The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is an inkjet printer suitable for a wide range of uses. It uses a supertank cartridge system with four refillable ink tanks instead of traditional ink cartridges. Thanks to this system, the printer has outstanding page yields and an exceptionally low cost-per-print regardless of if you print in black and white or in color. Unfortunately, while it does have a high-resolution flatbed, it lacks an automatic document feeder, so you need to manually place all pages of a document onto the flatbed, which can be time-consuming. Also, its photo quality is decent enough for adding graphics to assignments or reports, but the colors are very inaccurate, so it's not suitable if you're looking for exact color reproduction.
Our Verdict
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is decent for family use. Its page yields are outstanding, and its cost-per-print is exceptionally low, but it lacks an automatic document feeder for quickly scanning multi-page documents. While it produces decent-quality photos that are good enough to hang on a fridge, there's a bit of banding in grayscale areas, and yellows lack vibrancy. Unfortunately, we also encountered a clogging issue, which took several attempts to fix before we could print again, so this printer does require a fair amount of consistent maintenance to keep it from clogging.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Only has a flatbed scanner.
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Printheads tend to clog.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is mediocre for home office use. While it has exceptional page yields for black-only and color documents, it has a poor print speed and takes a while to produce long black-only text documents. Also, it lacks an automatic document feeder, so scanning multi-page documents will get tedious as you'll have to place each page manually onto the scanner. Unfortunately, it requires a fair amount of consistent maintenance as our unit clogged after a month of inactivity.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Only has a flatbed scanner.
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Printheads tend to clog.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is a great printer for students. Its compact size fits easily in a small desk without getting in the way, and it has outstanding page yields for black-only text documents and an exceptional cost-per-print. You can connect to the printer wirelessly with a Wi-Fi connection, Wi-Fi Direct, or use Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, or Epson's companion app to print using a smart device. Unfortunately, it doesn't have ports for external storage devices like a USB key or an SD card, and it also doesn't support a Bluetooth connection.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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No Bluetooth or external storage support.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is a decent black and white printer. It has outstanding page yields for black-only text documents and an exceptional cost-per-print. However, it prints text documents very slowly, so you'll have to wait a while for a long print job to complete. It doesn't feel very well-built, accessing paper jams is hard, and it requires consistent maintenance or the printheads may clog.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Only has a flatbed scanner.
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Printheads tend to clog.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is satisfactory for photo printing. It produces decent-looking photos, though there's some banding in the grayscale, and colors, especially yellow, don't look super vibrant. It can also produce a wide range of colors, and gradients come out smooth-looking. Unfortunately, its color accuracy is terrible, so it's not a good choice if you require exact color reproduction for professional use.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Disappointing color accuracy.
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Printheads tend to clog.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
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Exceptionally low cost-per-print.
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Small, lightweight design.
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High black and color page yield.
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Very slow printing speeds for all document types.
- 7.8 Family
- 7.3 Small/Home Office
- 8.0 Student
- 7.2 Black & White
- 7.5 Photo
Performance Usages
- 5.7 Color Quality
- 8.0 Document Quality
- 7.1 Scanner
- 5.0 Speed
- 10 Recurring Costs
- Updated Dec 04, 2023: We've changed the result in the 'Duplex Printing' in the 'Printing Speed' section of the review from 'No' to 'Manual' to reflect the fact that you can manually reinsert pages to print double-sided sheets.
- Updated Jan 12, 2023: We've retested the printer's Color Gamut and Color Accuracy, as the original tests were performed using older ink. The Color Gamut score remains the same. Color Accuracy improved slightly, from a dE of 12.6 to 12.36. We've adjusted the score accordingly.
- Updated Nov 24, 2022: We mistakenly posted the printer's weight as 5.7kg (12 lbs). The actual weight is 4.3kg (9.4 lbs). This change doesn't affect the score.
- Updated Nov 17, 2022: We mistakenly posted the maximum paper weight as 90g/m² in the Document Printing Sizes section. The maximum supported weight is 297g/m². This change doesn't affect the score.
- Updated Sep 23, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 09, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Jun 06, 2022: In the Scanner Features section, the OCR test result was written as Built-In, but this is incorrect. You need to use the Epson Scan 2 app for this feature, so it's corrected to say Software. Also, this model can print on custom sizes. It lets you print on A5 paper, even if that size isn't in the presets. We changed the A5 result in Printing Size from No to Yes.
- Updated Jan 18, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Dec 14, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 28, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Dec 03, 2020: Updated Text File (TXT) support to 'Yes'.
- Updated Jul 07, 2020: We've retested this printer's duplex printing capabilities.
- Updated Jun 08, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
- Updated May 13, 2020: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
While we tested the white version, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is also available in black.
Compared To Other Printers
The Epson ET-2720 sets itself apart thanks to its exceptional supertank system that yields an incredible number of black and color pages. Accordingly, its cost-per-print is among the lowest we’ve tested, whether you’re printing in black only, in color, or photos. However, its printing speed is really bad and unusually slow compared to other printers we’ve tested.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best all-in-one printers, the best home printers, and the best inkjet printers.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800/ET-2803 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 are both inkjets with supertank ink systems, but the ET-2800 is a newer model that performs a bit better. The ET-2800 yields more black pages, prints slightly faster, and supports duplex printing, albeit you need to manually flip the pages over. Also, the ET-2800 prints much better-quality photos, with deeper blacks and more accurate colors. On the other hand, the ET-2720 has a wider color gamut, meaning it can produce more vibrant colors. It doesn't support automatic or manual duplex printing, though, so the printer doesn't prompt you to turn over the sheets or your document at all if you want to print on both sides.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 are very similar supertanks. They perform similarly, but the ET-2850 is newer and better overall. It yields more black pages, so you won't have to refill the tank as frequently if you print a lot, and it prints a bit faster. It can print double-sided sheets automatically, meaning you don't need to run two print jobs to print on the second side like you do with the ET-2720. Also, it can print on much heavier paper, like light cardstock or heat transfer paper, making it a better choice for crafts.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Canon PIXMA G1200 are both supertank printers. The Epson has a flatbed scanner and a slightly faster document printing speed, and you can print to it wirelessly via Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint, or Mopria Print Service. On the other hand, the Canon has a higher page yield and a lower cost-per-print for photos. However, it can only print via a USB-A to USB-B cable, which isn't in the box. While neither printer can automatically print double-sided, the Canon prompts you when to turn the page over, while the Epson doesn't at all.
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is better overall than the Epson EcoTank ET-2720. The ET-15000 is better built, has a sheetfed scanner, and prints pages much faster. It also has an Ethernet port and can print tabloid-sized paper. However, the ET-2720 produces slightly better quality documents, and while it isn't as color-accurate as the ET-15000, it can produce a wider range of colors and more details in photos.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Canon PIXMA G2260 are both all-in-one printers with supertank systems. The Canon is better suited for color document or photo printing since it yields more pages and costs less per print for color documents and photos. Also, it has significantly faster print speeds for photos. However, the Epson has better wireless connectivity options, and it has a companion app, so you can use the printer directly with your mobile device.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 are both supertank printers. The ET-4800 has an automatic document feeder, meaning it's a better choice if you scan often since you don't have to scan each sheet individually. Also, it can fax, and it supports heavier paper. While neither model can duplex print, the ET-4800 prompts you to turn over the sheets, while the ET-2760 doesn't.
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 are all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertanks, but the ET-5850 is a much better printer overall. The ET-5850 has better black page yields, prints significantly faster, and produces better-looking photos with significantly more accurate colors. Also, it has an automatic document feeder with duplex scanning, can fax, and can automatically print double-sided. On the other hand, the ET-2720 has a much better page yield and cost-per-print for color documents and photos.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank are all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertanks for superb page yields, but the ET-7750 is a better printer overall. The ET-7750 has more than double the black page yield and half the black document cost-per-print, and it prints significantly faster. It also produces much better-quality photos, can print on wide tabloid-format paper, has an Ethernet port, and can print directly from USB flash drives and SD cards. On the other hand, the ET-2720 has a larger color page yield and better color document and photo cost-per-print.
The Epson EcoTank ET-3760 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 are both good family printers, but the ET-3760 is better overall. It yields more pages at a slightly lower cost-per-print and prints significantly faster. Also, it has an Ethernet port if you want to plug it directly into your router.
The Epson EcoTank ET-4700 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 are quite similar, but the ET-4700 performs a little bit better for most uses. It has a sheetfed scanner and an Ethernet port, which the ET-2720 lacks. On the other hand, the ET-2720 yields more pages before needing to refill the ink tanks.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Canon PIXMA G6020 are both good all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertanks, but the Canon is slightly better. The Canon feels better built, has higher page yields, a lower cost-per-print for color pages, and prints photos more quickly and with better quality. Also, it can automatically print double-sided, and it has an Ethernet port. On the other hand, the Epson prints documents more quickly.
The Canon PIXMA G3260 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 are both inkjets with supertanks that are designed for families, but the Canon is better for most uses. The Canon yields more pages and offers a slightly lower cost-per-print for photos and color printing, and it has better photo quality. Also, the Canon prompts you to flip sheets over when duplex printing, whereas the Epson doesn't allow for duplex printing at all. On the other hand, the Epson starts printing sooner than the Canon after going unused for a while.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Brother MFC-J805DW are both all-in-one inkjet units, but the Epson uses a supertank system that has a higher yield for color documents and a lower cost-per-print. On the other hand, the Brother uses a hybrid cartridge-tank system that provides higher black page yields. It also has an automatic document feeder and produces higher-quality photos.
The Brother MFC-J995DW and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 are all-in-one color inkjet printers, but the Epson uses a supertank ink system for superior color page yields and a better overall cost-per-print. However, the Brother performs better in every other aspect, with better black page yields, significantly faster printing speed. It produces much higher-quality photos and much more accurate-looking colors. It also feels much better built and has a better display, faxing capabilities, and an Ethernet port.
The Brother MFC-J4335DW is a better printer overall compared to the Epson EcoTank ET-2720. The Brother prints faster, supports automatic duplex printing, and produces far more accurate colors. It also feels better built, has a better display and physical keypad, built-in fax, and an automatic document feeder. On the other hand, the Epson uses a supertank ink system for far better page yields and a cheaper cost-per-print, and aside from the disappointing color accuracy, produces much better-looking photos.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 are both good family printers, but the ET-4760 is better overall. The ET-4760 has a higher page yield at a slightly lower cost-per-print, a sheetfed scanner, a faster printing speed, and an Ethernet port. On the other hand, the ET-2720 can produce a slightly wider range of colors.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2760 are very similar printers, and they even have almost the same features, but the ET-2760 is slightly better performing overall. The ET-2760 feels a bit better built, it can automatically print double-sided sheets, and it has external storage support. It also yields more pages and costs a bit less per print.
Overall, the HP Smart Tank Plus 551 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 have very similar performance. The Epson has a better display screen, it prints higher quality photos, and its replacement ink is cheaper. However, the HP yields more black and color pages per cartridge.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the HP LaserJet M209dwe are both office printers but designed for different uses. The Epson is an all-in-one inkjet model with a supertank, so it's a great option if you print color and monochrome documents very often and want an outstandingly low cost-per-print. Unlike the HP, the Epson has a flatbed scanner. On the other hand, the HP is a good choice if you print monochrome documents only and don't need a scanner or color. Also, the HP has a faster printing speed, and it can automatically print double-sided documents.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is an all-in-one color supertank printer, while the Epson WorkForce ST-M1000 is a monochrome supertank printer. The ET-2720 is a better choice since it has a flatbed scanner, color, and decent photo printing quality. On the other hand, the ST-M1000 is better for office work if you only need to print in black and white. It yields more black pages, prints significantly faster, and supports automatic duplex printing. Also, it has an Ethernet port to plug into the router directly.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the Epson Expression ET-2750 are similar printers, but the ET-2750 is slightly better-performing overall. The ET-2750 can print black-text documents quicker, and it has duplex printing and external storage support. On the other hand, although it's still sub-par, the ET-2720 yields more color pages before needing to refill it, though the ET-2750 yields more black pages.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 and the HP Tango X are two very different printers. The Epson is a supertank designed for high-volume printing, so it has a much higher page yield with a much cheaper cost-per-print. Also, it has a flatbed scanner, a USB port to connect directly to your PC, and supports Mopria Print Service. On the other hand, if you're looking for a compact model to print only, the HP is much smaller, and it comes with a linen cover to hide the printer when not in use and keep dust out.
Test Results
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 has a mediocre build quality. The output tray is flimsy, and if you have a paper jam, there isn't any rear access. There's a door underneath the display screen, but it can be hard to get at paper jams from there if you have larger hands. Also, it's hard to scan bulkier items like books as the scanner lid can't extend to accommodate them. On the bright side, it's easy to load the paper and access the ink tanks.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is a compact and lightweight printer. Although the supertank slightly juts out, the footprint should be small enough for most home offices or student dorms.
Like all inkjet printers, the Epson ET-2720 requires maintenance to reduce the risk of clogging. It has useful maintenance tasks built-in like printhead cleaning, printhead alignment, and power cleaning.
When we first got the printer, we set up the Wi-Fi and filled up the ink tanks, then left it for a month. Once we started testing it again, the printheads had clogged, and we had to do four cleanings before the ink was properly printing on paper.
During our re-test, we encountered clogging again. We ran the printhead cleaning task six times, but this didn't fix the issue. However, we performed a deep cleaning task, which takes about seven minutes to perform and uses quite a bit of ink to finish. After this task, the printheads were no longer clogged, and we could print as normal.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720's screen is passable. The display console tilts upwards to allow you to see the screen better, and it has good visibility whether you're seated or standing. While there isn't a touch screen, there are push buttons around the screen, though you may need to press them several times to get to the command you're looking for.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 has an exceptional supertank system. It uses four high-capacity ink tanks that you refill yourself and yields many black and color pages before you need to refill the tank again. There's also a pop-up message on PC to periodically check your ink levels, which is great if you aren't keeping a close eye on your ink tanks. If you're looking for a similar printer with much higher page yields, check out the Epson EcoTank ET-3850.
While it's technically possible to fill the supertank with any third-party ink, we didn't try it and don't recommend doing so as low-quality ink can damage the printheads and, unlike regular cartridges, you can't remove them if there's a problem. Using third-party ink could also void your warranty.
The Epson ET-2720's scanning features are disappointing. It only has a flatbed scanner, so documents have to be scanned page by page, and if you need to scan double-sided documents, you have to flip the pages manually, which is time-consuming. You can save files as searchable PDFs using the Epson Scan 2 software, letting you easily search words or passages that would otherwise be cumbersome to look for manually. The Epson EcoTank ET-4760 is a similar printer with a sheetfed scanner and a fax.
The high scanning resolution and color depth are great for capturing minute details in photos and fine print in scanned documents.
- User manual
- Epson EcoTank 522 ink bottles
- 1x Cyan
- 1x Magenta
- 1x Yellow
- 1x Black
- Installation CD
- Power cable
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 has an exceptional cost-per-print. Black, color, and photo printing are all extremely cost-effective. If you need to refill the tanks, you can purchase a multipack ink package or each ink bottle separately. If you want a supertank printer with a lower cost-per-print for photos, check out the Canon PIXMA G2260.
The Epson ET-2720 has poor printing speed. Although the first page doesn't take too long to print, additional black text pages aren't much quicker. It doesn't automatically print double-sided, so you must flip pages manually. Color pages are slow to print; it takes almost a minute and a half to print off one 4" x 6" photo.
The Epson ET-2720 has one adjustable input feed in the back of the printer, and it supports most popular paper sizes. You can also print custom sizes, from 2.12" x 3.39" to 8.5" x 47.24". It doesn't print tabloid-size paper, but if that's important to you, check out the Epson EcoTank ET-15000.
This printer can reproduce a large range of colors, but it struggles with replicating bright greens, as they come out darker than they should be. There's also a fair amount of graininess, which adds a lot of noise to the colors and makes gradients come out less smoothly.
The color accuracy is poor. While it may be okay for the occasional pop of color on an assignment or office document, it isn't ideal for work that requires accurate color reproduction. If you want better color accuracy, check out the Canon PIXMA G1220.
The Epson ET-2720 has decent connectivity. You can hook it up wirelessly by using your Wi-Fi via your router, or you can use Wi-Fi Direct. If using a mobile device, you can also use Apple AirPrint or Mopria Print Service. Unfortunately, you can't use an Ethernet cable with it, and it lacks any external storage support. If you want a similar printer with external storage support, check out the Epson EcoTank ET-2760.
The Epson iPrint app is outstanding. It's accessible on Android and iOS devices, and you can print, scan, and copy photos directly from the app. However, while the most common file types work on the Android version of the app, a few of them don't work on the iOS version. The formatting for both Microsoft Office and TXT files don't get converted properly.