An HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e printer showcasing its sleek design and user-friendly interface.
For those seeking a versatile multifunction printer that doesn’t compromise on photo quality, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e emerges as a compelling option. This inkjet all-in-one distinguishes itself by seamlessly blending user-friendliness with impressive print output, making it a standout choice in a market saturated with less intuitive competitors. While excelling in everyday document printing, its capacity to produce sharp and vibrant photos elevates it to the realm of the Best Mfp Photo Printers available. The thoughtful design, coupled with cost-effective ink options and a reassuringly long warranty, further solidifies its position as a top contender for home and small office users alike. However, potential buyers should carefully evaluate the implications of HP+ and Instant Ink subscriptions to ensure they align with their printing needs and habits.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e stands out for its exceptional ease of setup and operation, skillfully balancing print quality, speed, and dependability that many printers struggle to achieve. Its modern and refined aesthetics also set it apart from bulkier, less appealing alternatives, almost making minor drawbacks like the small touchscreen and somewhat flimsy output tray forgivable. For users prioritizing both document versatility and photo printing capabilities in a single device, this model presents a strong case as a leading MFP photo printer.
HP offers optional enhancements for the 9125e, including their Instant Ink subscription service and a complimentary HP+ membership, designed to extend warranty coverage and potentially lower printing expenses. However, these options also introduce limitations on printer usage, emphasizing the need for careful consideration before committing to either service.
Effortless Setup for Immediate Photo Printing. The setup process is remarkably streamlined. An integrated on-screen keyboard simplifies Wi-Fi connection, facilitating a hassle-free installation. Testing revealed a swift setup time of under 10 minutes, encompassing ink cartridge installation. This smooth and contemporary process contrasts sharply with the often cumbersome installers found with other printer brands, feeling distinctly more advanced.
The HP Smart app, available for both Android and iOS, further simplifies printer integration, allowing users to add the 9125e from their smartphones in just a few straightforward steps. This mobile integration is particularly beneficial for users who frequently print photos directly from their phones.
However, the app-driven setup process includes persistent prompts to enroll in HP+ and Instant Ink, presenting “exclusive” offers repeatedly. While easy to navigate for those with a pre-determined decision, the insistent nature can pressure unprepared users into potentially irreversible choices.
Instant Ink: A Potentially Cost-Effective Solution for Photo Printing. The Instant Ink program operates on a tiered system based on anticipated monthly print volume, ranging from 10 to 700 pages. (A three-month trial is included upon printer purchase, contingent on HP+ enrollment.) This subscription model can be particularly advantageous for users who print photos regularly, as it can significantly reduce ink costs over time.
With Instant Ink, the per-page cost ranges from a maximum of 14.9¢ to a minimum of 4¢. A key benefit is the uniform cost for both color and black-and-white printing, making color photo prints as economical as monochrome documents. The service proactively ships replacement ink cartridges when levels are low, eliminating the need for manual ordering. Unused pages carry over for up to three times the monthly plan amount, and additional page sets (10 to 15 pages) are available for $1 each if monthly and rollover allowances are exceeded.
Furthermore, Instant Ink subscription extends the printer’s warranty to two years, providing added peace of mind for users who rely on consistent photo printing.
HP+ and Instant Ink: Weighing the Benefits for Photo Printing Needs. The three-month Instant Ink trial necessitates enrollment in HP+, an optional service package enhancing the 9125e with features such as an enhanced HP Smart app, cloud connectivity, advanced security, and the extended two-year warranty. These features can be particularly appealing to users who desire seamless photo printing from various devices and secure cloud storage for scanned photos.
However, HP+ imposes a permanent lock-in to genuine HP ink cartridges, preventing the use of third-party or remanufactured alternatives. This restriction limits user choice and places them solely under HP’s ink pricing structure. For users who print photos frequently and seek cost-effective ink solutions, this lock-in might be a significant drawback.
HP+ also mandates a continuous internet connection for printer operation, potentially causing disruptions for users with unstable internet access. Disconnection can lead to printing interruptions and error messages, which can be frustrating, especially when needing to print photos urgently. HP support documentation confirms this operational dependency on internet connectivity.
Cancellation of an Instant Ink subscription results in the inability to use any remaining ink in the current cartridges, further emphasizing the importance of carefully evaluating long-term printing needs before subscribing, especially for photo enthusiasts who might stockpile ink.
Simplified Maintenance for Consistent Photo Quality. The HP Smart software suite, accessible on computers and mobile devices, provides comprehensive printer management. Users can easily monitor ink levels, order replacements, adjust settings remotely, and access the Embedded Web Server for advanced configurations. This user-centric design ensures that essential functions are readily accessible, contributing to a smooth and efficient photo printing workflow.
The OfficeJet Pro 9125e’s menu screen displaying intuitive options for printer management and settings.
While the OfficeJet Pro 9125e’s capacitive touchscreen is smaller than ideal, its user interface remains more intuitive and navigable compared to many competitors, facilitating easy access to photo print settings and maintenance options. Photo: Marki Williams
Cost-Effectiveness for Photo and Document Printing. The 9125e includes initial ink cartridges sufficient for approximately 800 black-and-white pages or 420 color pages. A full set of high-yield HP 936e EvoMore cartridges is priced around $240 and yields approximately 2,500 monochrome pages or 1,650 color pages. This translates to a reasonable per-page cost of 3.2¢ for black printing and 12.8¢ for color, making it a competitive option for both document and photo printing in terms of ink খরচ.
Although the OfficeJet Pro 9015e, a previous top recommendation, offered slightly lower per-page costs, the 9125e remains a cost-effective choice compared to most non-ink-tank all-in-one printers, excluding budget-focused models like our budget pick. For users seeking a balance of photo quality and affordability, the 9125e presents a compelling value proposition.
Exceptional Print Prowess for Photos and Documents. The 9125e excels in print quality. Text output is consistently dark, sharp, and legible even at small font sizes (down to 4 points in most fonts). Graphics are rendered crisply and vibrantly on default settings, with minimal banding observed in full-page graphics printed on standard copy paper. These qualities extend to photo printing, making it a reliable MFP photo printer.
For photo enthusiasts, the “Best quality” setting truly enhances glossy photo prints. This optional setting produced borderless 8.5-by-11-inch glossy photos that looked impressive, suitable for display, although colors exhibited a slight blue shift and increased contrast compared to the original images. While not perfectly color-accurate for professional photography, the photo quality is more than satisfactory for general home and family photo printing.
Print Speed Suitable for Home Photo Projects. HP rates the 9125e at up to 22 monochrome pages per minute and 18 color pages per minute. Real-world testing using a grayscale IRS 1099-MISC instruction sheet and a color office document (both PDFs) yielded print speeds of 12 ppm and 8.1 ppm, respectively. Duplex printing speed remained respectable at approximately 8 pages per minute for both grayscale and color. While not the fastest printer, it’s adequately speedy for typical home photo printing tasks and document needs.
Printing a text-only Google Docs file pushed the 9125e closer to its rated speed, clocking in at a respectable 21.4 pages per minute. Scanning speeds were also brisk, averaging 9.2 pages per minute in grayscale and 6.5 pages per minute in color. Two-sided scanning reduced speeds to 4.5 ppm and 3.9 ppm, respectively. For users with very high-volume scanning needs, a printer with single-pass duplex scanning, such as our laser upgrade pick., might be preferable. However, for typical home and small office use, including occasional photo scanning, the speed is generally sufficient.
For users who don’t frequently handle large print jobs, the slight delay in duplex output is unlikely to be a concern. Marguerite Preston, a Wirecutter senior editor and owner of the previous-generation 9015e, notes, “I usually print double-sided, and I have never been bothered by the pause between sides. It’s plenty fast for me.” This sentiment likely holds true for photo printing projects as well, where speed is often less critical than print quality.
Reliable Paper Handling for Uninterrupted Photo Printing. Paper handling in the 9125e proved nearly flawless during testing. It reliably fed paper from both full and near-empty trays, handled slightly crumpled paper without issue, and consistently picked only one sheet at a time. Automatic document feeder scans were also remarkably straight, a notable improvement over many tested printers, including some other HP models. This reliable paper handling is crucial for preventing paper jams and ensuring smooth, uninterrupted photo printing sessions.
Aesthetically Pleasing Design for Home Offices. The OfficeJet Pro 9125e’s clean, modern design is a welcome departure from the bulkier aesthetics of older OfficeJet models. While appearance is a secondary consideration for office equipment, choosing a printer that is visually appealing is a bonus, especially for home offices where the printer is a visible part of the workspace. Its sleek design makes it a more attractive addition to any home office setup, blending in seamlessly with modern décor.
Minor Drawbacks, Not Deal Breakers for Photo Printing
- The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e’s primary limitation is its single 250-sheet paper tray. This necessitates manually swapping out plain paper when printing on different media, such as photo paper, legal-size paper, labels, or résumé paper. For users who frequently switch between document and photo printing, this can be slightly inconvenient.
- The 2.7-inch touchscreen, while functional, is somewhat small. Navigating smaller on-screen buttons, such as the Settings menu gear icon, can be occasionally challenging, potentially leading to mis-taps. However, for basic photo printing tasks and settings adjustments, it is generally adequate.
- Color accuracy is not perfect. Glossy photo prints exhibited a slight blue and magenta cast with somewhat exaggerated contrast. For professional photographers demanding precise color reproduction, a dedicated photo printer is still recommended. However, for general home photo printing and casual photo projects, the color quality is generally acceptable and pleasing.
- As previously mentioned, HP+ enrollment locks users into HP ink and requires constant internet connectivity. While HP ink is reasonably priced, this vendor lock-in and internet dependency can be restrictive for some users, especially those seeking more flexibility in ink choices or with unreliable internet connections. For users prioritizing absolute control over ink choices or offline operation, these aspects might be significant drawbacks.
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