HP Envy 6020e review
A mid-size printer from HP that promises to fulfil all of your home office needs - but is it any good?
An affordable printer/scanner that offers a little more than your average, the HP Envy 6020e is a good choice for home workers with occasional printing needs, but may not impress those used to more expensive models.
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Compact
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Seamless wireless and mobile printing
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Works with Apple AirPrint and Cloud Print
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Relatively slow printing speed
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Quite heavy
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Looking for a printer that you can just as readily use to help out with that important work project as it can with finally getting physical copies of last year's holiday snaps? The HP 6020e is a great compact option that prioritises convenience for multi-purpose use by families.
A printer, copier and scanner in one mid-size package, the Envy 6020e allows you to print from your PC, laptop or mobile device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (or you can connect it via USB) completely wirelessly, meaning you have more freedom with placement and don't need to contend with multiple wires.
We tested the printer to see how it performed in the average work-from-home situation and whether it would be a good fit for the thousands of us kitting out our home office set-ups. And if you want to see which products we rated highest, take a look at our guide to the best small printers.
HP Envy 6020e: Set-up and specs
- Type: thermal inkjet
- Function: printer, scanner, copier
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB
- Printer speed: 7-10ppm
- Dimensions: 36.1 x 43.2 x 13.2cm
- Weight: 5.2kg
Set-up for the HP Envy 6020e couldn't be more straightforward, done chiefly through the HP Smart app. Once the printer is plugged in and turned on, your phone (connected to the home Wi-Fi) will be able to pick it up, taking you step by step through the set-up process from there. This took us about five minutes, even over a typically slow and patchy internet connection.
If you don't want to use your printer wirelessly, then there is the option to connect it to your laptop or PC via USB. However, the wireless and Bluetooth printing options are super simple to use, so we would recommend using it this way for simplicity and convenience.
HP Envy 6020e: features
The HP Envy 6020e all-in-one printer does what the name says - prints, scans and copies. This makes it a good choice for those working from home, but it will also serve most households well as a family printer. As our home office needs have expanded, it always helps to have a device that serves multiple purposes.
Printing
Printing speed is relatively slow, promising ten pages per minute for black and white documents and seven pages per minute for colour. As said, this can't measure up to more premium printers but should be fine for most casual users. For what it's worth, we never felt the need to tap our watch impatiently.
The output quality is fine, with 1200x1200 dpi for blacks and 4800x1200 dpi for colour meaning it can deliver everything from reports to family photos. As such, printing sizes include A4, A5, B5, DL, C6 and A6. It also offers borderless printing for the aforementioned personal snaps.
HP Smart
The two big selling points for the HP Envy 6020e are wireless printing and the HP Instant Ink subscription that comes with it.
The former is somewhat expected for printers these days, but that doesn't make it any less refreshing for those used to contending with wired printing. For example, we were able to print a shipping label directly from an email on our phone over the home Wi-Fi - something we needed to do last minute.
The HP Smart app is pleasant to use and navigate, with all of the various options laid out nicely for you to choose from. It's also here where you can access the Instant Ink menu.
If you're unfamiliar, HP Instant Ink is a service that automatically sends you new ink cartridges when yours are running dry. This costs £3.49pm for 'moderate' users (100 pages per month) but is super handy for those who often get caught out at the exact moment that they need to print something!
HP Envy 6020e: Design
At just over 13cm tall even including the scanner, the HP Envy 6020e fits into the definition of a 'small printer' but will still take up a fair amount of room on your desk. So bear this in mind when shopping if you have limited space, and take measurements before committing.
Outside of this, the printer will look great in any home office environment. Clean white with curved edges, the controls are clear, and you don't have to worry about hiding it away to avoid an eyesore. Opening up the printer to install or replace ink cartridges and insert paper is also simple, with two latches on the printer's side that allow you to access the interior.
- Read next - the best home printers for your remote office
HP Envy 6020e: our verdict
The HP Envy 6020e is a basic and affordable model from the famous and reliable brand, offering three uses in one with an eye on a minimalist design. The printer probably won't suit tech-heads or heavy users, but it is ideal for those contending with sudden needs brought about by working and schooling from home.