The HP DeskJet 2855e/2852e is a budget all-in-one inkjet printer. It replaces the HP DeskJet 2755e, and like its predecessor, it's also an HP+ model that comes with three months of free ink via HP's ink replenishment service. It uses HP 67 ink cartridges and is compatible with the high-yield 67XL versions as well. Connectivity options include USB and Wi-Fi, and there's support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. It has a simple 8.5" x 11" flatbed scanner with no fax functionality and only supports manual duplex printing.
This printer is part of the HP DeskJet 2800e series of all-in-ones. All variants in this series are identical in features and performance; the model number changes slightly depending on the region and retailer. See more details in the Differences Between Variants section.
Our Verdict
The HP DeskJet 2855e is sub-par for home use. It yields very few prints, resulting in frequent replacement of the ink cartridges and a high cost of ownership. Its document print quality is decent at best, and its narrow color range and poor accuracy make photos look flat and unnatural. It has a scanner, but the scan quality isn't great because the image processing removes fine details, and there's also no automatic feeder to process multi-page documents quickly. On the upside, it has a decent number of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, USB, and support for AirPrint and Mopria, making it easy for every household member to access.
- Produces decent quality color documents.
- Low page yield, high cost-per-print.
- Narrow color range, poor accuracy.
- Visible printing pattern.
- No automatic feeder, mediocre scan quality.
Can clog if it's left unused.
The HP DeskJet 2855e is bad for small offices. The quality of printed black documents is only passable, and while the quality of color documents is better, it may not be sufficient for professionals requiring the sharpest-looking prints to present to clients. It also prints slowly and only supports manual duplex printing. It requires a fair amount of maintenance, as its ink cartridges run out quickly. Additionally, the input tray can only hold 60 sheets of paper. There's a scanner, but it lacks an automatic feeder, and the scan quality is mediocre, as the image processing removes fine details.
- Produces decent quality color documents.
- Low page yield, high cost-per-print.
- Slow printing speed.
- Small paper input capacity.
- No automatic feeder, mediocre scan quality.
- Only supports manual duplex printing.
If you only print occasionally, the HP DeskJet 2855e is a poor choice. Since it's an inkjet printer, leaving it unused for long periods can lead to clogged printheads. On the bright side, fixing serious clogs is easier because the printheads are built into the cartridges, so replacing them can solve the problem. That said, the cartridges deliver poor page yields, so you'll have to change them often if you print regularly. High-yield cartridges are available. They should give around twice the number of prints per cartridge. The printer is also fairly slow, putting out only about seven black-and-white pages per minute.
- Wired and wireless connectivity, AirPrint and Mopria support.
Printheads are included in the cartridges.
- Low page yield, high cost-per-print.
- Slow printing speed.
- Small paper input capacity.
- Only supports manual duplex printing.
Can clog if it's left unused.
The HP DeskJet 2855e is mediocre for photo printing. It can only reproduce a narrow range of colors and struggles to print fine details. Colors are visibly inaccurate, and the printer's printing pattern is visible in printed photos. Additionally, you need to replace the ink cartridges frequently because they tend to run out quickly, resulting in high maintenance costs. It can print on glossy paper and supports various sizes up to 8.5" x 11", but it doesn't support borderless printing.
- Supports various photo paper sizes up to 8.5" x 11".
- Narrow color range, poor accuracy.
- Visible printing pattern.
The HP DeskJet 2855e delivers quite poor page yields. The regular black cartridges can only print around 100 pages before needing to be replaced. The tri-color cartridge only has enough ink for 60 pages, and you'll need to replace the entire cartridge even if you only run out of one color. High-yield cartridges are available. They should roughly double these page counts, according to HP's estimates.
- Low page yield, high cost-per-print.
The HP DeskJet 2855e's printing speed is poor. It can only print around 7 black and white or 3 color pages per minute.
- Slow printing speed.
The document quality on the HP DeskJet 2855e is generally acceptable overall. Black-and-white documents appear softer and fuzzier than color prints. In Standard Quality mode. A High-Quality mode makes that directional pattern less noticeable at the cost of a noticeable contrast drop. There's also a High-Quality Grayscale setting that uses cyan, magenta, and yellow ink, which is helpful if you've run out of black ink. This mode produces smoother, crisper results, but fine details tend to look fainter.
- Produces decent quality color documents.
- Visible printing pattern.
The HP DeskJet 2855e has a subpar scanner. Overall scan quality is mediocre. When you use the Document preset, the scanner applies heavy image processing that strips away fine details, including graph lines and watermarks. Switching to the Photo preset preserves more detail, but small elements still look faint. The scanner itself is quite basic as well. It doesn't include an automatic document feeder, and it doesn't support optical character recognition.
- No automatic feeder, mediocre scan quality.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Feb 04, 2026:
Added a reference to the HP ENVY 6165e in the Display Screen test box as an alternative with a better display for easier navigation.
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Updated Jan 09, 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 Nov 21, 2024:
Added mention of the HP ENVY 6555e as an alternative with automatic duplex printing in the Printing Speed section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the HP DeskJet 2855e all-in-one printer. It's part of the HP DeskJet 2800e series of all-in-one printers, which comprises many variants. All variants are identical in terms of features and performance; the model number changes slightly depending on the region and retailer.
| Model | Product Number | Region of Sale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeskJet 2810e | 588Q0B (white) | Europe | |
| DeskJet 2820e | 588K9B (cement), 588L1A (blue) | Europe, Asia Oceania | |
| DeskJet 2821e | 588Q2B (moroccan blue), 588N4A (white) | Europe, Asia, Oceania | |
| DeskJet 2823e | 588R6B (rosewood), 588Q3A (moroccan blue) | Asia | |
| DeskJet 2842e | 588L0A (chili red), 588R7A (cement), 588R7A#1H5 (aurora green), 588R8A#1HA (bright lilac) | North America | |
| DeskJet 2852e | 60K23A (cement) | North America | Walmart/Target exclusive |
| DeskJet 2855e | 588S5A (cement) | North America |
See our unit's label.
Popular Printer Comparisons
The HP DeskJet 2855e doesn't stand out in any way. Its low page yield, slow printing speed, limited color range, and poor accuracy make it only suitable for those who need a cheap printer to print documents occasionally.
See our recommendations for the best inkjet printers, the best home printers, and the best printers under $100.
While the HP DeskJet 2855e and the Canon PIXMA MG3620 are both budget home printers, the Canon is better in almost every way. It produces nicer documents and photos, and scans and prints slightly faster. It also yields significantly more prints, so you won't have to spend as much on replacement ink over time. Feature-wise, the only notable difference is that, unlike the HP, the Canon doesn't support Wi-Fi Direct, which is handy if your home Wi-Fi network isn't working or you're in a public space with no existing Wi-Fi network, as Wi-Fi Direct allows the printer to generate its own wireless signal.
The Epson Expression Home XP-4200 is much better than the HP DeskJet 2855e in almost every way. The Epson produces higher-quality documents, photos, and scans. It prints slightly faster than the HP, and its larger 100-sheet input tray means you won't have to refill the tray as often. Although neither has a particularly good page yield, the Epson is much better, producing significantly more prints than the HP, making it cheaper to maintain over time.
The HP DeskJet 2855e and the Canon PIXMA TS3720 are similar budget all-in-one inkjet printers. While neither printer performs particularly well overall, the Canon is the clear choice if you print pictures at home. This is because it prints much more vibrant photos and has a wider color gamut that produces more saturated colors than the HP.
The HP DeskJet 2855e and the HP DeskJet 3755/3772 are both all-in-one inkjet printers designed for home use. They're similar feature-wise, except for the scanner; the 3755/3772 is a more compact model, so it only has a sheetfed scanner, whereas the 2855e has a flatbed. The document printing quality is the same between these two printers; however, the 3755/3772 is slightly better for photos, as it produces finer details with more clarity and a wider range of colors.
Test Results
The HP DeskJet 2855e is entirely plastic and feels reasonably solid overall. However, some parts feel a little flimsy, such as the scanner lid, which, when pressure is applied, causes the plastic around the back of the scanner to lift away from the body. There's no paper tray; instead, it has a rear feeder that holds 60 sheets of paper. You can only access the ink cartridges and clear paper jams through the front panel, which is quite small, making maintenance difficult if you have large hands. On the upside, the power cord is removable, making it easy to replace if damaged.
The HP DeskJet 2855e has a small monochrome LCD screen that displays only the number of copies, ink levels, Wi-Fi status, and error codes. Its horizontal viewing angle isn't bad, so it's relatively easy to see from the sides. However, its limited vertical viewing angle makes it much harder to see when seated, and there's no way to tilt the screen to improve visibility. There are seven physical buttons: Power, Cancel, Resume, Info, Wi-Fi, Black Copy, and Color Copy. The LED lights show low ink levels or cartridge problems.
If you're looking for a similar printer with a better display for easier navigation, consider the HP ENVY 6165e.
The HP DeskJet 2855e yields a low number of prints, so you need to replace the ink cartridges regularly. Also, since it uses a tri-color cartridge, you must replace the entire cartridge even if only one color runs out. High-yield cartridges are available; the HP 67XL Black cartridge has an advertised yield of 240 prints, while the HP 67XL Color cartridge has an advertised yield of 200 prints. The LED light beside the display illuminates when ink levels are low, and you also receive a notification in the HP Smart app.
Note that while you can use third-party ink cartridges, it likely won't work if you accept the three-month supply of free ink via HP Instant Ink and subscribe to the ink replenishment service. This restriction remains even if you cancel your subscription. Enrolling in this service will also require an uninterrupted internet connection to use the printer, as HP continuously updates the firmware to block the use of third-party cartridges.
This printer requires a fair amount of maintenance. Like all inkjet printers, the printheads can clog if you don't use the printer for an extended period. A few maintenance functions are available to resolve print quality issues, like printhead cleaning, printhead alignment, and Clean Smear. The black and tri-color cartridges run out quickly, so you'll have to replace them often. The upside with these cartridges is that they contain the printheads, meaning you can simply replace the cartridges if you can't resolve print quality issues using the built-in maintenance functions. Accessing the ink cartridges isn't easy, as they can only be accessed through a narrow opening above the output tray. The printer must be on when changing the cartridges. Paper jams are accessible through the same front panel. The input tray (rear feeder) only holds 60 sheets of paper and will likely require frequent refills. Get the user guide here.
This is an inkjet printer, which means it can clog if left unused for an extended period. Inkjet printers use liquid ink that flows through extremely fine printhead nozzles. During extended periods of inactivity, this ink can evaporate, thicken, or dry out, potentially blocking the ink flow. Environmental factors such as dry air, dust, temperature fluctuations, or direct sunlight can accelerate clog formation. Clogs may cause missing lines, faded colors, or complete print failures. To reduce the risk, we recommend printing periodically and storing the printer in a cool, stable environment. If clogs occur, most inkjet printers include built-in maintenance routines to help clear the printheads, which are detailed in the Expected Maintenance test box of this review.
If you don't want to deal with unclogging, laser printers use a different system with dry toner and a drum instead of ink and printheads, which avoids this issue.
This printer uses cartridges with built-in printheads, but the ink volume is quite limited. That small supply is usually enough to clear lighter clogs through standard maintenance cycles. When it isn't, simply replacing the cartridge also replaces the printheads, giving you a straightforward way to restore print quality. This makes clogs very easy to manage. The downside is that relying on new cartridges for clog fixes can become expensive over time.
Although the ink cartridges are relatively cheap, the cost per print is very high because the cartridges run out quickly, resulting in more frequent replacement. This printer comes with three months of free ink via HP's ink replenishment service, which helps offset the cost. However, subscribing to the service will prevent you from using third-party cartridges, which are typically more affordable.
The HP DeskJet 2855e only supports manual double-sided printing. It prompts you to flip the pages when it finishes printing one side. The output tray holds up to 25 sheets of regular paper. If you're looking for a similar printer that supports automatic duplex printing, consider the HP ENVY 6555e.
While the print quality of black-and-white documents isn't bad, the prints look softer and fuzzier than color prints. Also, the printhead's printing direction is clearly visible when printing in the 'Standard Quality' mode. Switching to the 'High-Quality' mode makes the printing direction less visible but reduces the contrast. There's also a 'High-Quality Grayscale' option, which uses the cyan, magenta, and yellow colors to produce the document (handy when you run out of black ink). This mode gives a smoother, crisper-looking document; however, fine elements appear more faint.
The print quality of color documents is decent. The text appears clear, and colors seem vibrant and saturated; however, finer elements, such as the lines in the sample graph, are faint and difficult to see.
You can set custom paper sizes from 3.5" x 5" (88.9 mm x 127 mm) to 8.5" x 14" (215.9 mm x 355.6 mm).
The scan quality is mediocre. The image processing (when using the 'Document' preset) is overly aggressive, removing a lot of fine details, like the lines in the sample graph and watermarks. Scans look more detailed when using the 'Photo' preset, but fine elements are still faint.
The HP DeskJet 2855e has a poor color gamut. Its narrow color range makes pictures look flat and unnatural. It also causes significant loss of fine details, such as the parrot's feathers in the sample photo, which appear almost as a single solid color with no texture or definition. There's only a little bit of banding in some color transitions; however, the printer's printing pattern is clearly visible. If you want a cheap printer with a much better color gamut, consider the Canon PIXMA TS302a.
This printer has poor color accuracy. Most colors are visibly inaccurate, especially blues and skin tones. Consider the Canon PIXMA TS3720/TS3722 if you want a cheaper printer with better color accuracy. Or, if you want a simple print-only unit with better photo printing, consider the Canon PIXMA TS202.
This printer is okay at reproducing small details. Fine and distant elements are relatively easy to recognize, but there's a softness to the edges that makes everything look a little fuzzy.
The HP DeskJet 2855e is compatible with the HP Smart mobile app. The app allows you to print, scan (using a printer or smartphone camera), and perform maintenance tasks such as printhead cleaning and alignment. You can also manage your ink subscription, buy supplies, and access pre-made 'printables,' like calendars and drawing sheets. A mobile fax feature is available; however, you must have an HP account and an HP+ subscription to use it.
You must manually install drivers to use the printer on Windows devices. Printing works straight out of the box for Macs; you only have to install drivers if you want to scan. There's no need to take any action on Chrome OS devices. Installing the HP Smart app from the Google Play Store will provide you with the same functionality as on Android smartphones and tablets. Get the drivers here.