The Epson XP-4100 is one of the more popular printers around, and as all-in-one printers go, there’s not many that are as cheap as this model. This isn’t usually the case for Epson, who tend to specialise in more premium office printers.
Of course, primarily this model is designed to be a budget printer. It is a 3-in-1, which means that you can also print and copy with it too. And when you’re looking for a colour home printer, then this model will often come up when you’re searching online.
But just how good is it in comparison to the other models on the market? Well, let’s take a look at it in a closer detail.
Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Printer Review
Like the rest of the Epson Expression range, high ink costs really hold this model back from being a highly recommended printer. Aside from the printing costs over the time that you’ll own the printer, it is actually pretty impressive overall.
The lack of duplex scanning ability may be a deciding factor for some, as many people looking for an office printer require this. Having to do it manually can be frustrating, and a duplex scanner completely gets rid of the need for you to do it yourself.
The slow print speed could also put some people off, but this is generally made up for by a strong print quality overall. Though it can print in colour, it’s also good when printing in only black and white, as the words on your page are defined well and printed clearly.
It is capable of double-sided printing though, and it’s one of the cheapest models to offer this. That’s just a brief overlook at the printer though – let’s analyse it in a little more detail.
Epson XP-4100
Ink Costs: Average | Sheet capacity: 150 sheets | Wifi Printing: Yes | Scanner: Yes | DPI: 5760×1440 | Pages per minute: 8
Of course, the main selling point about this printer is that it can create high quality and detailed photo printers. And, this is definitely the case, as its 5760dpi resolution helps it to print out in great detail. If you’re often printing in colour, then this model will definitely be a good choice for you.
Another good thing about it is that for the price, you’re getting a printer that can also scan and copy too. All-in-one printers are pretty common nowadays, but this one has a good quality flatbed scanner which should come in handy.
If you’re looking for a printer that can handle double sided printing, then this would be a good investment, as it does this with ease.
As well as this, people who are looking for something compact and easy to fit in your home office will appreciate this printer. It’s smaller than most others out there, and by comparison, it’s also quite light too.
So if you want something that isn’t going to take up a ton of space, this might fit the bill. Of course, it’s not all good with this model, so let’s look at some of the major criticisms of it.
Pros
What’s bad about this printer?
The main negative that I can see with this printer is that whilst it’s not too difficult to set up, the LCD display menu is not great and not very intuitive. Once you get used to it, it’s fine.
However, they could have made a much better, sleeker menu system than this one. Not only this, but the buttons that are on the printer aren’t lit up. So if you prefer to work in a darker room, then you won’t be able to see any of them.
In parallel to the Epson Ecotank series, which prides itself of being much better for ink consumption, this printer doesn’t follow in the same footsteps. It uses ink at quite a high rate, and the costs can stack up pretty quickly.
It comes with enough ink for a hundred or so pages, so you might need to restock soon after this. Buying a cheap printer isn’t always a good idea, especially if you want to minimize ink costs.
Cons
Common Questions about the Epson XP-4100
What kind of ink does Epson XP 4100 use?
This printer uses the Epson 603 ink, which you can find pretty much anywhere online. You can find it in both standard size and XL size. Epson 603 colour ink cartridges can usually be found for a pretty high price, though they’ll probably last a while before they need replacing.
How do I scan on my Epson XP 4100?
Although the menu isn’t the best, you can find a way to scan on the Epson XP 4100 – I promise! Like with most Epson printers, when you select the Scan button it should take you to a “scan-to” menu – this is where you select your computer, or via cloud.
What is the Epson Expression line?
The Expression line are intended to go toe-to-toe with the cheaper models of the HP range, like the Envy series, and the cheaper models from Canon, like the PIXMA. The XP-4100 is the older brother of other smaller printers from the same line, like the XP-3100 and the XP-2100 too.
How can I connect to the XP 4100?
You can connect to the XP 4100 by Wifi connection, or you can also connect to it via a USB cable connection too. It’s probably best to take advantage of its wireless printing by downloading the Epson iPrint app, which makes things fairly straightforward – you can also set it up with Apple Airprint too.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the XP-4100 is a perfectly fine printer, especially if you’re looking for something that you can use to print out double sided pages of A4. It prints in good quality, and the design itself is perfectly suited for the home, being small and light. Plus, it’s easy to connect to this printer via Wi-fi.
However, for those looking for a fast printer or something more professional, this might not be the best choice – it only prints at 8 pages per minute, which might not be enough for consistent regular printing.
