed with a valve system that prevents any drips. You simply uncap a bottle, invert it onto the corresponding tank port, and it fills automatically, stopping when full. There’s no squeezing required and no chance of overflow. One user expressed surprise at “how much the tanks could take,” as they swallowed the entire contents of each bottle. This visual confirmation of the huge ink capacity is incredibly reassuring. After filling the tanks, you install the two print heads, which click into place easily. The printer then runs an automated alignment process by printing a test page, which you then scan to complete the calibration. The entire process, from box to first print, took us about 20 minutes and was entirely foolproof.

Print Quality and Speed: The Everyday Workhorse

A printer that’s cheap to run is useless if the output is poor. Fortunately, the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink delivers exceptional quality across the board. For day-to-day documents, text is sharp, crisp, and dark, thanks to the pigment-based black ink and 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution. It’s perfectly legible even at small font sizes and easily rivals the quality of entry-level laser printers. Where it truly excels for a home device is in colour printing. Reports with mixed text and colour graphics came out vibrant and professional, with no bleeding or smudging. We pushed it further with full A4, borderless photo printing on glossy paper. The results were superb. Colours were rich and accurate, and the detail captured by the 4800 x 1200 optimised dpi resolution was impressive, making it more than capable of handling family photos and creative projects. This finding was confirmed by a user who stated, “Photo quality is superb.”

In terms of speed, the advertised rates of up to 15 pages per minute (ppm) for black and 9 ppm for colour are realistic for standard document printing. It’s not the fastest printer on the market, but it’s more than quick enough for home or small office use. The inclusion of automatic two-sided printing is a fantastic feature at this price point. It works seamlessly, saving paper and adding a professional touch to multi-page documents without any manual intervention. For anyone printing reports or study materials, this feature alone is a significant quality-of-life improvement.

Connectivity and Usability: The Smart Features (and Flaws)

The HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink is built around wireless connectivity, featuring dual-band, self-healing Wi-Fi that is designed to automatically detect and resolve connection issues. For many, including us during our initial testing, this works perfectly. Connecting to our network via the HP Smart App was straightforward, and printing from multiple devices—laptops, tablets, and smartphones (both iOS and Android)—was seamless. The ability to print from anywhere, even when not at home, is a genuinely useful feature.

However, this is also the area where user experiences diverge most significantly. While many report flawless wireless performance, a vocal minority encountered significant frustration. One user lamented, “I cannot get the printer to appear ‘available’ on the smart app or anywhere else,” despite the printer indicating a successful connection. Another user offered a potential solution that worked for them: forcing their router to use the 2.4 GHz band instead of 5.0 GHz resolved their frequent disconnection issues. This suggests the printer can be sensitive to certain network configurations. Our advice is to ensure the printer is placed in an area with a strong Wi-Fi signal and to be prepared to potentially troubleshoot your network settings if you encounter issues. The physical interface is minimalist, relying on smart-guided buttons that illuminate to guide you through tasks like copying or scanning, which we found intuitive and easy to follow.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing feedback from a wide range of users provides a holistic view of the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink. The overwhelming majority of positive comments centre on the same core strengths we identified: the incredible value of the ink tank system and the high quality of the prints. One happy customer described it as a “great family printer,” praising the “superb” photo quality and the value of the Smart Tanks after becoming disillusioned with HP’s expensive cartridges years ago. Many international users praised its ease of installation and intuitive operation via the app.

On the negative side, a clear pattern of complaints emerges. The most common issue is, without a doubt, wireless connectivity problems. A significant number of users struggled with the printer dropping off the network or refusing to connect in the first place. The second major concern is long-term reliability. We saw reports of the printer simply stopping working after 6-10 months, often with print head errors that couldn’t be resolved. Finally, several users had deeply negative experiences with HP’s customer support, with one user issuing a stark warning about support-related scams, urging others to be extremely cautious. These issues, while not affecting everyone, highlight potential risks related to software stability and hardware longevity.

How Does the HP Smart Tank 7005 Compare to the Alternatives?

No printer exists in a vacuum. The HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink faces stiff competition from other brands and even from different product types within HP’s own lineup. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives.

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 Printer

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 is a more traditional, cartridge-based printer aimed at the small office market. Its main advantage is typically faster print speeds for text-heavy documents and a lower initial purchase price. However, it operates on the classic model of selling the printer cheaply and making money on ink. While it is compatible with HP’s Instant Ink subscription service, which can moderate costs, the long-term cost-per-page will almost certainly be higher than the Smart Tank 7005. This alternative is best for someone who needs faster document printing, prefers the simplicity of swapping cartridges, and has a printing volume that aligns with an Instant Ink subscription tier.

2. Brother DCP-T780DW Wireless Inkjet Printer 3-in-1

The Brother DCP-T780DW is a direct competitor in the ink tank space. Brother has a strong reputation for reliability and business-friendly features. This model often includes an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning and copying, a feature the HP Smart Tank 7005 lacks. The decision between the two may come down to brand preference, specific feature needs like the ADF, and current pricing. Both offer a very low cost-per-page and easy refilling. If you do a lot of multi-page scanning or copying, the Brother model might be the more practical choice for your workflow.

3. Epson EcoTank ET-2750 A4 All-in-One Printer

Epson is the other titan in the ink tank printer market with its EcoTank line. The ET-2750 is a very popular model that directly rivals the HP 7005. Both printers offer thousands of pages worth of ink in the box, great print quality, and wireless capabilities. The choice often boils down to subtle differences. Some users prefer Epson’s front-facing ink tanks with a clear viewing window, while others might find HP’s Smart App more intuitive. Print quality for photos can also vary slightly between the two brands. We recommend this for buyers who are committed to a tank system but want to compare the market leader’s offering head-to-head with HP’s.

Final Verdict: Is the HP Smart Tank 7005 Worth Your Money?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink is overwhelmingly positive, with a few important caveats. This printer is an outstanding solution for its target audience: families, students, and home office users who are fed up with the exorbitant cost of ink cartridges. The upfront investment is higher than a basic printer, but the value proposition is undeniable. The massive amount of ink included in the box provides true peace of mind and transforms printing from a costly chore into an affordable convenience. The print quality is excellent for both documents and photos, and features like automatic duplexing add significant value.

The primary weaknesses are the potential for frustrating Wi-Fi connectivity issues and concerns about long-term hardware reliability. If you have a complex or unstable home network, you may face challenges. However, for the majority of users who experience a smooth setup, this printer represents a fundamental shift for the better in home printing. It’s a capable, high-quality machine that finally frees you from the ink cartridge trap.

If you’ve decided the HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Printer with 3 Years Ink is the right fit for your high-volume printing needs, you can check its current price and availability here.