In our household, a typical Tuesday involves a whirlwind of printing needs that would have seemed futuristic a decade ago. It starts with my partner needing to print, sign, and scan a time-sensitive contract. Simultaneously, our teenager is frantically trying to print a 15-page history assignment, due in an hour, that somehow needs to be double-sided. To top it all off, I have a shipping label for a small side-business package that needs to go out before the mail carrier arrives. In the past, this scenario was a recipe for chaos: juggling an old, slow printer that only worked when plugged in, a separate scanner gathering dust, and the frustrating realization that we were, once again, out of black ink. The quest for a single, reliable device that can handle printing from a phone, scanning multi-page documents, and saving paper with duplex printing isn’t just about convenience; it’s about reclaiming sanity in the modern, connected home. The right all-in-one printer can be the central command hub for a busy family, but the wrong one can become just another source of digital frustration.
- FROM CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The Envy 6555e is perfect for homes printing everyday high-quality colour documents like homework and borderless photos. Print speeds up to 7 ppm colour,...
- KEY FEATURES – Colour print, copy and scan, plus auto 2-sided printing, a 35-sheet auto document feeder and a 100-sheet input tray
What to Consider Before Buying an Inkjet Printer for Your Home
An Inkjet Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for bridging the gap between our digital and physical worlds. For families, students, and home-based professionals, it’s the tool that turns a digital file into a tangible school report, a cherished family photo into a physical memory, or a digital form into a legally binding document. The main benefit lies in its versatility. Modern all-in-one inkjets, like the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing, consolidate the functions of a printer, scanner, and copier into a single, space-saving footprint, all while offering the vibrant color reproduction that inkjet technology is known for.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daily demands of a busy household or a small home office. You’re the target user if you need to print a mix of text documents and color photos, appreciate the convenience of printing wirelessly from multiple devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets), and need features like an automatic document feeder (ADF) for scanning stacks of paper. However, this type of printer might not be suitable for those who print thousands of monochrome pages per month, as a laser printer would be more cost-effective in the long run. Similarly, if you’re a professional photographer demanding gallery-quality prints, a specialized, high-end photo printer would be a better investment. For everyone in between, a versatile all-in-one is often the perfect fit.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Home office real estate is precious. Before you buy, measure your intended space. The HP Envy 6555e has a relatively compact design for its feature set, but you’ll still need to account for its height, width, and depth, plus extra room for opening the scanner lid and extending the paper trays. Consider if its “Portobello” gray-brown color will blend with your decor.
- Capacity/Performance: Look beyond the marketing. Key metrics include Pages Per Minute (PPM) for both black-and-white and color, which dictates printing speed. Pay attention to the input tray capacity (this model holds 100 sheets) to avoid constant refilling. For scanning, the presence of a 35-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) is a game-changer for multi-page documents, saving you from placing each page on the flatbed individually.
- Connectivity & Ease of Use: In today’s world, wireless connectivity is non-negotiable. Look for reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which helps maintain a stable connection. Critically, evaluate the companion app (in this case, the HP Smart app). A good app makes mobile printing, scanning, and printer management effortless, while a poorly designed one can be a constant source of frustration.
- Long-Term Cost of Ownership: This is the most crucial, and often overlooked, factor. The initial purchase price is just the beginning. Research the cost of ink cartridges. More importantly, understand the manufacturer’s ink ecosystem. Some printers, like this HP Envy 6555e, are built around a subscription service (HP Instant Ink) that can offer convenience but may also come with significant restrictions if you choose to cancel.
Understanding these factors will empower you to choose a printer that not only meets your immediate needs but also serves you reliably and affordably for years to come.
While the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition, especially those with different ink systems. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- Print, Copy, Scan: The PIXMA TS3720 is a true colour printer scanner copier all in one that is compact, versatile and easy-to-use with a 60 sheet rear tray that reduces the need to refill paper as...
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- FROM CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The DeskJet 2855e is perfect for homes printing to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes. Print speeds up to 5.5 ppm colour, 7.5 ppm black.
First Impressions: Sleek Design Meets App-Centric Setup
Unboxing the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing revealed a device that feels both modern and considerate of its environmental footprint. The unit is primarily constructed from plastic, but HP notes it’s made with at least 60% recycled materials, which gives the slightly textured, Portobello-colored chassis a purposeful feel. It’s solid without being overly heavy, and its clean lines and compact form allow it to blend into a home office environment without screaming for attention. The 2.4-inch color touchscreen is small but responsive, serving as the primary onboard control center.
Setting it up, however, immediately introduces you to HP’s modern philosophy: this is not a plug-and-play device in the traditional sense. The included instructions are minimal, quickly directing you to download the HP Smart app on your phone or computer. This app-centric approach is the gatekeeper to the entire experience. It guides you through connecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network, installing the two initial ink cartridges (one black, one tri-color), and, most critically, activating the HP+ service and the bundled 3-month trial of Instant Ink. For those comfortable living in a smartphone-managed world, this process can feel seamless. For others, the mandatory reliance on an app and an online account can be an immediate, and potentially frustrating, hurdle.
Key Benefits
- Excellent all-in-one functionality with print, scan, and copy features.
- Automatic 2-sided (duplex) printing saves paper and time.
- A 35-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) greatly simplifies multi-page scanning.
- Good photo quality with options for borderless and panoramic prints.
Potential Drawbacks
- Requires activation of HP+ and an internet connection to function, tying you to HP’s ecosystem.
- Print speeds are noticeably slow, especially for color documents and photos.
A Deep Dive into the HP Envy 6555e’s Performance and Promises
On paper, the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing packs a feature set perfectly tailored to the modern home. But as we discovered during our extensive testing, and as confirmed by numerous user experiences, how you feel about this printer depends entirely on your relationship with technology, subscriptions, and patience. It’s a device of stark contrasts, excelling in some areas while presenting significant, deal-breaking compromises in others.
Setup and Connectivity: A Tale of Two Experiences
HP has clearly invested heavily in making the setup process “smart.” The ideal path, which we experienced initially, is quite smooth. After downloading the HP Smart app, it quickly discovers the printer on the network, guides you through loading the included cartridges, and runs an alignment page. From unboxing to printing our first test page, the process took about 15 minutes. This aligns perfectly with positive feedback from users who found it “user friendly” and noted it “connects smoothly to your phone.” For those who live and breathe through their mobile devices, managing print jobs, checking ink levels, and initiating scans directly from the app feels incredibly intuitive and modern.
However, there is a dark side to this app-dependency. We encountered a significant number of user reports detailing a nightmarish setup experience, and we can see why. If any step in the digital handshake fails—a momentary Wi-Fi drop, an app glitch, or the server being unresponsive—the process grinds to a halt with cryptic error messages. Users complain about being stuck in loops, with one lamenting, “Worst setup routine ever! … a thousand of solicitations to buy ink and all the important commands to finish the set up don’t work!!” Another significant issue we saw repeated was the “cartridges aren’t communicating” error, even with the brand-new cartridges supplied in the box. This suggests a potential for hardware or firmware issues right out of the gate, turning a 15-minute setup into a multi-hour troubleshooting session that sours the entire ownership experience before it even begins. You can see the latest user feedback on the setup process here.
Print Quality vs. Print Speed: The Home User’s Trade-Off
Once the printer is running, the quality of its output is generally impressive for a device in this class. Black-and-white text documents, thanks to the 1200×1200 dpi resolution, are sharp and clear, perfectly suitable for schoolwork and professional documents. Where the HP Envy 6555e shines is in photo printing. Using quality photo paper, the 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi produces vibrant, rich colors and good detail. We printed several 4×6 borderless photos, and the results were more than satisfactory for family albums and casual display. The ability to print panoramic photos is a nice, unique touch.
This quality, however, comes at a significant cost: speed. The official specs list 10 ppm for black and 7 ppm for color, which is already on the slower side. In our real-world tests, these numbers felt optimistic. A multi-page color document slowed to a crawl, and a single 4×6 photo took nearly two minutes to emerge from the machine when sent from a smartphone. This experience is mirrored precisely in user feedback, with one stating, “This is a VERY slow printer… like going back to Dial up in the 1980s.” For someone who only prints occasionally, this might be a minor annoyance. But if you’re frequently printing long documents against a deadline, the glacial pace of the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing will be a major source of frustration.
The HP+ and Instant Ink Ecosystem: Convenience or Captivity?
This is arguably the most critical aspect of the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing and the one that potential buyers must fully understand. This is an “e” model printer, which means it requires you to activate HP+ during setup. HP+ is a cloud-based system that provides an extra year of warranty, advanced app features, and enables the Instant Ink subscription. To be clear: you cannot use this printer without an HP account and a persistent internet connection. The printer is designed to work exclusively with this ecosystem.
The hook is the Instant Ink service, which includes a 3-month trial. The service monitors your ink levels and automatically ships new cartridges before you run out. It’s a convenient proposition for those who hate shopping for ink. The controversy arises from what happens if you cancel your subscription. Multiple, incensed users reported the exact same, shocking experience: “I canceled their stupid Instant Ink subscription, and now my printer is completely useless — even with brand new, official HP cartridges.” Another user put it more bluntly: “Do not buy this printer! I’ve had it for a month and HP has locked me out of it.”
We must be unequivocal here: this is by design. When you cancel Instant Ink, the cartridges you received through the service are remotely deactivated, even if they are full of ink. Furthermore, the printer may be locked into only accepting Instant Ink-programmed cartridges, effectively turning your hardware into a “brick” unless you re-subscribe. You are not buying a printer in the traditional sense; you are buying into a service-based hardware platform. This business model is a fundamental departure from user ownership, and it is a factor that should weigh heavily on any purchase decision. If you are comfortable with a subscription for your printer ink, this can be a seamless experience. If you value ownership and the freedom to buy your supplies as you see fit, this model is likely to be completely unacceptable.
What Other Users Are Saying
Diving into user feedback for the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing reveals a deeply polarized community. There isn’t much middle ground; users either love its modern convenience or despise its restrictive ecosystem.
On the positive side, many users echo the sentiment of one who said, “I have no complaints on this printer. It is user friendly. It connects smoothly to your phone and is easily operated from the HP Smart app.” Another satisfied customer, running a small home business, noted, “Took 10-15mins to set up, hooked up to WiFi and started printing labels right away.” These users appreciate the seamless integration with their digital lives and find the Instant Ink subscription to be a genuine convenience that removes one more item from their to-do list.
Conversely, the negative feedback is severe and centers almost exclusively on the HP+ and Instant Ink requirement. The feeling of being “locked out” of a device they paid for is a recurring and passionate theme. As one user starkly warned, “bought this printer thinking it was mine. Turns out, HP still controls it even after you pay for it… They locked me out of my own printer. Not broken. Not out of ink. Just blocked — on purpose.” This sentiment, combined with widespread complaints about slow printing speeds and frustrating setup errors, paints a picture of a product that can easily become a “waste of money and time” for the wrong customer.
How Does the HP Envy 6555e Compare to the Alternatives?
The biggest point of contention with the HP Envy 6555e is its cartridge-based subscription model. For those wary of this ecosystem, the primary alternatives come from Epson’s EcoTank line, which ditches cartridges entirely in favor of large, refillable ink reservoirs. This fundamentally changes the long-term cost of ownership.
1. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless All-in-One Printer
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 colour (3)
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the entry point into the cartridge-free world. Its main selling point is the incredibly low cost-per-page. The ink included in the box can last up to two years for the average user, and replacement ink bottles are far cheaper than cartridges over time. However, it’s a more basic machine than the HP Envy. It lacks an automatic document feeder for scanning and does not support automatic duplex printing, requiring you to manually flip pages. This printer is the ideal choice for a budget-conscious family that prints frequently but doesn’t need the advanced scanning or paper-handling features of the HP.
2. Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Wireless Photo Printer
- Epson printing system is specifically designed to be used with Epson Genuine Cartridges. Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the printer’s ltd. wnty.
- Brilliant, borderless photos up to 11" x 17" — 6-colour Claria Photo HD Inks deliver smooth gradations and amazing skin tones
If your primary focus is printing high-quality photos, the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is a significant step up. It uses a six-color Claria Photo HD ink system, compared to the HP’s two-cartridge (one black, one tri-color) system, resulting in superior color accuracy, smoother gradations, and more professional-looking photo prints. It can also handle larger paper sizes, up to 11×17 inches. While it’s also an all-in-one with scan and copy functions, its core identity is a photo printer. This is the better choice for hobbyist photographers or creative professionals who prioritize image quality above all else and are willing to pay a premium for it.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 All-in-One Cartridge-Free Printer
- Innovative cartridge-free printing high-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; epsons exclusive ecofit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Dramatic savings on replacement ink save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs ink cartridges (1) thats enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 color (2), equivalent to about 90 individual...
The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is arguably the most direct competitor to the HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing. Like the HP, it offers print, scan, and copy functions, and crucially, it includes automatic 2-sided printing. Its key advantage is the EcoTank system, offering the same long-term savings on ink as the ET-2800. What it lacks, however, is the 35-sheet automatic document feeder found on the HP Envy 6555e. The choice between these two models is stark: choose the HP for the convenience of its ADF and if you’re comfortable with the Instant Ink subscription, or choose the Epson for vastly lower running costs and freedom from subscriptions, provided you can live without the ADF.
Our Final Verdict: Is the HP Envy 6555e the Right Printer for You?
The HP Envy 6555e Wireless All-in-One Printer Duplex Printing is a product of our time, for better and for worse. It offers a suite of genuinely useful features—automatic duplex printing, a versatile ADF, and good photo quality—all managed through a slick mobile app that can feel incredibly convenient. When it works as intended, it successfully streamlines the chaotic printing, scanning, and copying needs of a modern household.
However, this convenience comes with a non-negotiable condition: you must buy into the HP+ and Instant Ink ecosystem. This printer is not a standalone piece of hardware; it is a gateway to a service. The slow print speeds are a notable drawback, but the fact that the device can be remotely disabled if you cancel your ink subscription is a potential deal-breaker for anyone who values ownership and control over their technology. If you are a “set it and forget it” type of person who loves the idea of ink arriving at your door automatically and are willing to commit to a monthly fee, this printer could be a great fit. For everyone else, especially those who print infrequently or simply resist the subscription model, we strongly recommend looking at cartridge-free alternatives like the Epson EcoTank series. The decision ultimately rests on a philosophical choice as much as a practical one. If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided the service model works for you, you can check the latest price and availability for the HP Envy 6555e here.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API