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The only printer review you need to read: Is the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 worth the high price tag?
Epson EcoTank ET-15000
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is a versatile all-in-one printer designed for home offices and small businesses that demand high-volume, cost-effective printing. It stands out from traditional cartridge-based printers with its revolutionary cartridge-free system, featuring large, refillable ink tanks. This design not only significantly reduces long-term ink costs but also minimizes waste, offering an environmentally friendly alternative. The ET-15000’s ability to print, scan, copy, and fax, combined with its wide-format printing capabilities, makes it a powerful and flexible workhorse for a variety of tasks.
The printer’s key selling point is its ink system. The included ink bottles, which are color-coded and keyed for mess-free filling, provide an impressive yield of up to 6,200 pages for black and 5,200 pages for color. This translates to an incredibly low cost per print, a major relief for anyone tired of expensive, short-lived ink cartridges. While the initial purchase price is higher than that of a standard printer, the long-term savings on ink are substantial and quickly justify the investment.
In terms of performance, the ET-15000 delivers a solid experience. It prints at respectable speeds, with a maximum of 17 ISO ppm for black and 9 ISO ppm for color, and features automatic two-sided printing to save paper. The print quality is generally excellent for both documents and photos. Text is sharp and clear, and color prints are vibrant. A standout feature is the rear specialty paper feed, which accommodates media up to 13″ x 19″ (A3+), making it a great option for creative projects like posters, presentations, and even sublimation printing, a popular modification among some users.
While the printer excels in many areas, there are a few considerations. Its larger size is a necessity for its wide-format capabilities and dual paper trays, but it may be too bulky for a small desk or limited space. The scanner bed, while functional, only scans up to 8.5″ x 14″, which is smaller than the maximum print size, requiring workarounds for larger documents. The setup can also be a little more involved than a standard printer due to the ink-filling process, but the easy-to-use touchscreen interface helps streamline the process.
Overall, the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is a highly recommended printer for anyone with significant printing needs who is looking to drastically cut down on ink costs. Its high-yield ink system, versatile paper handling, and all-in-one functionality make it a compelling choice for a demanding home office or small business environment.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extremely Low Cost Per Print: High-capacity ink tanks provide thousands of pages of prints from a single set of ink bottles. | High Initial Price: The upfront cost is significantly higher than that of a standard inkjet printer. |
| Wide-Format Printing: Capable of printing up to 13″ x 19″ (A3+). | Bulky Design: Larger and heavier than typical home office printers. |
| Cartridge-Free System: Eliminates the need for expensive, wasteful cartridges and reduces long-term costs. | Limited Scanner Size: The flatbed scanner only accommodates documents up to 8.5″ x 14″, despite the printer’s wide-format capability. |
| Excellent Print Quality: Delivers crisp text and vibrant color photos. | Involved Initial Setup: The process of filling the ink tanks can be more complex than installing a cartridge. |
| All-in-One Functionality: Includes printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. | Dye-Based Inks: Not as fade-resistant as pigment-based inks, which can be a concern for long-term archival photo printing. |
| Large Paper Capacity: Features a 250-sheet front tray and a 20-sheet rear feed. | |
| Automatic Duplex Printing: Saves paper and time with automatic two-sided printing. |
Features and Specifications
- Printer Type: All-in-One Inkjet Printer
- Functions: Print, Scan, Copy, Fax
- Ink System: 4-Color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) EcoTank with refillable Supertanks
- Maximum Print Resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi
- Print Speeds:
- Black: Up to 17 ISO ppm
- Color: Up to 9 ISO ppm
- 2-Sided Black: Up to 7 ISO ppm
- 2-Sided Color: Up to 5 ISO ppm
- Borderless Printing: Up to 11″ x 17″
- Maximum Paper Size: 13″ x 19″ (A3+) via rear feed
- Paper Capacity:
- Front Cassette: 250 sheets
- Rear Feed: 20 sheets
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF): 35 sheets
- Scanner: Color flatbed with ADF
- Optical Resolution: 1200 dpi
- Maximum Scan Size: 8.5″ x 14″ (ADF)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB
- Display: 2.7-inch color touchscreen
- Dimensions (W x D x H):
- Printing: 19.6″ x 29.6″ x 14.3″
- Storage: 19.6″ x 14.1″ x 9.6″
- Weight: 21.4 lb
Competitor Comparison
| Feature | Epson EcoTank ET-15000 | Canon PIXMA MegaTank GX7021 | Brother MFC-J6945DW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ink System | Refillable Ink Tanks | Refillable Ink Tanks | Replaceable Ink Cartridges with internal tank |
| Print Resolution (dpi) | 4800 x 1200 | 1200 x 600 | 4800 x 1200 |
| Max Paper Size | 13″ x 19″ (A3+) | 8.5″ x 14″ (Legal) | 11″ x 17″ (Ledger) |
| Max Scan Size | 8.5″ x 14″ | 8.5″ x 14″ | 11″ x 17″ |
| Paper Capacity | 270 sheets (250 front, 20 rear) | 600 sheets (2x 250 front, 100 rear) | 600 sheets (2x 250 front, 100 rear) |
| Automatic Duplex | Print Only | Print, Scan, Copy | Print, Scan, Copy, Fax |
| Initial Cost | Higher | Mid-range | Lower |
| Cost Per Page | Very Low | Very Low | Low |
Q&A
Q: Can I use this printer for sublimation printing? A: Yes, many users convert the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 for sublimation. However, it’s important to note that using third-party sublimation ink will void the printer’s warranty.
Q: How often do I need to refill the ink tanks? A: With the included ink, you can expect to print up to 6,200 black and 5,200 color pages, which for most users is enough ink for up to two years. Your refill frequency will depend on your print volume.
Q: Does it come with ink? A: Yes, the printer comes with a full set of initial ink bottles.
Q: Is it difficult to set up? A: While the process of filling the ink tanks is different from a traditional cartridge printer, the included instructions and the printer’s user-friendly design make the setup straightforward. It may take slightly longer than a standard setup, but it is not difficult.
Q: Can it scan A3-sized documents? A: No, the flatbed scanner’s maximum scan size is 8.5″ x 14″. You can print up to 13″ x 19″ via the rear feed, but you cannot scan documents of that size.
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