TLDR Review: Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Printer
Pros
- •The ink tanks are highly praised, offering a preferred alternative to traditional cartridges with large, easo-refill bottles designed to minimize mess.
- •Prints deliver crisp, clear, and higuality results, especially when using vivid or high-quality settings.
- •Compatible with all devices, ensuring no connectivity or compatibility headaches.
- •Useriendly design that is generally easy to set up, with minimal configuration needed for most users.
- •Economical printing—significantly more cosffective over time compared to cartridge-based systems.
- •Reliable printing performance with fewer malfunctions and less frequent ink replacement interruptions.
- •Includes convenient features like wireless, mobile printing, Ethernet, and a functional document feeder.
- •The printer is slightly more compact, saving some valuable desk space.
- •The color touchscreen is fully illuminated and useriendly, making navigation easier than some older models.
Cons
- •Setting up and installing the printer can be a complicated and timonsuming ordeal, sometimes taking several hours.
- •Warranty registration issues are common, with claims of premature expiration requiring multiple calls or emails to resolve.
- •Customer support, although friendly, tends to be slow in response, adding frustration during troubleshooting.
- •Handling ink during setup requires care to avoid messes.
- •Frequent use is recommended to prevent ink drying or clogging, especially in color tanks.
- •Deep cleaning procedures consume a lot of ink and fill a waste tank that isn’t useeplaceable, potentially causing interruptions if it overflows.
- •The document feeder feels cheaply made and does not support automatic duplex scanning, meaning manual flipping for twided originals.
- •Connecting to newer Chromebooks can be tricky, often requiring manual IP configuration due to outdated or unhelpful instructions.
- •The printer is noisier than previous models, with noticeable gear noise before and after printing.
- •Printing at higher quality slows speeds down, and normapeed color prints can appear lighter or less vibrant.
Bottom Line
If you want a *cost-effective, cartridge-free, and high-quality* all-in-one printer with great device compatibility, the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is a solid choice — especially if you’re printing regularly and can invest the necessary time to get through the initial setup. However, don’t buy this expecting a quick or painless installation, and be prepared for some warranty and support headaches if issues arise. If ease of setup and faster support response are must-haves, you might want to explore other EcoTank models or competitors with simpler setup processes and better duplex scanning, but this one shines when budget-conscious quality is your top priority.
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