An HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e printer.
Photo: Marki Williams
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e stands out as the best all-in-one inkjet printer, offering a user-friendly experience, economical ink options, an extended warranty, and thoughtful design elements that set it apart from its competitors. Its output quality remains sharp and impressive. However, it’s crucial to carefully consider the implications of opting for HP+ or Instant Ink services before making a decision.
Buying Options
$200 from HP
$200 from Amazon
$200 from Walmart
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e excels in providing an exceptionally easy setup and user experience, effectively balancing print quality, speed, and dependability that surpasses other printers in its class. Its modern and sleek aesthetic distinguishes it from more conventional-looking competitors, almost making up for its small touchscreen and somewhat delicate output tray. For those seeking the Best Aio Printer for home or small office use, the 9125e presents a compelling option.
The 9125e offers users the choice to enroll in HP’s Instant Ink subscription program and a complimentary HP+ membership. These options provide benefits like extended warranty coverage and potential reductions in printing expenses. However, they also impose restrictions on printer usage, making it essential to carefully evaluate these options before committing.
Seamless and Straightforward Setup
Setting up the OfficeJet Pro 9125e is remarkably straightforward. The integrated on-screen keyboard simplifies Wi-Fi connectivity, streamlining the entire installation. Testing revealed a setup time of less than 10 minutes, including ink cartridge installation. This streamlined and contemporary process makes the installation procedures of other printer brands seem outdated in comparison.
The HP Smart app, available for both Android and iOS, further simplifies printer integration with smartphones, requiring only a few steps to add the printer. This mobile integration solidifies its position as a top contender for the best aio printer title, especially for users who prioritize mobile printing.
However, the app-driven setup includes persistent prompts to subscribe to HP+ and Instant Ink. While convenient for users intending to subscribe, those who decline may find the repeated offers somewhat intrusive. It’s important to be aware of these prompts to avoid unintended subscriptions.
The Potential Benefits of Instant Ink
The Instant Ink program presents a tiered subscription model tailored to various printing volumes, ranging from 10 to 700 pages monthly. (A three-month trial is included with printer purchase upon HP+ enrollment.) This subscription service can significantly impact the running cost of what could be considered the best aio printer in terms of long-term value.
Instant Ink offers a cost-effective per-page rate, ranging from a maximum of 14.9¢ to as low as 4¢. Notably, color and black-and-white prints are priced the same. The service includes automatic ink cartridge replacements when ink levels are low, shipped at no extra charge. Unused pages can be rolled over 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 limits are exceeded.
Furthermore, subscribing to Instant Ink extends the printer’s warranty to two years, adding to the overall value proposition for users seeking the best aio printer with comprehensive support.
Weighing the HP+ and Instant Ink Commitments
To access the three-month Instant Ink trial, enrollment in HP+ is mandatory. HP+ is an optional service package that enhances the 9125e with features like an enhanced HP Smart app, cloud-based connectivity and security, and the extended two-year warranty. These features aim to improve the user experience of this potential best aio printer.
However, HP+ locks the printer to exclusively using genuine HP ink cartridges. This restriction prevents the use of third-party or remanufactured cartridges, limiting user choice and dependence on HP’s ink pricing. This vendor lock-in is a crucial consideration for users looking for the most flexible and potentially the best aio printer in terms of consumable options.
HP+ also necessitates a continuous internet connection for the printer to function; loss of connectivity may render the printer unusable until reconnection. This requirement can be problematic for users with unstable internet, potentially hindering the reliability expected from the best aio printer. An error message appears and printing ceases if internet connectivity is lost.
Lastly, canceling an Instant Ink subscription forfeits any remaining ink in the currently installed cartridges, representing a potential waste of resources if not carefully managed.
Simplified Maintenance and Monitoring
The HP Smart software suite, accessible on computers and mobile devices, streamlines printer management. Users can easily monitor ink levels, order replacements, adjust settings remotely, and access the printer’s Embedded Web Server for advanced configurations. This all-in-one approach centralizes printer functions, reinforcing the 9125e’s user-friendly nature as a leading candidate for best aio printer.
The OfficeJet Pro 9125e’s menu screen.
The OfficeJet Pro 9125e’s capacitive touchscreen interface, while compact, remains more intuitive than many competitors. Photo: Marki Williams
Cost-Effectiveness and Ink Efficiency
The OfficeJet Pro 9125e ships with starter ink cartridges sufficient for approximately 800 black-and-white pages or 420 color pages. High-yield HP 936e EvoMore cartridge sets, priced around $240, yield approximately 2,500 monochrome or 1,650 color pages. This translates to a reasonable cost per page of 3.2¢ for black and 12.8¢ for color printing, making it an economically sound choice among best aio printer options.
While its predecessor, the OfficeJet Pro 9015e, offered slightly lower per-page costs, the 9125e remains a cost-effective option compared to most non-ink-tank all-in-one printers, excluding budget-focused models.
High-Quality Print Performance
Print quality from the 9125e is consistently high. Text output is dark, sharp, and legible even at small font sizes (around 4 points in most fonts). Graphics are vibrant and crisp on default settings, with minimal banding observed when printing full-page graphics on standard copy paper. This print prowess is a key factor in its consideration as the best aio printer for users who value output quality.
Glossy photo prints excel under the “Best quality” setting. This setting produces excellent borderless 8.5×11-inch glossy prints suitable for display, although colors may exhibit a slight blueish tint and increased contrast compared to source photos.
Impressive Printing Speeds
HP rates the 9125e at up to 22 ppm for monochrome and 18 ppm for color printing. Testing confirmed speeds of 12 ppm for grayscale and 8.1 ppm for color documents (PDFs). Duplex printing speeds were only slightly slower, at approximately 8 ppm for both grayscale and color. These speeds are competitive for an inkjet all-in-one, reinforcing its position as a potentially best aio printer for busy environments.
Printing text-only Google Docs files approached HP’s claimed speeds, reaching a respectable 21.4 ppm.
Scanning speeds are also brisk, averaging 9.2 ppm for grayscale and 6.5 ppm for color. Two-sided scanning reduced speeds to 4.5 ppm and 3.9 ppm, respectively. For high-volume duplex scanning, single-pass duplex scanners may be preferable, but for typical use, the 9125e’s scanning is efficient enough for a best aio printer.
For users with moderate print volumes, the duplex printing speed is unlikely to be a concern. As noted by Wirecutter senior editor Marguerite Preston, the duplex speed of the similar previous-generation 9015e is “plenty fast” for regular use.
Enhanced Reliability in Operation
The 9125e demonstrates exceptional paper handling reliability. It performed flawlessly with both full and nearly empty paper trays, handled crumpled paper without issue, and consistently fed single pages correctly. Automatic document feeder scans were remarkably straight, a notable improvement over many tested printers, including some other HP models. This reliability is a crucial factor for users seeking the best aio printer for consistent performance.
Attractive and Modern Design
The OfficeJet Pro 9125e boasts a clean, sharp, and modern aesthetic, a welcome departure from the bulkier designs of older OfficeJet models. While aesthetics are secondary to functionality, the 9125e’s pleasing design is a bonus for users who value the visual appeal of their office equipment. Its design contributes to its appeal as the best aio printer that blends seamlessly into a modern workspace.
Minor Drawbacks
Despite its strengths, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e has a few minor flaws:
- Limited Paper Tray Capacity: The single 250-sheet paper tray necessitates manual paper swapping for different media types (legal, labels, photo paper, etc.).
- Small Touchscreen: The 2.7-inch touchscreen, while functional, can be challenging for precise touch inputs, particularly for smaller on-screen elements.
- Color Accuracy: Glossy photo prints may exhibit slight color inaccuracies, skewing towards blue and magenta with increased contrast. Dedicated photo printers are recommended for critical photo printing.
- HP+ Restrictions: HP+ enrollment locks users into HP ink and requires constant internet connectivity, which may be restrictive for some users.
Advertisement
