TLDR Review: Epson EcoTank ET-8500 Printer
Pros
- •Produces outstanding lauality photo prints with vibrant, accurate colors, fine detail, and sharp text thanks to its six-color Claria ET Premium Ink system, including Photo Black and Gray inks.
- •Extremely low running costs with refillable EcoTank ink bottles, making cost per color page as low as 0.9 cents and about 4 cents for borderless 4x6 photos.
- •Large ink tanks provide enough ink for up to two years of typical use, significantly reducing replacement frequency.
- •Versatile media handling: supports multiple paper sizes, borderless printing, cardstock up to 1.3 mm thick, and even direct CD/DVD printing.
- •Multiple connectivity options including Wi, Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi Direct, and printing via smartphone apps and voice assistants.
- •Useriendly 4.3-inch color touchscreen enables easy navigation, on-device control, and customizable workflows.
- •Compact footprint with three paper trays, suitable for home offices or small creative setups.
- •Fast print speeds for everyday documents and photos—up to 16 pages per minute for monochrome, and under a minute for higuality 4x6 photo prints.
- •Scanner delivers up to 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution, suitable for detailed document and photo scans.
- •EcoTank system is easy to refill with keyed bottles designed to avoid spills and incorrect filling.
Cons
- •Paper feed and tray alignment issues cause frequent paper jams and phantom errors, requiring restarts or manual intervention.
- •Setup can be confusing and difficult, involving multiple alignment and calibration steps, sometimes frustrating for less tecavvy users.
- •Paper trays are somewhat fiddly and confusing to manage, with tray capacity limited (max 50 sheets) and requiring careful handling.
- •Touchscreen can be hard to read in certain lighting conditions due to glare or low brightness.
- •Scanning duplexing is not available, and the lack of an automatic document feeder limits scanning and copying to single pages.
- •Printing software is considered outdated and cumbersome by some users, lacking advanced color management features like builn ICC profiles.
- •Build quality of paper trays and doors feels somewhat flimsy, impacting lonerm durability and reliability.
- •Printer occasionally produces smeared prints on glossy photo paper despite adjustments.
- •USB port placement may be awkward, making direct USB thumb drive printing less convenient.
- •Overall reliability concerns, with some users reporting random error codes and frustrating maintenance requiring multiple restarts.
Bottom Line
The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 is a versatile, cost-effective all-in-one for those who want professional-quality photo prints at an affordable running cost, thanks to its six-color EcoTank system and wide media support. However, it comes with notable quirks: paper handling can be frustrating due to jams and tray confusion, and setup can be a hassle, especially if you want consistent, flawless prints. If your top priority is hassle-free reliability with photo printing, you might also consider models that offer an automatic document feeder and more robust paper handling options, but few match the ET-8500 on cost efficiency and photo quality at this price. This printer is a solid choice for photographers and small offices willing to invest time into setup and maintenance for superb photos and document versatility.
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