The HP Envy 6500 series, sold as the 6555e in the US and 6530e elsewhere, is a compact all-in-one inkjet aimed at both family use and the home office.

As with many of the best home printers I've tested, it comes in a sleek desktop format with a raft of features designed to make it convenient and user-friendly. There’s a 2.4-inch color touchscreen, auto duplex print and simplex scan using its 35-sheet ADF (automatic document scanner). It can even duplex print photos so that you can label the backs.

With its small cartridges, it’s not cut out for volume printing, but it has sufficient security features for business use and the ability to fax, scan and print via your smartphone with ease. Take into account HP’s credible sustainability claims for this smart-looking printer and I’m already tempted by the US$150 (£110) price tag. If you don’t need the ADF, the otherwise identical HP Envy 6100 series is even cheaper. So, let’s find out if there’s a catch.

HP Envy 6555e: Design and build

HP has never been afraid of trying something new and this form factor is a departure from the norm that you’ll either love or hate. With the paper tray sticking out at the front, the HP Envy 6500 series takes up more room on your desktop than the average small-in-one. The advantage is that it’s a little lower and there’s now a lip on which to catch your printouts as they emerge. It also provides an obvious place for the up-facing touchscreen. Personally, I’d rather have the desk space and I found that the lip also tended to catch dust and crumbs, which it channels inside the printer.

This unit feels light and flimsy and it’s depressing how many inexpensive cartridge-based inkjets like this are discarded as soon as their printheads clog. The fact that HP has used 60% recycled plastic makes me feel a little better about this one. Also, the packaging is a big improvement with cardboard replacing the usual polystyrene. It’s a pity HP has specified its wasteful tri-color cartridge here though. It’ll need replacing the moment any of the C/M/Y inks run low, regardless how much remains of the other two. And looking at the size of these half-empty cartridges, that won’t be long.

HP Envy 6555e: Features & specifications

For the money, the HP Envy 6500 series has lots of features to shout about and two of them are exclusive to HP. It’s the first printer to auto-duplex coated photo paper, allowing you label each photo as you print. This only works with matt 4x6 photo paper by the way, and only by using the HP Smart print app. HP is also the only brand offering support for native printing using Display P3 color, which prints a closer version of the colors you are seeing on your screen.

In addition to printing on any kind and size of media up to letter/A4, it can scan, copy and fax, although you will need a smartphone for the latter because there’s no fax modem on board. With the 35-sheet ADF you can copy a stack of single-sided documents automatically. Sadly, it doesn’t have single-pass dual scanning, though you can automatically copy a single sided document onto both sides of your duplicate page. HP’s Wolf Essentials provides security to prevent malware attacks and you have self-healing dual-band wi-fi built in.

In terms of specifications, the print rate is rather slow at 10ppm (pages per minute) in black and white or 7ppm for color. There’s a good amount of memory built in but the paper capacity is quite limited at 100 sheets. The ink capacity is even more limiting with only enough inbox ink to print 120 black and white pages, or 70 color. It was barely enough to complete the testing procedure.

HP Envy 6555e: Setup and operation

This printer is especially easy to set up, so you probably won’t need the printed quick start guide. Simply load your paper, power up and follow the printer’s onscreen prompts. If you use the HP Smart app, you can even watch short animated clips of how to install the two ink cartridges. The app will use your smartphone to get the printer onto your wi-fi network without you having to type in the password. AirPrint is there to make sure Mac users are catered for. During set-up you can print out a test page to ensure the printheads are aligned.

HP Envy 6555e: Performance

I had no problems printing and scanning with the HP Envy 6500 series. It connected readily with my devices and printed all my test material without a hitch. It’s frustratingly slow at printing large text documents, but if you’re in no hurry, the crisp, dark black text looks precise and professional. With the black ink being pigment based, it’s also smudge resistant and long lasting.

Color documents take even longer, but also look good thanks to HP’s bold dye-based C/M/Y inks. These colors bond well with coated photo paper so you get photos that really pop on glossy paper. The impressive brightness comes at a slight cost, because there’s also less fine detail resolution than a good photo printer can achieve. Suffice it to say that that the HP Envy 6500 series is good at photos. I especially enjoyed the novelty of having the printer turn over my photos and print information the reverse. It’s a fun feature, but somewhat limited as it only works with 4x6-inch matte photo paper.

Scanning is also slow, but accurate enough thanks to its high scan resolution and the 35-sheet ADF worked without incident. Before the testing was over, however, the printer started asking for new ink cartridges.

HP Envy 6555e: Consumables

This already looks like a great printer for the price, but the catch, as ever, is the cost of the consumables. There’s very little ink in the black and tri-color setup cartridges and replacements retail for around US$30 each for the 67 XL carts which yield only 240 and 200 pages respectively. That’s a high CPP (cost per page). And don’t forget that the tri-color cartridge could run out quickly if you tend to print more of any particular color.

Signing up for HP’s Instant Ink subscription with its discounted ink in the mail will bring down the CPP and you even get three months of ink free when you purchase the printer. However, from personal experience, I’d council against this commitment, unless you’re sure you will print regularly with this printer for some time.

HP Envy 6555e: Maintenance

As with even the best inkjet printers, there’s a likelihood that the ink will dry out and clog the nozzles in the two printheads if left unused for a length of time. You’ll notice tramlines appearing on your printouts, or absent colors if this happens. In which case you can usually run a maintenance cycle or two to flush the nozzles clean. It’s a regrettable waste of ink, but it usually does the trick.

HP Envy 6555e: Final verdict

The HP Envy 6500 series looks smart and is so easy to set up and operate, that my first impressions are all good. It has a wide range of useful features, including self-healing wi-fi, duplex printing and scanning and a 35-sheet ADF. I especially enjoyed printing photos, which look refreshingly vivid, while using the auto duplex photo feature to label the other sides. It’s a neat way of producing your own postcards.

I found that the step-shaped form factor takes up more desk space and tends to funnel dust/debris inside the printer, and I’d have appreciated a little more room for paper than the 100-sheet tray allows. It prints very slowly, but very well, so the overall performance is above average. What stops me awarding another star is the high running cost and meagre amount of inbox ink in its tiny cartridges. I’d recommend trying the refillable HP Smart Tank 7001, before committing to a cartridge inkjet printer.

For more devices, we reviewed the best all in one printers around.

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The UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch is designed for professionals and screen-real-estate-lovers on the go. It provides unmatched productivity and creativity potential in a portable and easy-to-use package. With a single USB-C cable, you can quickly push to both displays (depending on the computer's limitations), running them as mirrored, two separate displays, one long display, or running two entirely separate inputs simultaneously. All this while also enabling 10-point touchscreen abilities, again limited only by the computer's operating system. The Delta Pro Touch comes with a touch pen to help with more precise input if you choose, though the touch screen works great without the touch pen.

The part that makes this display so wildly impressive is that it's so powerful in such a simple and relatively portable form factor. Unlike even some of the best portable monitors I've reviewed, this is a display I could see taking with me if I am going on a trip and need an office away from my office for a bit. Granted, I would opt for a smaller display if I were headed to a coffee shop, but this monitor is incredible as a semi-permanent or permanent workspace addition.

UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch 16-Inch 2.5K Dual Monitor: Price and Availability

My model with me is currently discounted from $1,099.99 down to $589.99 on UPERFECT's website. This model will ship later this month (January 2025), while the Delta Max Pro Touch (18-inch) will ship in March 2025.

UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch 16-Inch 2.5K Dual Monitor: Unboxing and First Impressions

When I first unboxed this display, I was surprised at its thickness. I thought it was pretty beefy and cumbersome, but then I started to use it and realized just how much went into this monitor, and I realized that compared to a traditional monitor, there is so much smashed into such a small frame that this is wildly impressive how sleek this design is.

Within the packaging, I received the dual monitor, the pen, USB-C and HDMI to Mini HDMI, the power adapter, and a user manual.

The kickstand design is sturdy, even when the angle of the lower monitor gets pretty steep. This kickstand also folds to give a much lower bottom monitor, which is impressive overall.

The port offering is simple and easy to access, though there was slightly clearer labeling on what port is set up for what monitor. However, once I figured it out, it was easy to remember.

UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch 16-Inch 2.5K Dual Monitor: Design and Build Quality

As I briefly mentioned, the overall design is impressively compact, but that doesn't mean it fits great in any backpack with ease. It's still cumbersome in that way, but for the features and screen you get, it's incredible that it can be that small. Take that as you will, but I can guarantee I won't carry this with me as an EDC, pull-it-out-when-I-want-it kind of monitor. Still, I absolutely will have it set up and prominent for any temp setups I am building if I am traveling and working a normal workload at the same time or if I need to set up a temporary office in my primary bedroom again due to an elongated stay of guests in my home office space.

The port offering on the back of the screen is straightforward to reach, and having all of the controls on one side is great, too. Another thing that I appreciate is that even the top monitor controls and such are on the lower monitor, meaning that when you ultimately have to interact with the OSD buttons and the ports, you can grab the lower, more sturdy, and easier change whatever setting or plug whatever cable in you may need to, all without wobbling the top monitor too bad.

UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch 16-Inch 2.5K Dual Monitor: In use

Using this monitor for the last couple of weeks has been fantastic. I have used it with my MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Apple TV on one display and Mac on another, Dell Precision laptop, Lenovo laptops, etc. I have tested this thing, and as you'd expect from any of the best monitors for MacBook Pro, it has performed marvellously.

The stacked displays are interesting because I have always liked stacked monitors, though I have never thought of stacking two portable monitors. This layout means I can work seamlessly on three screens. If I have my laptop, it takes less space than if I had multiple other monitors. Additionally, I am cramped in space wherever I am, like a coffee shop or a small cafe table. In that case, I can utilize just the top display and put my MacBook screen in front of the lower screen, blocking it but allowing the unique design of this portable monitor to shine, showcasing just how modular and accessible this portable monitor can be. The potential uses are incredible. I have also found myself keeping this on one of my desks to test desktops while running an extra Apple TV to the top screen to give me a mini TV in my office.

Another potential use case would be using this as a presentation tool. Thanks to the built-in screen rotation tool, I could flip the top screen down and behind, showing a person sitting across from me my screen, or if I am presenting in a conference room, I could have one screen point towards my right and another towards my left. As I said, the possibilities are truly remarkable.

All around, this monitor has been a joy to use. It's so unique and yet so easy to use, and I find reasons to want to use it. Now, I know that no matter where I am working, I can have a full monitor setup to help me stay productive wherever I am.

UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch 16-Inch 2.5K Dual Monitor: Final verdict

The UPERFECT Delta Pro Touch is a standout dual-screen portable monitor for professionals who value productivity, creativity, and flexibility. Its exceptional adjustability and high-resolution displays make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking to maximize their workflow efficiency on the go.

For more displays, we tested the best business monitors.

This little laser printer bears Brother’s Workhorse branding, which means it's designed for business use, but its compact size and convenient features will appeal to home workers too.

The Brother Workhorse HL-L2865DW is a single-function black and white printer offering a fast print speed, cost-effective mono printing and a range of useful features. Like many of the best laser printers I've reviewed, this one can auto duplex and its inbuilt Wi-Fi is dual-band, but it’s also equipped with a useful front-loading multi-purpose tray for printing on envelopes. It also comes with the security needed for a shared office and eco-friendly features including settings that reduce energy and toner consumption.

Brother HL-L2865DW: Design and build

The Brother HL-L2865DW is an unassuming grey box that’s small and light enough to share your desktop. It has ports for Ethernet and USB data cables as well as offering wireless connectivity with AirPrint compatibility. It’s a pity there’s no USB Host port at the front, but the front-facing manual feed slot is a very welcome feature as it saves so much time with those single print jobs such as printing on headed notepaper and envelopes.

It feels somewhat light and plasticky and the single-line display is quite hard to read, but at least these money-saving measures keep the overall cost competitive. As this is a mono printer, there’s plenty of room for the single high-yield black toner cartridge, which means your cost-per-page is also competitive.

Brother HL-L2865DW: Features & specifications

For a print-only mono device, the Brother HL-L2865DW has quite a few features to shout about. The print speed is impressive, especially in duplex mode. The given figure is 16ppm (pages per minute) which I corroborated with my stopwatch. In simplex mode, its 34ppm, which is significantly faster than the 26ppm HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw.

The single-line LCD is small, but at least it does have a display. The inbuilt wi-fi is dual-band and there’s also an Ethernet port. The main paper tray takes an ample 250-sheets of Letter or A4-size paper and the single-sheet front input slot is essential for those one-off print jobs.

Brother has taken some steps to make this printer more sustainable with an Eco Mode to reduce power consumption, and a Toner Save Mode to reduce toner. It’s a shame that no recycled plastic or parts have been used in its construction, and the packaging includes polystyrene, so there’s room for improvement.

Brother HL-L2865DW: Setup and operation

The setup manual is very brief because Brother is assuming you will download the excellent companion app, called Mobile Connect, and use that as your setup guide. It’s a case of plugging in, loading your paper and installing the toner cartridge, before letting the app on your smartphone get the printer connected to your local wi-fi network. It worked first time for me, and with AirPrint built in, I was able to print from my MacBook and iPhone straight away. It’s also fully compatible with Windows and Chrome OS. The Mobile Connect app is good for general operation too because you can use it to check the toner level, ordering a new cartridge, or update the printer’s firmware.

Brother HL-L2865DW: Performance

I found the Brother HL-L2865DW printed quickly and surprisingly quietly throughout the tests. The quoted speed of 34ppm is accurate enough, while the quoted noise level of 49dB makes this one of the quieter laser printers on the market. It also printed reliably and well, so long as you don’t ask it to duplex thick paper. I found that it could print well on heavy 300gsm paper stock in simplex mode when using the single sheet input, which is designed for heavier paper, but automatically turning the page over always caused a jam. Removing a stuck page involves removing the cartridge to access it. The paper weight limit for auto duplex printing is a rather thin 105gsm.

The primary task of any black and white laser printer is to turn out pages of text and this it does with clarity and consistency. The characters don’t look quite as inky black as some rival laser printers I have tested, but that’s not to say they are pale. When I reduced the font size to just two points, I was still able to read the text (through a magnifying glass) quite easily.

The quoted resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 sounds better than the 600 x 600 you usually get with laser printers, but sadly that doesn’t equate to superior print quality. The black and white photos I printed looked less sharp than other laser printers at this price point can manage. More impressive was the way it applied the black toner very evenly, leaving no tramlines or blocking, which is good news if your documents include pie charts and areas of solid black. As mentioned, however, it’s not the darkest black toner available, so it has a tendency to appear grey.

Brother HL-L2865DW: Consumables

Replacement toner cartridges for this printer are cost effective, especially the high-yield TN830XL (TN2510XL) cartridge, which gives you 3,000 pages for a cost of US$152 (£96). That’s a pretty low cost-per-page. The bundled cartridge yields 1,200 pages, which isn’t too bad for inbox toner either.

Brother HL-L2865DW: Maintenance

Unlike inkjets, laser printers don’t suffer from blocked nozzles when left unused, so they require less maintenance on the whole. They do, however, rely on a drum that, in this case, needs replacing after 15,000 pages and a new DR830 (DR2510) unit from Brother costs US$136 (£106).

Brother HL-L2865DW: Final verdict

The Brother HL-L2865DW highlights how efficient a black and white laser printer can be in a shared office or home office situation. If you can say with certainty that you don’t need to print in color, a mono laser like this is smaller, simpler, cheaper to buy and cheaper to run. With just one cartridge, there’s room for more toner, enough for 3,000 pages in this case, and more paper (250 sheets). And it performed its single job of turning out professional-looking pages of text very well throughout my testing. The print rate of 16ppm in duplex mode is pretty fast and at less than 50dB, it operates quietly too. The only test it failed was duplexing high quality, which caused a jam. The limit for duplexing is 106gsm stock. I would have appreciated a larger display, or a front USB Host port, but the front-loading multi-purpose input slot proved invaluable for one-off print jobs such as printing on envelopes and headed paper. Overall, this basic laser printer proved to be good value for money.

Want a printer for the home or home office? We reviewed the best home printers around.

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