The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is an all-in-one printer designed mainly for home and small office use. Replacing the Epson EcoTank ET-2850, it features an updated design and faster printing speeds. It uses Epson's 502 pigment black and dye color inks, which are cheap and deliver amazing yields. It has Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, and is compatible with Epson's Smart Panel mobile companion app. It has an 8.5" x 11" flatbed scanner but lacks an automatic document feeder and fax functionality.
Our Verdict
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is a great choice for home use. Its ink bottles are fairly cheap, and its exceptional page yields make it very economical to run. It produces really sharp-looking black-and-white documents, and it's very capable of printing the occasional photo, thanks to its great color gamut. Families that need to scan a large number of documents should consider alternatives, as the lack of an automatic document feeder makes digitizing multi-page documents a tedious process. The printer is also compact, making it easy to store even in more cramped spaces.
High page yields, low cost-per-print.
Produces superbly sharp-looking black-and-white documents.
Produces detailed pictures.
No automatic document feeder.
Mediocre scanner quality.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is a good choice for a small office, thanks to its outstanding page yields and relatively low maintenance requirements. It can also perform automatic duplex printing, which is practical, and it's quick enough, even if it takes a while to get started. However, if scanning is an important part of your workflow, it can definitely be a limiting factor as its scanner lacks an automatic document feeder and produces average results.
High page yields, low cost-per-print.
Produces superbly sharp-looking black-and-white documents.
Automatic duplex printing.
No automatic document feeder.
Mediocre scanner quality.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is a mediocre choice if you're looking for a printer that you can rely on, even if you only use it sporadically. It's an inkjet printer that works best if used regularly. Like most inkjets, leaving it idle can cause the printheads to clog, so occasional printing is recommended to prevent dried ink. While the printheads cannot be replaced, the printer's high-capacity flushing allows for multiple deep-cleaning cycles without needing an ink refill. However, if a clog is more severe than flushing can handle, there are very few options for fixing it. Otherwise, the ink tanks offer impressive page yields, making refills infrequent.
High page yields, low cost-per-print.
Mediocre printing speed.
Printheads aren't user-replaceable.
Can clog if it's left unused.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is a great photo printer. It's really cheap to run, and it prints really detailed and vibrant photos. Its color accuracy is also acceptable. It tends to slightly oversaturate its colors, and some grain is present, but the photos still appear natural. The printer also supports a wide variety of paper formats.
Excellent color gamut.
Produces detailed pictures.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 has incredible page yields. Its supertank cartridges can produce thousands of pages before needing a refill.
High page yields, low cost-per-print.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980's print speed is sub-par. This model even includes automatic duplex printing. Still, photo printing is quite slow, and the time it takes to produce the first page is long.
Automatic duplex printing.
Mediocre printing speed.
Black-and-white documents look superb on the Epson EcoTank ET-2980, with crisp text and clearly defined elements like graph lines. There are almost no visible artifacts, and overall sharpness is impressive. Color printing is less impressive, mainly due to the overall muted rendering.
Produces superbly sharp-looking black-and-white documents.
This scanner is one of the Epson EcoTank ET-2980's weaker points. It's slow, produces overprocessed scans, and lacks an automatic document feeder, which makes scanning long, multi-page documents a chore.
No automatic document feeder.
Mediocre scanner quality.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Jan 06, 2026:
We've updated text throughout the review after converting to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jan 05, 2026: We've updated the review to Test Bench 1.3, which adds a number of test boxes including Risk of Clogging and Ease of Unclogging. We also updated the Usage and Performance boxes at the top of the review to better integrate the new aspects covered. See the changelog.
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Updated Oct 15, 2025:
Added a reference to the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 in the Scanner Features test box as an alternative with a more feature-rich scanner.
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Updated Oct 08, 2025:
Added a reference to the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 in the Scanner Features test box as an alternative with a more feature-rich scanner.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
There are two color variants of the Epson EcoTank ET-2980: 'Black' and 'White.' We tested the 'White' variant. There's also an Epson EcoTank ET-2988 Special Edition variant, which is a Costco exclusive that comes with an additional bottle of black ink.
See our unit's label.
Popular Printer Comparisons
Like its predecessor, the Epson EcoTank ET-2850, the EcoTank ET-2980 remains competitive with other models in its class. It particularly stands out thanks to its impressive color gamut, which makes it ideal for occasional photo printing. It also benefits from Epson's SuperTank cartridge system, which provides incredible value over time. However, people who require quick and reliable scanning capabilities might want to look elsewhere, as the ET-2980 lacks an automatic document feeder and produces only adequate scans.
Overall, this printer compares favorably to other printers like the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw, thanks to its lower cost-per-print and superior image printing. However, other models like the HP Smart Tank 7301 deliver similar yields and have much better scanning capabilities.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best home printers, the best all-in-one printers, and the best inkjet printers.
The Epson EcoTank ET-3950 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 share many of the same printing strengths, offering comparable output quality. The ET-3950, however, stands out with a far more capable scanner that includes automatic duplex scanning and an automatic document feeder for easier multi-page handling. It also produces more detailed scans and features a larger input tray, reducing how often you need to reload paper.
The EcoTank ET-3850 and the EcoTank ET-2980 are somewhat similar printers. Both have exceptional page yields and very comparable print quality. The newer ET-2980 takes the edge for its color handling. It has both a slightly wider color gamut and an improved color accuracy. The ET-3850, on the other hand, included an automatic document feeder, making it a better choice if scanning is an important part of your workload.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2800/ET-2803 are similar printers with amazing cost-per-print. The ET-2980 takes the edge in black-and-white print quality and printing speeds. For photo printing, even if its color gamut is a bit worse, the ET-2800 is slightly more color accurate and better at producing small details.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 and Epson EcoTank ET-2980 perform similarly overall. The newer ET-2980 prints sharper documents and is slightly quicker. It also includes a display screen, making interaction with the printer less cumbersome. When it comes to photo printing, they're also very comparable. The older ET-2400 can resolve slightly more detail, while the ET-2980's colors are a bit more vibrant.
Test Results
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