The Epson Expression Photo XP-8600 is a competent printer, if you’re specifically looking for a good photo printer, then it’s worth taking a look at. It’s one of the better models from Epson’s Expression line of printers, which are made to be affordable, yet still of a decent quality.
On the surface, it’s a fairly standard inkjet printer. The reality is though that it has a lot of features people want when searching for a printer. It’s an All-in-one (Print, Scan Copy) capable of duplex printing and comes with dual paper trays – one for documents, and one for photos.
But what else is there to know about this printer that might sway your opinion of it? Well, we’ll have to take a look at it in a closer detail to find out whether it’s the right model for you.
Epson Expression Photo XP-8600 Review
There are various different printers within the Epson Expression Photo range to choose from. The XP-8600 is actually one of the cheaper models from this series, and you can find it for a reasonable price. But like all cheap printers, not everything is about the initial cost.
The control panel is very easy to navigate, with a small 4.8 inch responsive touch screen on the front of the printer itself. It makes it really easy to use and switch between printing and its other modes. The power button is just to the left of this, and it has a quick start up time too.
If you’re looking for a printer that’s quick and easy to set up, then this might be the right model for you. You won’t have to take too long browsing the instructions and getting everything sorted before you get started, which is a pretty common problem with cheaper printers like this one.
Epson Expression Photo XP-8600
Ink Costs: Average | Sheet capacity: 100 sheets | Wifi Printing: Yes | Scanner: Yes | DPI: 5760×1440 | Pages per minute: 9.5
The main thing to mention about this printer is that its prints photos are a really high quality. If you need to print A4 or smaller and you need vibrant photos printed on photo paper, then this model is going to be perfect for you. The 5760x1440dpi helps it do give detailed photos that are quite impressive.
Another good thing about this printer is that it provides perfectly good value for money. It can hold its own with more expensive printers than itself, which is a testament to its quality. It has an increased 6-count colour palette, which is ideal if you want to create colour documents.
For best results, you’ll want to use Epson’s well known Claria Photo HD inks with this printer. This is a 6 colour ink that is formulated specifically for printing photos in higher quantities, whilst trying to maintain a fair price point at the same time.
Using this ink with glossy photo paper is going to bring you the best results with the XP-8600. If photo quality is an important factor in your decision, then this Epson printer is likely to be a good investment.
So, there are many good things to say about the XP-8600. But what isn’t so good about this model? Let’s take a look at that too (it’s only fair).
Pros
What’s bad about this printer?
The main negative about this printer is the same thing that seems to drag down all of the printers released in the Expression series. Their most common criticism is that they have high ink costs, and this printer is no different.
Yes, the printer itself is budget friendly, but like pretty much every other cheap printer, they can only afford to sell it this cheap because the ink costs make up for the low price. So, bear in mind that if you’re looking for a printer that has cheap ink costs, then this isn’t the right option for you.
It also doesn’t come with much ink either, so you will be obliged to buy some more pretty soon after purchasing it. Aside from this, there isn’t much other negative feedback to mention about this printer – it is a particularly impressive photo printer, perfect for portraits and school photos.
The printer isn’t the slowest out there in terms of print speeds, but it’s by no means fast either. Printing at a speed of just under 10 pages per minute makes this printer below average when it comes to speed, and probably not a great choice for heavy document printing.
Cons
Common Questions about The Epson Expression Photo XP-8600
What ink does the Epson XP-8600 use?
The XP-600 uses the standard Epson 378 ink cartridges, which you can find at pretty much any online ink store online. They’re available both in a standard size, but also in an XL size as well.
Can the XP-8600 print in A3?
No, despite what you may see online about this printer having the capabilities to print in A3, I can assure you that this isn’t actually the case! If you’re looking to print in A3, you’ll need to look at another model of printer.
Is the setup easy for the XP-8600?
If you’re wondering how difficult the setup process is for this printer, then you’ll be pleased to know that it’s actually pretty straightforward. It shouldn’t take you too long to set the XP-8600 up, as the instructions are very clear.
Can this printer print double sided?
Yes, one of the main benefits of the XP-8600 is that it can print onto A4 paper on both sides, which makes it an attractive printer for those who like to make the most of their paper.
Conclusion
All in all, if you’re looking for a great photo printer that’s a very reasonable price, then this model might be a good option for you. Aside from being pretty cheap, it also has good connectivity via both USB and Wifi, as well as being very easy to get setup and running.
The only downside of this printer is the expensive costs of running it. If you’re printing a lot (100+ pages a month), then you might want to look elsewhere. But if running costs aren’t a problem and you’re solely focussed on print quality, this is a top choice.
Hi
I am Married to a retired Professional Photographer. I own an Epson XP8600 she has looked at my printing results and has not picked fault with them, only the ones that were operator error at time of shooting!
A great printer
John Waller
Haha, I’m sure my Mrs would say the same about me! Cheers John.