We’ve all been there. It’s 10 PM, a critical document is due, and that dreaded “Low Ink” warning flashes across the screen. The ensuing panic, the late-night trip to an overpriced office supply store, and the sting of spending a small fortune on tiny plastic cartridges that seem to run dry in a week—it’s a cycle of frustration many of us have come to accept as a necessary evil of modern life. For years, the printer industry’s business model felt fundamentally broken for the consumer. We were lured in by low-cost hardware, only to be locked into an ecosystem of expensive, inefficient ink cartridges. This constant drain on our wallets and the environmental waste it produces has left countless home and small office users searching for a better way. The question has always been: can a printer deliver quality and convenience without the crippling long-term costs? It’s this very problem that a new generation of printers aims to solve once and for all.
- INCREDIBLE VALUE — Epson EcoTank includes enough ink to last up to 3 years⁴. And if you run low, you’ll save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges⁸
- WORRY-FREE PRINTING — Epson EcoTank comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages black/5,500 colour⁹ for fewer out-of-ink frustrations. Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about...
What to Consider Before Buying an Inkjet Printer
An Inkjet Printer is more than just an item that puts ink on paper; it’s a key solution for productivity, creativity, and record-keeping in any modern household or home office. It bridges the gap between the digital and physical worlds, allowing you to bring school assignments, work reports, treasured family photos, and important documents to life. The main benefits lie in their versatility, offering high-quality colour printing that’s ideal for a range of tasks, from vibrant photo reproduction to crisp, professional-looking text. A great inkjet printer saves time with fast printing and scanning, saves money with efficient ink usage, and simplifies life with seamless wireless connectivity from all your devices.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the regular need to print, scan, or copy. This includes families with school-aged children, university students, and professionals working from home. If you print more than a few pages a month and are tired of the high cost and waste associated with traditional ink cartridges, a supertank model like the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer is designed specifically for you. Conversely, it might not be the most suitable choice for those who print only a handful of pages per year, as the higher initial investment may not pay off. It’s also not geared towards commercial print shops that require industrial speed and volume. For those users, a laser printer or a professional photo printer with more ink colours might be a better alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Don’t just look at the purchase price of the printer. The real cost lies in the ink. Calculate the cost-per-page by looking at the ink yield (how many pages a cartridge or bottle can print) versus its price. Supertank printers have a higher upfront cost but an astronomically lower TCO, making them a smarter long-term investment for regular users.
- Print Quality and Speed: For documents, look for sharp, smudge-proof black text. For photos, resolution, measured in dots per inch (DPI), is key—4800 x 1200 DPI is excellent for detailed images. Speed, measured in pages per minute (PPM), is also important. Look for ISO PPM ratings, as they are a standardized measurement, and consider if you need features like automatic two-sided (duplex) printing to save paper.
- Functionality (All-in-One): Do you just need to print, or do you also need to scan and copy? An all-in-one (AIO) device saves space and money compared to buying separate machines. Check the scanner’s resolution and features like a flatbed design, which is essential for scanning books or delicate documents.
- Connectivity and Ease of Use: In today’s world, wireless printing is non-negotiable. Ensure the printer supports Wi-Fi and has a user-friendly mobile app for printing and scanning directly from your smartphone or tablet. Features like a clear colour display, even a small one, can make standalone copying and network setup much easier.
Choosing the right printer is about matching its capabilities to your specific needs, ensuring it will be a reliable partner for years to come.
While the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. 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.
Unboxing a Revolution: First Impressions of the Epson EcoTank ET-2980
Pulling the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer from its box, the first thing we noticed was its clean, compact design. The white finish gives it a modern look that blends seamlessly into a home office environment without being an eyesore. It’s surprisingly lightweight at just 11.5 pounds, yet feels sturdy and well-constructed. But the real “wow” moment comes not from the printer itself, but from the four included ink bottles. They are substantial, holding a volume of ink (127 mL for black, 70 mL for each colour) that feels almost laughably large compared to the paltry cartridges we’re used to. This is the heart of the EcoTank promise: up to three years of ink, right in the box.
Setup was refreshingly straightforward. Instead of fumbling with plastic wrappers and tiny electronic contacts, you simply uncap the EcoFit bottles and place them onto the corresponding colour-coded ports on the front of the printer. The bottles are uniquely keyed, making it impossible to put the wrong colour in the wrong tank, and the filling process stops automatically when the tank is full. It was completely mess-free and took only a few minutes. This initial experience immediately sets a new standard for user-friendliness and validates the entire supertank concept. It feels less like a consumable-driven appliance and more like a permanent, reliable tool. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of this innovative design.
Key Benefits
- Massive amount of ink included, offering up to 3 years of printing
- Extremely low long-term running costs and cost-per-page
- Stress-free and mess-free EcoFit bottle refilling system
- Excellent print quality for both documents and photos (4800 x 1200 dpi)
- Convenient auto two-sided printing and robust wireless connectivity
- Eco-friendly design with zero cartridge waste
Potential Drawbacks
- Higher initial purchase price compared to cartridge-based printers
- Small 1.44-inch colour screen is functional but not premium
- Single 100-sheet paper tray may require frequent refilling for heavy users
A Deep Dive into the Epson EcoTank ET-2980’s Real-World Performance
A printer’s true worth is only revealed through day-to-day use. It’s one thing to have a long list of features, but another entirely for those features to deliver a seamless, high-quality, and cost-effective experience. We put the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer through a comprehensive series of tests, simulating everything from a student’s final paper to a family’s photo printing needs, to see if the “supertank” promise holds up under pressure.
The Supertank Revolution: Setup, Ink Longevity, and Unbeatable Value
The core selling point of the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer is, without a doubt, its ink system. And our experience confirms that it is nothing short of revolutionary for home printing. The initial setup process, which involves filling the tanks from the included bottles, is the first indication that this is a different kind of machine. The uniquely keyed EcoFit bottles slot perfectly into place, and the ink flows into the tanks without a single drop being spilled. You can visually see the ink levels through the front-facing windows, which is a massive improvement over guessing how much ink is left in an opaque cartridge.
But the real story is the value. Epson claims the included ink can print up to 6,600 black pages or 5,500 colour pages. To put that in perspective, a standard set of ink cartridges might yield around 150-200 pages. This means the ink in the box is equivalent to roughly 80 individual cartridges. When you do the math, the savings are staggering. While the initial purchase price is higher than a cheap cartridge printer, the cost-per-page is fractions of a cent. Over the lifespan of the printer, you’re not just saving money; you’re buying freedom. Freedom from “ink anxiety,” freedom from constant trips to the store, and freedom from the environmental guilt of throwing away endless plastic cartridges. This single feature truly sets it apart and makes the higher upfront cost a very wise long-term investment for any regular user.
Print Quality and Everyday Productivity
Incredible ink savings would mean little if the output quality was poor. Fortunately, the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer delivers impressively on this front as well. Leveraging Epson’s PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology and a maximum print resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, the results are consistently excellent. For day-to-day documents, black text is razor-sharp, crisp, and smudge-resistant, easily matching the quality of a laser printer for professional reports or schoolwork. The automatic duplex printing feature is a standout, effortlessly printing on both sides of the paper, saving time, reducing paper consumption, and making multi-page documents look far more professional.
Where it truly surprised us was with colour and photo printing. We printed several 4×6 and 8.5×11 borderless photos on glossy photo paper, and the results were vibrant and detailed. Colours were accurate, gradients were smooth, and there was no noticeable banding. While a dedicated six-colour photo printer might offer a wider gamut for professional photographers, the ET-2980 is more than capable of producing beautiful, frame-worthy prints for family albums and creative projects. The ISO print speeds of 15 ppm for black and 8 ppm for colour are brisk enough for any home or small office environment, ensuring you’re not left waiting around for large print jobs to finish. The combination of speed, versatility, and its impressive print quality makes it a true all-rounder.
Wireless Freedom and Smart Usability
In our connected world, a printer must be more than a peripheral; it must be a seamless part of your digital ecosystem. The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer excels here. Setting up the Wi-Fi connection was simple, guided by the on-screen menu. Once connected to our network, the printer was instantly accessible from all our devices—laptops, PCs, smartphones, and tablets—without the need for cumbersome driver installations, thanks to features like Apple AirPrint.
The real star of the show is the Epson Smart Panel app. This app transforms your smartphone into a powerful command centre for the printer. From the app, we could easily print documents from cloud services, print photos directly from our phone’s gallery, initiate a scan, and check ink levels and printer status. The mobile scanning feature is particularly useful, allowing you to use your phone’s camera to capture a document, automatically correct for perspective, and send it directly to the printer or save it as a PDF. The 1.44-inch colour LCD on the printer itself is small but functional for basic operations like making copies or running maintenance checks. However, for most tasks, we found ourselves defaulting to the intuitive and feature-rich Smart Panel app, which makes operating the printer an absolute breeze. This level of smart connectivity is a must-have in a modern printer.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, user feedback strongly aligns with our own testing experience. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many, like one user, noting they were “pleasantly surprised” by the printer’s performance. A common thread in reviews is the praise for the simple and fast installation process. This was confirmed by a user who remarked that “the installation was simple and fast, and the ink tank system is very practical and economical in the long run.” This directly speaks to the core value proposition of the EcoTank system.
The exceptional print quality is another frequently mentioned highlight. One customer stated that the “print quality is excellent, both for documents and for color images,” which mirrors our findings with both text and photo printing. The convenience of the massive ink supply is perhaps the most celebrated feature, summed up perfectly by the comment: “What I like most is that the ink lasts a long time, you don’t have to be buying cartridges all the time, and that makes it very convenient for the home.” The quiet operation and easy wireless connectivity were also cited as significant benefits, reinforcing its suitability for a shared home environment.
How Does the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Compare to the Alternatives?
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer occupies a powerful niche focused on high-volume, low-cost home printing. However, different needs call for different solutions. Here’s how it stacks up against some notable competitors.
1. HP OfficeJet 250 Portable Printer
- Main functions of this HP all-in-one portable printer: scan, copy, easy portable printing wherever you need it, wireless print from your laptop or mobile devices, 2.65" color touchscreen, auto...
- Mobile printing: print from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet with the free HP ePrint app, Android users can easily detect and connect to a nearby OfficeJet 250 and print using Wi-Fi Direct
The HP OfficeJet 250 is a fundamentally different machine. Its primary feature is portability, designed for professionals who need to print, scan, and copy on the go. It’s compact, features a rechargeable battery, and is built to withstand the rigors of travel. If your office is a hotel room, a client’s site, or your car, the OfficeJet 250 is an excellent choice. However, it uses traditional ink cartridges, meaning its long-term running costs will be significantly higher than the EcoTank’s. For a stationary home office, the Epson ET-2980 is the far more economical and practical solution, offering higher ink capacity and lower cost-per-page.
2. HP Envy Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer
- HIGH-QUALITY PRINTING: The HP ENVY Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer delivers exceptional print quality with up to 1200 x 1200 rendered dpi for black and up to 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi for color...
- PRODUCTIVITY AND CONVENIENCE: Designed for both work and play, this all-in-one printer features a built-in photo tray and automatic document feeder for seamless printing. With a duty cycle of up to...
The HP Envy Inspire 7955e is a more direct competitor to the Epson ET-2850. It’s a stylish all-in-one designed for home use with a focus on photo printing and smart features. The key difference lies in the ink model. The Envy Inspire 7955e is built around the HP+ system and the Instant Ink subscription service, where you pay a monthly fee for a set number of pages, and new cartridges are mailed to you automatically. This can be convenient for those who prefer a predictable monthly cost. However, the Epson ET-2980’s model of buying ink in bulk as needed will be more cost-effective for most users, especially those with fluctuating print volumes, and it doesn’t require a constant internet connection or subscription to function.
3. Canon PIXMA TR150 Wireless Portable Printer with Battery
- Take your printing on the go with the PIXMA TR150 Wireless Mobile Printer.
- Print without wires - even on the go - thanks to multiple WIRELESS PRINTING options
Similar to the HP OfficeJet 250, the Canon PIXMA TR150 is built for mobility. It is an extremely compact, print-only device (no scanner or copier) that’s perfect for professionals who need to produce high-quality documents or photos away from the office. Its optional battery pack makes it truly portable. While it delivers excellent print quality, its purpose is specialized. The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer is a comprehensive home solution, offering scanning and copying in addition to printing, all while providing an unparalleled low cost of ownership that a portable, cartridge-based printer like the TR150 simply cannot match.
Our Final Verdict: Is the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Worth It?
After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer is an outstanding investment for nearly any modern household, student, or home office. It directly confronts and solves the single biggest pain point of home printing—the exorbitant cost and waste of ink cartridges. The higher upfront cost is not just a purchase price; it’s a long-term investment in savings and convenience. The sheer volume of ink included in the box provides years of worry-free printing, and the quality of the output, from sharp text documents to vibrant borderless photos, is consistently impressive.
While the small screen and 100-sheet paper tray are minor trade-offs, they are easily overshadowed by the printer’s core strengths: incredible value, excellent performance, and user-friendly wireless features. If you are tired of the ink cartridge racket and want a reliable, high-quality all-in-one that will save you a significant amount of money over time, this is the printer we wholeheartedly recommend. It’s a well-designed machine that delivers on its promise to set you free from ink anxiety. For anyone ready to make a smart, long-term choice for their home printing needs, we suggest you check the latest price and availability online.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API