I remember the moment vividly. I was sitting in a client’s parking lot, a signed contract hot off the press from my laptop, but with one critical problem: I needed a physical copy for their records, right then and there. The nearest print shop was miles away, and emailing it felt unprofessional and delayed the process. It was a moment of friction in an otherwise smooth transaction, a frustrating bottleneck that felt entirely avoidable. In today’s hyper-mobile world, professionals who operate outside the confines of a traditional office—service technicians, consultants, real estate agents, truck drivers—face this challenge daily. The inability to produce a clean, professional document on the spot can mean the difference between closing a deal and asking a client to “wait until I get back to the office.” This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier to efficiency and can impact client perception. The search for a truly portable, reliable printing solution is paramount for anyone whose work is on the move.
- The ultimate in portability - Ultra lightweight and compact, even with the external accessory battery
- Flexible battery charging - Choose from a variety of charging options, including via USB and AC adapter, or print on AC power
What to Consider Before Buying a Mobile Inkjet Printer
A mobile inkjet printer is more than just a compact office machine; it’s a key solution for untethering your workflow from a physical location. It empowers you to finalize paperwork, print invoices, or produce last-minute presentation handouts from a vehicle, a hotel room, or a client site. The main benefits are immediate efficiency, enhanced professionalism, and the sheer convenience of having a critical piece of office infrastructure that fits inside a briefcase. It eliminates the logistical scramble of finding a print center in an unfamiliar area, saving precious time and reducing stress when deadlines are tight. For many, a device like the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer becomes an indispensable tool of the trade.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone whose profession is inherently nomadic. Think of the service technician who needs to provide a signed invoice on-site, the lawyer who needs to print a revised contract clause before a meeting, or the photographer who wants to provide a sample print at a client consultation. These are users who value portability above all else—speed, print volume, and multi-functionality are secondary concerns. Conversely, this type of printer is not suitable for a home office user who prints frequently or needs scanning and copying capabilities. For them, a larger, more cost-effective all-in-one tank printer would be a far better investment. It’s also not for high-volume environments where the cost per page and ink cartridge capacity are primary decision factors.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Portability: The primary reason to buy a mobile printer is its size. Scrutinize the weight and dimensions (when folded for travel) to ensure it genuinely fits your workflow and your gear bag. A printer that’s too bulky or heavy defeats the purpose. The Epson WorkForce WF-110, for example, is specifically designed to be ultra-lightweight and compact, a critical feature for anyone carrying a laptop, tools, and other equipment.
- Performance & Battery Life: Mobile printers operate under two distinct conditions: plugged into an AC outlet and running on battery. Expect a noticeable difference in print speed between the two modes. More importantly, evaluate the battery life not just in terms of standby time, but in pages printed per charge. For demanding jobs, the ability to charge via USB in a car or to print while plugged in can be a lifesaver.
- Connectivity & Compatibility: In the field, you can’t rely on a stable office Wi-Fi network. Look for robust wireless options like Wi-Fi Direct, which allows the printer to create its own network for your phone or laptop to connect to directly. Ensure the printer’s software and mobile apps are compatible with your devices, whether they run on iOS, Android, or Windows, to avoid frustrating connection issues when time is sensitive.
- Ink Cost & Reliability: The convenience of a small printer often comes at the cost of small, expensive ink cartridges. Investigate the page yield of the cartridges and their price to understand the long-term running costs. Furthermore, since these devices are built with complex, miniaturized parts, it’s wise to look into their reputation for durability and the terms of the manufacturer’s warranty.
While the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer is an excellent choice for pure portability, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, including those designed for home and office use, 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 the Epson WorkForce WF-110: A Masterclass in Miniaturization
The first thing that struck me upon opening the box was just how incredibly small the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer is. Photos don’t quite do it justice. When folded up, it’s not much larger than a hardcover book, and at just 4.6 pounds, it felt substantial but not burdensome. One user’s shock at its size compared to a standard HP 3830 was something I immediately understood. This device is built from the ground up for travel. Inside the box, you get the printer itself, a power cord, a set of starter ink cartridges (one black, three color), a replacement maintenance box, and the necessary documentation. The plastic construction feels robust enough for life on the road, with tight seams and a clamshell design that protects the internal mechanisms when not in use. Setting it up was straightforward: plug it in to charge the built-in lithium-ion battery, install the ink cartridges, and follow the on-screen instructions on the small but clear 1.4-inch color LCD. The initial ink charging process took a few minutes, after which it was ready to connect to our network. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a sense of its compact power.
Advantages
- Truly exceptional portability; ultra-lightweight and compact
- Built-in rechargeable battery for true wireless operation
- Excellent print quality for its size, including color documents and photos
- Versatile connectivity with Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB charging
Drawbacks
- Disappointing battery life, especially for color photos
- Significant reports from users regarding long-term reliability issues
- Ink cartridges have a low page yield and can be costly
- Slower print speeds when operating on battery power
In the Field: A Performance Deep-Dive of the Epson WF-110
A mobile printer lives or dies by its performance in uncontrolled environments. It’s one thing to work perfectly on a clean desk next to a powerful router; it’s another thing entirely to perform reliably in the passenger seat of a truck or at a bustling café. We put the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer through a battery of real-world tests to see if its promise of portable productivity holds up under pressure.
Design and Portability: Your Office in a Briefcase
Epson’s primary achievement with the WF-110 is its form factor. This is portability perfected. Measuring a mere 12.2″ x 9.1″ x 8.5″ when open, it collapses into a sleek, manageable brick that slips easily into a laptop bag or backpack without a second thought. During our testing, we carried it alongside a 14-inch laptop, power adapters, and notebooks, and its presence was barely noticeable. This aligns perfectly with feedback from professionals in the field. One service technician noted how it has “already made my job… much better,” allowing him to print signed invoices and quotes on the spot. Another user, a truck driver, lauded it as an “excellent mobile printer” for handling critical load paperwork. This is the core appeal: it integrates seamlessly into a mobile professional’s existing kit. The built-in battery is the other half of the portability equation. Being able to print without searching for a power outlet is a game-changer. The ability to charge via a standard AC adapter or even a micro USB port connected to a power bank or a vehicle’s inverter adds a layer of flexibility that is absolutely essential for a device like this. It’s this combination of small size and power autonomy that truly defines the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer and makes it so compelling for its target audience.
Print Performance: Quality vs. Speed and Ink Consumption
For such a diminutive device, the print quality is genuinely impressive. With a maximum resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi, text documents came out crisp and highly legible, on par with many entry-level desktop inkjets. We printed contracts, invoices, and reports, and the black text was sharp and professional. Where it really surprised us was with color. We tested it with a few 4×6 photos on glossy paper and were pleased with the vibrant colors and good detail. One user confirmed our findings in a rather unconventional test, printing a photo on lined notebook paper and noting the printer “did not disappoint!” However, this quality comes with trade-offs. The first is speed. When plugged into AC power, its rated speeds of 6.7 ppm for black and 3.8 ppm for color are modest but acceptable for small jobs. On battery power, this drops significantly to 3.5 ppm and 2.0 ppm, respectively. Printing a multi-page document requires patience. The second, and more significant, trade-off is ink consumption. The starter cartridges get you up and running, but they don’t last long. We echoed the sentiment of one user who lamented having “half cartridges after printing three pages.” The standard T215 ink cartridges are small, and their cost per page is substantially higher than that of a desktop tank printer. This is a printer for essential, low-volume tasks, not for printing manuscripts. It’s a tool for convenience, and part of the price of that convenience is the ongoing cost of ink, a factor anyone considering this device must weigh carefully when they check the latest price and availability.
Wireless Freedom: Connectivity That Works (Most of the Time)
A mobile printer’s wireless capability is non-negotiable, and the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer offers a robust suite of options. Standard Wi-Fi allows it to join an existing network in a home or office. More importantly for its intended use, it supports Wi-Fi Direct. This feature was our go-to during testing, as it lets the printer create its own ad-hoc network, allowing a phone, tablet, or laptop to connect directly to it without needing a router. We found this to be incredibly useful and reliable for printing from an iPhone and a Windows laptop while completely off the grid. As one user happily stated, you can “originate documents on my lap top, print, wet signatures… at any location” using a phone’s hotspot or a direct connection. However, our experience wasn’t universally perfect, and some user reports highlight potential frustrations. One customer found it “Completely useless,” stating it would not connect to public Wi-Fi at a Starbucks or an airport and that their Apple devices couldn’t locate it. While we didn’t experience these specific issues with our unit, it serves as a crucial reminder that wireless performance can be environment-dependent. Public networks with captive portals or complex security can pose a challenge for many devices, not just printers. For the most reliable connection on the go, we strongly recommend sticking with Wi-Fi Direct.
The Elephant in the Room: Battery Life and Long-Term Reliability
While the concept of a battery-powered printer is brilliant, the execution of the battery in the WF-110 leaves something to be desired, particularly for photo printing. For black-and-white documents, we managed to get a respectable number of pages—around 40-50—on a full charge. However, the moment we switched to printing full-color, high-resolution photos, the battery life plummeted. Multiple testers, including us, found that a full battery would be nearly depleted after just one or two 8.5 x 11-inch photo prints. This is a significant limitation for photographers or anyone needing to produce color-heavy materials in the field. The flexible charging options are a necessary mitigation for this weak point. The more concerning issue that emerged from analyzing user feedback is long-term reliability. We found a troubling pattern of reports from users whose printers simply died shortly after the one-year warranty expired. Complaints of the device “will not turn on,” refusing to recognize brand new Epson ink cartridges, or being sent refurbished replacements that also failed are too numerous to ignore. One user chronicled purchasing over six of them over the years, with each one eventually failing in the same way. While our test unit performed flawlessly during our evaluation period, this volume of negative feedback on longevity raises a significant red flag. It suggests a potential weakness in either the power components or firmware that buyers should be aware of, making the investment in this product a calculated risk.
What Other Users Are Saying
Diving into the collective experience of other users reveals a starkly polarized view of the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer. On one side, you have professionals who hail it as a revolutionary tool for their trade. A service technician calls it “awesome” for its “sheer convenience” in creating on-the-spot invoices. A truck driver says it surpassed “any expectation I’ve had for a mobile printer.” These users see the device for its primary purpose—portability—and find that it excels, making their jobs easier and more efficient. They readily accept the trade-offs of small ink cartridges and slower speeds as necessary evils for the freedom it provides.
On the other side of the spectrum is a significant chorus of deep frustration, centered almost entirely on reliability and running costs. One user’s experience is particularly damning: “Purchased in April, warranty expired August 15th and it died in September.” This sentiment is echoed by many others who describe the printer becoming a “brick” that won’t power on or gets stuck in an unresolvable ink error loop just outside the return or warranty window. Complaints about exorbitant ink consumption and printers arriving incomplete or even used are also present, painting a picture of a product that, for a portion of buyers, fails to deliver on its premium price tag.
How Does the Epson WF-110 Stack Up Against Desktop Alternatives?
It’s crucial to understand that the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer exists in a class of its own. Comparing it directly to standard desktop printers is an apples-to-oranges exercise. The WF-110 prioritizes portability above all else. Its competitors are not designed to be carried in a bag and run on battery power. Instead, they focus on different virtues: low running costs, speed, and all-in-one functionality. Here’s how it compares to some popular home and office choices.
1. HP Smart Tank 7602 All-in-One Ink Tank Printer
- FROM CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The Smart Tank 7602 is perfect for families printing a variety of color documents in high volumes. Print up to 15 pages per minute black and 9 pages per...
- FULLY LOADED WITH SAVINGS – Best for low-cost, high-volume printing—2 years of HP Ink included; get up to 8,000 color pages or 6,000 black pages right out of the box
The HP Smart Tank 7602 is the polar opposite of the Epson WF-110 in terms of philosophy. It’s a large, stationary all-in-one unit designed for a home office. Its key feature is its massive ink tanks, which can last for up to two years, resulting in an incredibly low cost per page. It also includes scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities, making it a complete document management hub. A user would choose the HP Smart Tank if their primary concerns are high-volume printing and minimizing long-term ink costs. It is absolutely not portable, but for anyone who prints regularly from a fixed location, it offers far superior value and functionality than the mobile Epson.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-4800 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)
From the same family as our review unit, the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 demonstrates the company’s alternative approach for the home office. Like the HP Smart Tank, it uses large, refillable ink reservoirs instead of cartridges, drastically reducing running costs. It’s an all-in-one device with print, scan, copy, and fax functions, including an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning. The EcoTank ET-4800 is the logical choice for a small business or busy household that needs versatile functionality and predictable, low ink expenses. It sacrifices the WF-110’s portability for a much broader, more cost-effective feature set suitable for a permanent workspace.
3. Brother MFC-J4335DW INKvestment-Tank All-in-One Printer
- More uninterrupted printing. Up to 1 year of printing with the INKvestment Tank’s high-capacity in-box ink cartridges (approximately 150 pages/month) and 2-year limited warranty.
- More speed. Print speeds up to 20 ppm black/19 ppm colour—perfect for personal, home office use and hybrid work environments.
The Brother MFC-J4335DW strikes a middle ground. It uses a hybrid system with internal ink tanks that are fed by re-engineered cartridges, offering up to a year’s worth of ink in the box. This provides a better user experience than tiny cartridges without the potential mess of bottled ink. It’s a robust all-in-one with fast printing, duplex capabilities, and solid wireless connectivity. Someone might prefer the Brother for its reputation for reliability and its user-friendly INKvestment Tank system. It’s a workhorse for a home office or small team, designed for productivity and value, making it an excellent choice for anyone who does not require the untethered, go-anywhere capability of the Epson WorkForce WF-110.
The Final Word: Who Should Buy the Epson WorkForce WF-110?
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer is clear: it is a brilliant, highly specialized tool that is indispensable for the right user, but potentially frustrating for the wrong one. Its strength is its unparalleled portability. For the mobile professional who absolutely must produce high-quality documents on the go, there are few devices that can match its compact, battery-powered convenience. It delivers on its core promise of liberating you from the office desk, and for that, it is exceptional.
However, this freedom comes with significant compromises: slow print speeds on battery, very poor battery life for photos, high ink costs, and, most importantly, troubling reports of long-term reliability issues. This is not a printer for general use, nor is it a cost-effective solution for anyone who prints more than a few pages a day. We recommend the Epson WorkForce WF-110 Wireless Mobile Printer specifically to road warriors, field technicians, and consultants who understand and accept these trade-offs as the price of ultimate portability. For these users, it can be a game-changing piece of equipment. If you fit that profile and need to close deals on the spot, you can get this remarkably portable printer right here.
Last update on 2025-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API