- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The HP ENVY 6055 is okay for home use, but it's not very versatile otherwise. This all-in-one printer has excellent color accuracy and good photo printing quality. However, its page yield is extremely low, whether you're printing in color or black-only. Because of that, printing isn't cost-effective over time as you regularly need to buy new cartridges. Additionally, it only has a flatbed scanner and doesn't support duplex scanning, which can be problematic for offices needing to process long double-sided documents. That said, it has reasonable build quality, and its compact size shouldn't take up much space. It's been replaced by the HP ENVY 6055e, which is nearly identical but it comes with a free six-month subscription to HP Instant Ink.
Our Verdict
The HP ENVY 6055 is okay for family use. It has good photo printing quality and excellent color accuracy, ideal for printing family photos. Unfortunately, it has a really low page yield, so you may need to replace the cartridges regularly if you print often. It has a flatbed scanner with a high resolution, but it doesn't have a sheetfed scanner.
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Very good photo printing quality.
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Excellent color accuracy.
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Really low page yield.
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Doesn't have a sheetfed scanner.
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High cost-per-print.
The HP ENVY 6055 is a bad choice for small offices. It prints very slowly, and it yields an extremely low number of pages, so printing isn't cost-effective over time. Additionally, it doesn't offer much in terms of scanning features as it only has a flatbed scanner. On the plus side, its build quality is reasonable, and its compact size doesn't take up much space.
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Decent connectivity options.
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Really low page yield.
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Doesn't have a sheetfed scanner.
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Prints pages slowly.
The HP ENVY 6055 is inadequate for students. It yields a very low number of pages, so you may have to buy new cartridges quite often, and the cost could add up quickly. It also prints very slowly, which may be problematic if you're in a rush. On the plus side, its flatbed scanner has a high scan resolution, and you can easily connect the printer wirelessly through Wi-Fi.
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Decent connectivity options.
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Really low page yield.
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Prints pages slowly.
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High cost-per-print.
The HP ENVY 6055 is a bad choice for black and white printing. At only six pages per minute, the printing speed for black-only text documents is very slow. Additionally, the printer yields an extremely low number of black pages, resulting in a higher cost-per-print as you may need to replace the cartridge quite often. That said, it's possible to buy high-yield cartridges to get a higher page yield if you want.
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Decent connectivity options.
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Really low page yield.
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Doesn't have a sheetfed scanner.
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Prints pages slowly.
The HP ENVY 6055 is good for printing photos. It has excellent color accuracy, and it prints photos with good quality and lots of fine details. You can print 5" x 7" and 4" x 6" photos, but you can't print 2" x 3" photos.
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Very good photo printing quality.
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Excellent color accuracy.
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High cost-per-print.
- 6.3 Family
- 3.7 Small/Home Office
- 6.3 Student
- 5.3 Black & White
- 6.7 Photo
- Updated Dec 14, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Feb 08, 2021: Fixed error that listed Display Screen overall score as N/A. This score was changed to 0.
- Updated Aug 26, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 14, 2020: Early access published.
Test Results
This HP ENVY 6055 has a reasonable build quality. The plastic body feels solid, and the power cable is removable in case you need to replace it. The input tray has a slider to adjust the width for photos; however, it doesn't extend for legal-size paper, and there's no dedicated photo tray. It's also easy to remove the cartridges, as you only need to unclip them. You can access paper jams by lifting the flatbed scanner, which could fall fast and hard if you don't guide it back down slowly. Unfortunately, the scan lid doesn't raise enough for thicker items like books. Lastly, the printer offers audio feedback when it finishes a task, which is a nice feature.
The HP ENVY 6055 is fairly compact and doesn't take up much space on a desk.
The HP ENVY 6055 doesn't have a display screen. Instead, there are five touch buttons that light up in different colors and allow you to complete different tasks, like starting a copy session or canceling a print job. There's also a display for the number of copies needed when you scan a document. The printer has various indicator lights to notify you if there's a printing error or if it ran out of paper and ink, and there's a Wi-Fi status light.
The HP ENVY 6055 has a terrible cartridge system. Both the black and color cartridges don't last very long, so you need to replace them often. That said, this printer still has a higher page yield than the HP ENVY 5055. There are high-yield cartridges available if you want to increase the yield. If you prefer a printer with a higher page yield, then check out the Canon PIXMA TR7020. The printer accepts third-party cartridges, but using them may void the warranty.
The HP ENVY 6055 has poor scanning features. There's only a flatbed scanner, and since its flatbed lid hinges don't extend, you can't properly scan thicker items like textbooks. On the bright side, you can save scanned documents as searchable PDF files, so you can easily find words or strings of text by using Ctrl + F. If you want a similar printer but need a sheetfed scanner, then check out the HP ENVY Pro 6455.
The HP ENVY 6055 has one input tray that supports most common paper sizes, excluding legal size. It can't print 2" x 3" photos.
- HP ENVY 6055 printer
- User guide
- Power cord
- 1x HP 67 Black ink cartridge
- 1x HP 67 Tri-Color ink cartridge
The HP ENVY 6055 has a disappointing cost-per-print. The ink cartridges are cheap, but because they have such a low page yield, you have to buy new ones regularly if you print often, and the cost can add up quickly. You can sign up for HP's Instant Ink subscription so you automatically receive new cartridges when you run out of ink. There's also an HP ENVY 6075 variant, which comes with two years of subscription to the ink delivery service.
Keep in mind that even if you print only in black, most inkjet printers continue using the color cartridge for servicing tasks, so you'll likely still need to replace it eventually.
The HP ENVY 6055 prints black and color documents very slowly, with a printing speed similar to the HP ENVY 5014, and it takes more than one minute to print a single 4" x 6" photo. The output tray holds up to 25 sheets of paper at once.
The HP ENVY 6055 has very good photo printing quality. The colors are well-defined, and there's a lot of detail. However, tones are flat, and blacks aren't deep. There's also a bit of banding in the grayscale, though it's not very noticeable.
These results are based on the actual physical photo and not the scanned image provided for reference above, which may not be representative of the printer's photo print quality.
The HP ENVY 6055 has disappointing color accuracy, as it generally produces brightly saturated colors. It isn't a good choice for professionals requiring precisely rendered colors for photos, and even people using the printer for everyday use will notice that photos look off from the way they're intended to look.
This printer has decent connectivity options, exactly like the HP ENVY 5055. Sadly, you can't print from a USB or SD card, and it doesn't have an Ethernet port. On the upside, you can connect it to your computer wired through a USB connection or wirelessly through Wi-Fi.
The HP Smart app has an outstanding set of features. You can perform maintenance tasks like cleaning printheads and ordering new cartridges. You can also scan documents from your device's camera and print photos and PDF files. However, you can only directly print some commonly used file formats on iOS and not on Android.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the HP ENVY 6055 all-in-one printer in white, which is the only color available. It's available in the United States, and it's sold as the HP ENVY 6032 in Europe. There's also the HP ENVY 6075 printer, which is the same printer but with black accents, and it comes with a 2-year subscription to HP's ink delivery service. It's been replaced by the HP ENVY 6055e, which is nearly identical but it comes with a free six-month subscription to HP Instant Ink. If you come across an ENVY 6055 that's different from ours, let us know in the discussion, and we'll update the review. You can see our unit's label here.
Compared To Other Printers
The HP ENVY 6055 is good at printing photos, but it isn't very versatile compared to other printers in its price range, like the Canon PIXMA TS6320. It has excellent color accuracy and better photo printing quality than the HP ENVY Photo 6255, but it's also among the worst printers we've tested in terms of page yield. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best HP printers, the best home printers, and the best photo printers.
The HP ENVY Pro 6455 and the HP ENVY 6055 perform very similarly overall. The 6455 has better scanning features, with both a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder. Both printers have the same page yield and connectivity options.
The Canon PIXMA TS5320 is slightly better than the HP ENVY 6055 overall. The Canon yields more pages at a lower cost-per-print, and, unlike the HP, it supports Bluetooth printing. On the other hand, while the HP's photo printing quality isn't as good, its color accuracy is significantly better.
The HP ENVY 6055e is the replacement model of the HP ENVY 6055. They're nearly identical, but the 6055e comes with a free six-month subscription to HP Instant Ink. Otherwise, they have some minor performance differences. The 6055 has a marginally higher page yield, resulting in a lower cost-per-print. On the other hand, the 6055e has better color accuracy, and it's the best color accuracy we've tested.
The HP ENVY 6055 is better than the HP DeskJet 4155e for casual photos and family use. The 6055 prints photos and documents much more quickly, automatically prints double-sided, supports borderless printing, and has significantly better photo quality. In contrast, the 4155e has an automatic document feeder, supports legal-size paper, and has a marginally better color document cost-per-print. The 4155e is also HP+ enabled, which gives you six free months of HP's Instant Ink subscription.
The HP ENVY 6055 and the HP ENVY 6455e are two very similar family printers, but the 6455e has a sheetfed scanner, while the 6055 only has a flatbed scanner. Also, the 6455e comes with a free six-month subscription to HP Instant Ink. They perform similarly, but the 6055 has a slightly higher black page yield, better photo printing quality, and prints images much faster. While they both have disappointingly high cost-per-prints, the 6055 is more cost-effective for black-only documents, color prints, and photos.
The HP ENVY 6055 performs a little bit better overall than the HP DeskJet 3755. The 6055 has a slightly higher page yield, so printing is a little more cost-effective over time. It also has better color accuracy, slightly better photo printing quality, and features a flatbed scanner with a higher scan resolution. That said, the 3755 has a small display screen and features a sheetfed scanner, although it can only scan one page at a time.
The HP ENVY 6055 performs a bit better than the HP DeskJet 2722 overall. The ENVY 6055 has much better build quality, a lower cost-per-print, faster printing speed, and much better photo quality. However, unlike the ENVY 6055, the DeskJet 2722 has a display screen, and it's slightly smaller so it should fit better in tight spaces.
The HP ENVY 6055 is a slightly better printer than the HP DeskJet 2755. The ENVY 6055 feels solidly built, and it has a front input tray with an adjustable slider. It has a lower cost-per-print, faster printing speed, and better photo printing quality than the 2755. However, the 2755 has a screen, which the 6055 lacks.
The HP ENVY Photo 7155 performs better than the HP ENVY 6055 for most uses. While the 6055 has better photo printing quality, the 7155 has a higher page yield and a lower cost-per-print for black pages, color pages, and photos. Also, the 7155 prints faster, holds more pages in its input tray, and supports printing off an SD card.
The HP ENVY 6055 and the HP ENVY 6075 are quite similar overall. The ENVY 6055 has a slightly higher page yield, a lower cost-per-print, and it prints color documents and photos a little bit faster. However, the ENVY 6075 comes with a 2-year HP Instant Ink subscription, while you need to sign up for it with the ENVY 6055.
The HP ENVY Photo 6255 is slightly better for most uses than the HP ENVY 6055, but the 6055 is better for printing photos. The 6255 has a higher page yield, so even though the cartridges are more expensive, printing is more cost-effective over time. On the other hand, the 6055 has better color accuracy and much better photo printing quality.
The HP DeskJet Plus 4155 and the HP ENVY 6055 are both reasonable choices for family printers. The ENVY 6055 has a slightly higher page yield, a lower cost-per-print, better photo printing quality, and can automatically print double sided. On the other hand, the DeskJet Plus 4155 has a sheetfed scanner, and it can print legal-sized paper, which may be important for you, especially if you intend to use it for office use as well.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8025 and the HP ENVY 6055 are all-in-one color inkjet printers, but the 8025 is better for small or home offices. The 8025 has a great touchscreen display, an ADF, faxing capabilities, and an Ethernet port. It supports printing on legal-size paper, prints much faster, and has much better color document and photo yields and cost-per-print. The 6055 is better for casual photos, as it has significantly better color accuracy and printed photo quality.
The HP ENVY 6055 performs better than the HP ENVY 5014. The 6055 has a slightly higher page yield, so it's more cost-effective over time, and it has better photo printing quality. However, the 5014 has a display screen, making it easier to navigate menus, and it prints legal-size paper.
The HP ENVY Photo 7855 performs better overall compared to the HP ENVY 6055. The 7855 yields significantly more pages at a much cheaper cost-per-print, it prints much faster. Also, it has a touchscreen display, an automatic document feeder, and built-in fax, as well as an Ethernet port, Bluetooth connectivity, and support for printing directly from USB flash drives and SD cards. On the other hand, the 6055 feels much better built.
The HP ENVY 6055 and the Canon PIXMA TR4520 are similarly performing all-in-one inkjet printers. The Canon has significantly better photo printing quality, a much better flatbed scanner with an automatic document feeder, and it can perform faxing tasks. It also has a better cost-per-print for color documents and photos. On the other hand, the HP has a faster print speed, more accurate-looking colors, and a lower cost-per-print for black documents.
The HP OfficeJet 250 performs slightly better than the HP ENVY 6055 for most uses, but the 6055 is a better choice for printing photos. The OfficeJet 250 yields more pages and is more cost-effective. It features a display screen and has a sheetfed scanner, which is great if you want to scan a lot of pages at the same time. On the other hand, the 6055 produces good-looking photos. It has a flatbed scanner that allows you to scan delicate documents or bulkier items.
The Canon PIXMA TR7020 performs slightly better than the HP ENVY 6055 for most uses. The Canon yields more pages and has a better cost-per-print. Additionally, it features a sheetfed scanner and a display screen, and it supports Bluetooth. That said, the HP has much better color accuracy and it prints a little bit faster.
The Brother MFC-J895DW and the HP ENVY 6055 are all-in-one color inkjet printers, but the Brother is better for small or home offices, students, and families. The Brother's page yields and cost-per-print are superior, and it prints more quickly. It can also print on legal-size paper and has an ADF, faxing features, an Ethernet port, and a much better mobile app. On the other hand, the HP has significantly better color accuracy and produces better-detailed photos.
The HP ENVY 6055 is better overall than the HP ENVY 5055. The 6055 has a slightly higher page yield, so the cost-per-print is lower, and it has better photo printing quality. However, the 5055 prints legal-size paper and it has a display screen.