Is a Cheap Printer Deal Still Cheap After Ink?
By BlackFriday.us Editorial Team
Judge a printer deal by the jobs it handles and the cost of keeping it printing. Use this checklist before you commit to a sale or an ink promotion.
We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through eligible affiliate links. Worked examples below are invented, not current retailer price promises.
Compare a usable printer, not just a sale headline
A low sticker price can be attractive, but it is only the first line of your printing budget. Before comparing a discount, decide how many pages you expect to print, whether color matters and how often you scan a stack of originals. A bargain should fit those jobs and leave room for the supplies you will need.
Write down the exact product number, condition and included supplies. Keep optional protection plans separate from the equipment price. If a coupon applies only to selected variants, verify the total after choosing your model and delivery address. This is a buying checklist based on manufacturer research, not a hands-on test or a lowest-price claim.
Use exact models to value a useful upgrade
The HP DeskJet 4355 AJ4Y0A#B1H and Envy 6555 C2XR6A#B1H illustrate a practical difference: the DeskJet uses manual two-sided printing, while the Envy prints both sides automatically. Both have a 35-sheet document feeder. The Envy also has a 2.4-inch color touchscreen.
That does not make one universally better. If you regularly print long documents on both sides, estimate how much you value avoiding manual handling. For occasional short jobs, you may prefer the lower purchase total. A document feeder does not by itself mean automatic two-sided scanning. Do not transfer terms from the similarly named Envy 6555e to the C2XR6A model.
Check the replacement ink before judging the discount
Both examples use HP 68 supplies. HP rates the replacement combo at approximately 160 black pages and 120 tri-color pages; actual results depend on what and how you print. Do not add those yields together as though the box guarantees 280 complete color pages. Check setup-cartridge yields separately.
Record a current price for the exact compatible black and color replacements. Divide each price by its own stated yield to compare the cartridge component, then allow for paper and differences in actual use. An invented $24 black cartridge rated for 160 pages works out to 15 cents per rated page for that cartridge alone. It is not a full color-page cost or a quote.
During our October 21 review, HP's public cartridge store returned $0 price placeholders. We verified the supply model and yield but could not establish a usable current retail cartridge price from that page. Check a real purchase quote rather than treating the placeholder as free ink.
Treat promotional months as a temporary benefit
HP's exact model pages advertise three promotional months of Instant Ink. Verify eligibility and enrollment conditions for your purchase before assigning any value. A promotion is useful only if you want the service and understand the charges after it.
HP's US plans page listed the 50-page monthly plan at $5.99 on October 21, 2026: $71.88 for twelve paid months before applicable tax and additional-page charges. Recheck the current enrollment price and page rules. A trial renews into paid service unless cancelled.
HP's service terms say subscription cartridges are disabled when service ends. If you plan to leave after a trial, include compatible retail replacements in your budget. Keep the printer purchase, subscription and any optional paper service distinct so you know what you are agreeing to.
Run the same first-year calculation for each offer
Compare delivered printer cost plus ink or your chosen service charges, paper, necessary accessories and applicable tax. Use the same expected page volume for each option. Do not count a full year's subscription and a full year's replacement cartridges for the same pages unless your plan actually requires both.
Consider this invented example, excluding tax: Printer A costs $100 delivered, plus $90 of supplies and $20 of paper, totaling $210. Printer B costs $150 delivered, plus $70 of supplies and $20 of paper, totaling $240. B remains $30 more expensive in year one. Decide whether its useful features justify that difference. These are arithmetic examples, not current offers for the HP printers.
If a verified promotion changes the first-year total, show that separately from a later year at normal service rates. Never extend temporary free months indefinitely. If you cannot get a credible supply quote, leave that cost unresolved rather than declaring a winner from the purchase price alone.
Buy when the whole setup fits; wait when key details are missing
Before checkout, confirm the full model number, current availability, delivery timing and working footprint. Check your device and connection requirements, box contents, warranty and the retailer's current opened-printer return rules. A return can become more complicated after supplies are installed, so read the terms first.
A crossed-out price is not proof of a record low. Compare the same configuration with other current offers you can verify. Buy when the complete cost is acceptable and the features solve your actual jobs. Wait when the model, supply cost or service terms remain unclear.
Use current retailer listings alongside this checklist and reconfirm the checkout total. Product prices and availability change; a live listing is a starting point for comparison, not a guarantee of the lowest price.
Browse Electronic Express · Search current printer listings · Compare delivered costs
Manufacturer references
Reviewed October 21, 2026. Use specifications and service terms for the exact model and offer you choose.