Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Review: High-Yield Printing with Low Running Costs
Introduction
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is a versatile, all-in-one inkjet printer designed for small businesses and home offices. It’s part of Epson’s EcoTank series, which focuses on reducing ink costs and minimizing environmental waste with its cartridge-free design. With its ability to print up to A3+ size, the ET-15000 stands out in a crowded market. But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s explore.
Key Specifications
- Type: All-in-one inkjet printer (print, scan, copy, fax)
- Print Technology: PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology
- Print Size: A3+ (13″ x 19″)
- Ink System: EcoTank with refillable ink tanks
- Print Speed: Up to 17 ppm (black) / 9 ppm (color)
- Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print
- Paper Capacity: 250-sheet front tray + rear specialty tray
- ADF: Yes (Automatic Document Feeder)
- Display: 2.7″ color touchscreen
- Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 33,000 pages
Design and Build Quality
The ET-15000 has a relatively compact footprint for a printer that handles up to A3+ paper, making it suitable for home offices with limited space. The design is practical, with easy access to the refillable ink tanks on the front of the unit. Its build quality feels solid, with minimal flex, and its 2.7-inch color touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate.
Setup and Ease of Use
Setting up the Epson ET-15000 is straightforward. Epson provides detailed instructions, and users can have the printer up and running in under 20 minutes. The EcoTank system is a major plus—filling the ink tanks is mess-free and intuitive, thanks to the keyed bottles that prevent mismatches.
For connectivity, the printer offers a wide range of options including Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, and USB. It also supports mobile printing through services like Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print, making it ideal for users who work from multiple devices.
Print Quality
One of the standout features of the ET-15000 is its ability to handle A3+ paper, a boon for users who need large-format prints. Whether you’re printing blueprints, spreadsheets, or posters, the printer delivers impressive results with sharp text and vibrant colors.
For photos, the ET-15000 excels in producing vivid, high-quality images. However, as with most inkjet printers, it struggles slightly with subtle color gradients in photos, but the overall results are more than acceptable for most users.
Black-and-white documents are crisp, and there’s little to no smudging, even on cheaper paper types. The printer’s PrecisionCore technology ensures that even at higher speeds, the output remains of a high standard.
Ink Efficiency
The EcoTank system is the ET-15000’s defining feature. Instead of traditional ink cartridges, the printer uses refillable tanks that can hold significantly more ink, reducing the need for frequent refills. This results in a much lower cost per page than cartridge-based systems.
Epson claims the printer can produce up to 7,500 black and 6,000 color pages from a single set of ink bottles. In real-world testing, these estimates are fairly accurate, making it a highly cost-efficient option for offices with heavy printing needs.
Performance and Speed
The ET-15000 offers decent printing speeds, delivering up to 17 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 9 ppm in color. These speeds aren’t groundbreaking but are more than sufficient for small office environments.
The automatic document feeder (ADF) is a useful feature, though it’s limited to 35 sheets. This is fine for light scanning and copying tasks, but users with heavier demands may find themselves manually reloading documents.
The printer handles large print jobs well, with no major issues like paper jams or system crashes. It’s also relatively quiet during operation, making it less disruptive in quieter work environments.
Scanning and Copying
The ET-15000 includes a flatbed scanner that supports up to A4-size scanning. Scans are fast and high-quality, with an optical resolution of 1200 dpi, sufficient for most business needs. Copying is straightforward, and the automatic document feeder simplifies multi-page tasks.
One limitation is the inability to scan or copy larger formats like A3, which may be a drawback for users who require high-volume, large-format document handling.
Running Costs and Eco-friendliness
The primary selling point of the EcoTank series is the extremely low running cost. Once you’ve made the initial investment, refilling the tanks with ink bottles is far cheaper than replacing traditional cartridges. For heavy users, the cost savings over time can be substantial.
In addition to cost savings, the printer is more environmentally friendly than its cartridge-based counterparts. Fewer cartridges mean less plastic waste, and the printer’s energy-efficient design ensures it doesn’t use excessive power.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Incredibly low running costs
- A3+ print capability
- High-quality print and scan output
- Wide range of connectivity options
- Easy to refill EcoTank system
- Robust build quality
Cons:
- Slower print speeds compared to laser printers
- Limited ADF capacity (35 sheets)
- No A3 scanning or copying
- Higher upfront cost compared to cartridge printers
Conclusion
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is an excellent choice for small offices or home users who need to print large volumes while keeping running costs low. Its high-quality output, especially for photos and A3+ prints, makes it versatile for creative professionals as well. While it may not be the fastest printer on the market, the savings in ink costs and eco-friendly design make it a strong contender in the all-in-one printer category.
Rating: 8.5/10
