Epson EcoTank ET-3950 vs Expression Photo XP-980: Which Printer Is Better? - RTINGS.com

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Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated Jun 19, 2026 01:13 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated Jun 19, 2026 01:15 PM

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Picture

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Picture

Print Technology Inkjet

Type All-In-One

Wireless Yes

SuperTank Yes

Color Yes

Print Technology Inkjet

Type All-In-One

Wireless Yes

SuperTank No

Color Yes

Recommended in 6 articles:
Home
All-In-One
Inkjet
3

Our Verdict

Epson EcoTank ET-3950

Epson Expression Photo XP-980

The Epson Expression Photo XP-980 and the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 are all-in-one inkjet printers. The biggest difference between the two is that the ET-3950 uses a refillable supertank cartridge system and has a much higher page yield as a result. The ET-3950 also prints documents faster and has an automatic document feeder for its scanner. The XP-980, on the other hand, prints better-looking photos.

Variants

EcoTank ET-3950 (White)

Expression Photo XP-980 (Black)

Review

See Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Review

See Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Review

Check Price

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

Main Differences for

Home

Threshold

0.10

Home

0.0

0.0

JOIN NOW to see main differences

Full Comparison

Home

0.0

0.0

Small Office

0.0

0.0

Set-And-Forget

0.0

0.0

Arts, Crafts, & Stickers

0.0

0.0

Photo Printing

0.0

0.0

Page Yield

0.0

0.0

Scanning

0.0

0.0

Clogging Resistance

0.0

0.0

Size

0.0

0.0

Design

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Close Up

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Drum Unit

Locked

Locked

Dimensions

N/A

N/A

ISO View Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 ISO View Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 ISO View Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

In Use Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 In Use Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 In Use Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Max Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Max Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Max Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Weight

Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Display Screen

N/A

N/A

Display Screen Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Display Screen Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Display Screen Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Display Screen

Locked

Locked

Display Screen Size

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Touchscreen

Locked

Locked

Paper Tray

N/A

N/A

Input Tray Capacity

Lock sheets

Lock sheets

Cassette

Locked

Locked

Rear Paper Tray

Locked

Locked

Manual Feed

Locked

Locked

Ink System

N/A

N/A

Cartridge Picture In The Printer

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Cartridge Picture In The Printer Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Cartridge Picture In The Printer Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SuperTank

Locked

Locked

Color

Locked

Locked

Individual Color Cartridges

Locked

Locked

Photo Cartridge Or Ink

Locked

Locked

Black Ink Type

Locked

Locked

Color Ink Type

Locked

Locked

Number Of Colors

Lock

Lock

Black Ink Or Cartridge Model

Locked

Locked

Color Ink Or Cartridge Model

Locked

Locked

Third-Party Cartridge

Locked

Locked

Risk Of Clogging

N/A

N/A

Print Technology

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Unclogging

Printhead Location

Locked

Locked

Printhead Serviceability

Locked

Locked

High Flushing Volume

Locked

Locked

Maintenance Box

Locked

Locked

In The Box

In the Box Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 In the Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 In the Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Battery

Advertised Battery Life

N/A

N/A

Tested Charging Time

N/A

N/A

Efficiency

Page Yield

N/A

N/A

Tested Black Page Yield

Lock prints

Lock prints

Estimated Black Page Yield

Lock prints

Lock prints

Tested Color Page Yield

Lock prints

Lock prints

Estimated Color Page Yield

Lock prints

Lock prints

High Yield Cartridge

Locked

Locked

Cost-Per-Print

N/A

N/A

Printer Total Cost

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Printer Total Cost Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Printer Total Cost Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Black Cartridge Price

Lock US$

Lock US$

Color Cartridge Price

Lock US$

Lock US$

Black-Only Printing Cost

Lock US$/print

Lock US$/print

Color Printing Cost

Lock US$/print

Lock US$/print

Photo Printing Cost

Lock US$/print

Lock US$/print

Ink Subscription

Locked

Locked

Printing Speed

N/A

N/A

Printing Speed Video

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Printing Speed Video Sample

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Printing Speed Video Sample

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

Black Only Text Document

Lock PPM

Lock PPM

Color Document

Lock PPM

Lock PPM

Photo Printing Time

Lock s

Lock s

Single Page Out Time (Black Only)

Lock s

Lock s

Duplex Printing

Locked

Locked

Document

Black & White Documents

N/A

N/A

B&W Document Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 B&W Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 B&W Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color Ink Needed For Black & White

Locked

Locked

Color Documents

N/A

N/A

Color Document Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Color Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Color Document Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Document Printing Sizes

N/A

N/A

Letter (8.5" x 11")

Locked

Locked

Legal (8.5" x 14")

Locked

Locked

Tabloid (11" x 17")

Locked

Locked

A6 (105mm x 148mm)

Locked

Locked

A5 (148mm x 210mm)

Locked

Locked

A4 (210mm x 297mm)

Locked

Locked

A3 (297mm x 420mm)

Locked

Locked

Scanner

Scanner Features

N/A

N/A

Scanner Flatbed Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Scanner Flatbed Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Scanner Flatbed Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Scanner

Locked

Locked

ADF Capacity

Lock pages

N/A

Scan Speed

Lock PPM

Lock PPM

Duplex Scanning

Locked

Locked

Max Flatbed Scan Size

Locked

Locked

Max ADF Scan Size

Locked

Locked

Flatbed Hinge Adjustability

Lock" (Lock mm)

Lock" (Lock mm)

Fax

Locked

Locked

Copy

Locked

Locked

OCR Included

Locked

Locked

Scan Quality

N/A

N/A

Scan Quality Photo

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Scan Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Scan Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Max Scan Resolution

Lock DPI

Lock DPI

Max Scan Color Depth

LockBit

LockBit

Photo

Color Gamut

N/A

N/A

Parrots Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Parrots Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Parrots Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color Range Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Color Range Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Color Range Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Friends Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Friends Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Friends Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color dE Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Color dE Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Color dE Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Color dE Graph

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Color dE Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Color dE Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Average Color dE

Lock

Lock

Small Details

N/A

N/A

Small Details Photo

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Small Details Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Small Details Photo Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Max Print Resolution (DPI)

Locked

Locked

Photo Printing Sizes

N/A

N/A

Photo Paper (3.5" x 5")

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper (4" x 6")

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper (5" x 7")

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper (8" x 10")

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper (8.5" x 11")

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper (11" x 17")

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper (13" x 19")

Locked

Locked

Borderless Printing

Locked

Locked

Paper Type Presets

N/A

N/A

Photo Paper Matte

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper Semi-Gloss

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper Glossy

Locked

Locked

Photo Paper Luster

Locked

Locked

Thin/Light Paper

Locked

Locked

Fine Art Paper

Locked

Locked

Canvas

Locked

Locked

Hagaki/Washi

Locked

Locked

Max Paper Weight

Lock g/m²

Lock g/m²

Mobile App And Connectivity

Connectivity

N/A

N/A

Inputs Picture

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 Inputs Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 Inputs Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Wi-Fi via Router

Locked

Locked

Wi-Fi Direct

Locked

Locked

Bluetooth

Locked

Locked

Ethernet

Locked

Locked

USB Input To Computer

Locked

Locked

External Storage Support

Locked

Locked

Apple AirPrint

Locked

Locked

Mopria Print Service

Locked

Locked

Mobile App

N/A

N/A

App Printscreen

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 App Printscreen Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Epson Expression Photo XP-980 App Printscreen Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Mobile App

Locked

Locked

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

Photo (JPEG, PNG)

Locked

Locked

PDF

Locked

Locked

Microsoft Office Files

Locked

Locked

Text Files (TXT)

Locked

Locked

Webpages (HTML)

Locked

Locked

OS Compatibility

Windows

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Chrome OS

Locked

Locked

Check Price

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

White

EcoTank ET-3950

Black

Expression Photo XP-980

Epson EcoTank ET-3950

Epson Expression Photo XP-980

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 1 month ago

Epson EcoTank ET-3950 vs Epson Expression Photo XP-980: Main Discussion

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