Overview

The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is a mid-range SuperTank all-in-one inkjet printer that uses a refillable ink tank system instead of traditional cartridges, dramatically reducing running costs. With up to 7,885 monochrome or 4,681 color pages per set of ink bottles, the cost per page drops to around 0.3 cents for text and 2.7 cents for color graphics. It competes directly with the HP Smart Tank 7301 and Canon MegaTank G3270, targeting home offices and small businesses that print high volumes.

Design & Build

The ET-3850 measures 375 by 490 by 254 mm and weighs 6.7 kg, with a boxy white design that integrates large translucent ink tanks on the right side of the front panel. The 2.4-inch color display provides menu navigation for print, copy, and scan functions, though it is a non-touchscreen unit requiring button-based navigation. A 250-sheet standard paper tray handles A4, letter, and legal sizes, while the rear feed supports specialty media, and the output tray on top holds approximately 60 sheets.

Performance

Print speeds reach 15.5 ppm for monochrome and 5.5 ppm for color documents, which is adequate for home and small office use but noticeably slower than laser alternatives for heavy workloads. Print resolution tops out at 4800 by 1200 dpi using Epson’s Micro Piezo inkjet technology, producing detailed text and vibrant color graphics suitable for school projects, presentations, and marketing flyers. The automatic document feeder holds 30 sheets for unattended copying and scanning, and the flatbed scanner offers 1200 by 2400 dpi optical resolution for sharp document digitization.

Features

The signature feature is the EcoTank refillable ink system using Epson 502 ink bottles, with a full set of four 65 ml bottles included in the box that provides up to two years of printing for typical home users. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB, with support for Apple AirPrint, Mopria, Epson Smart Panel, and voice-activated printing through Alexa and Siri. Automatic duplex printing is standard, and the printer supports borderless photo printing up to 8.5 by 11 inches for occasional photo output.

Pros

• Extremely low running costs at 0.3 cents per monochrome page
• Refillable ink system with thousands of pages per bottle set
• Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and mobile printing support
• Automatic duplex printing included
• Automatic document feeder for multi-page jobs

Cons

• Print speed is slower than comparable laser printers
• Color non-touchscreen display feels basic for the price point
• No fax functionality (print, scan, copy only)
• Initial purchase price is higher than cartridge-based alternatives
• Occasional print quality issues with color accuracy

Verdict

The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 earns an 8.4 out of 10, excelling in its core value proposition of ultra-low running costs for high-volume printing. It loses points for slower print speeds compared to laser alternatives and the absence of a fax function, but the sheer volume of pages you get from each ink refill makes it an outstanding choice for families, students, and small offices that print frequently in color. If you rarely print color, a monochrome laser may offer faster speeds, but for mixed-content high-volume printing, the ET-3850 is hard to beat.

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