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We Tried The HP Smart Tank 580 All-In-One Printer. Here's Our Honest Opinion

Can't go wrong with a Smart Tank.

Cover image via Syazwan Bahri/SAYS

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A good printer can significantly improve your workflow

Having a reliable printer at home means you don't have to seek out printing services at inconvenient hours to print your crucial documents at the last minute. That's why we decided to try out one of HP's latest printers: the HP Smart Tank 580.

The HP Smart Tank 580 is an economical ink tank printer designed to offer a cost-saving alternative for home and small business users, compared to traditional ink cartridge-based printers. This innovative approach allows the printer to hold a significant amount of ink, using ink bottles for replenishment instead of standard cartridges.

Gone are the days of boring, beige printers

The HP Smart Tank 580 printer boasts a modern and sleek design, complete with a matte finish that enhances its overall visual appeal. Positioned at the front of the printer, the ink tank features a transparent housing, providing users with a convenient way to monitor ink levels. The top of the printer hosts easily accessible buttons for configuring Wi-Fi settings, initiating scans, and managing other options. Each button is backlit for visibility in dark spaces.

Its compact size makes the HP Smart Tank 580 an ideal choice for limited spaces such as home offices or dorm rooms. Additionally, its robust construction ensures prolonged durability, even under regular usage. In summary, the combination of design and build quality in the HP Smart Tank 580 makes it an appealing option for those seeking a blend of style and functionality in their printing device.

Setting up the printer is a breeze

Whether you're a tech-savvy individual or someone who is less comfortable with gadgets, HP has got you covered. Setting up the HP Smart Tank 580 printer is as simple as ABC, and you can choose to do it wirelessly or through the provided USB cable. The printer comes with a guidebook that provides clear instructions for setup. You can also download the Smart HP app on your mobile device and follow the clear on-screen instructions.

Once you've peeled off the protective films, connected the power cord, and turned on the printer, you'll be prompted to insert the ink bottles. After filling the tanks up to the brim, you're good to go.

Connecting the printer wirelessly is a snap using the Wi-Fi buttons on the display or following the manual's instructions. You even have the option to print directly from your smartphone or tablet using a mobile app. If you encounter any hiccups in the setup, the manual has troubleshooting tips.

It took us approximately 15 minutes to get the printer ready to print.

Despite it's affordable price tag, the printer passed our tests with flying colours

The HP Smart Tank 580 printer stands out with its impressive printing speed and quality. It delivers a rapid printing pace, churning out around 10-12 pages per minute for black prints and four to five pages per minute for color prints. This makes it a great choice for individuals or small businesses requiring swift document printing. The printed output is crisp and clear, suitable for both text and images, without any smudging.

When it comes to color accuracy and print durability, the HP Smart Tank 580 doesn't disappoint. Color prints are vibrant and precise, maintaining consistent shading and hue across multiple prints. The prints also hold up well over time, remaining intact even with extended use or exposure to environmental elements like sunlight or moisture.

Also, the printer is barely audible when it's printing — something that most printers rarely address — which makes it perfect for a bedroom workspace.

It does more than just printing pretty pictures and documents

The HP Smart Tank 580 effortlessly handles scanning and copying tasks, making it a versatile all-in-one printer. Positioned on top of the printer, the scanner bed accommodates documents up to 8.5 x 11 inches (21.59 x 27.94 cm), and scanning is swift, completing in just a few seconds.

Copying with this printer is accurate, producing sharp copies with true-to-color results. Users can customise copy settings, adjusting parameters like image quality and paper size. The ability to make multiple copies simultaneously proves handy for bulk printing tasks.

For added convenience, the printer integrates seamlessly with mobile devices, allowing users to print, scan, or copy using their smartphones or tablets. The HP Smart app facilitates access to various functions like document scanning and file sharing directly from mobile devices.

The printer also comes with a couple of bells and whistles

Thanks to the innovative refill bottles, refilling the tanks is a spill-free and easy experience. The bottles are sealed with a membrane that stops any leaks and accidental spills. Another nifty feature is the self-healing Wi-Fi. This feature automatically fixes the connection between the printer and the router in the event of a disconnection, allowing seamless access to network printing. 

The Smart Tank 580 also comes with power-saving features such as extra silent printing and auto-dimming backlights. Again, this makes it perfect for bedroom workspaces.

Here's why the Smart Tank 580 makes great economical sense:

The HP Smart Tank 580 printer offers affordability and cost-effectiveness through its innovative ink tank technology. Unlike traditional inkjet printers that rely on expensive cartridges, this printer features refillable ink tanks with a high ink-holding capacity.

The provided black, yellow, cyan, and magenta ink bottles have an impressive lifespan, capable of producing up to 6,000 black and white pages or up to 6,000 color prints. This makes the HP Smart Tank 580 an economical choice for both home users and small businesses seeking budget-friendly printing solutions. If you eventually run out of ink, the bottles are priced starting at only RM31 from the official HP Online store.

In addition to initial cost savings, the long-term financial benefits of using an ink tank printer like the HP Smart Tank 580 stem from its ink efficiency. Users only need to buy new ink bottles, minimising waste and reducing replacement costs compared to replacing entire cartridges. The transparent housing of each ink reservoir ensures easy monitoring of ink levels, eliminating concerns about running out unexpectedly or wasting unused portions.

Here's how much the HP Smart Tank 580 costs:

The HP Smart Tank 580 All-in-One Printer costs RM539 on the HP Online Store. The bundle includes a HP GT53XL 135ml Black Original Ink Bottle. 

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