1. Introduction & Overview

Finding a reliable, aesthetically pleasing home printer that doesn't break the bank can be a challenge. The HP ENVY 6055e aims to solve that problem. Designed primarily for households, students, and light home-office users, this all-in-one inkjet printer focuses heavily on simplicity, smart app integration, and a modern design that won't look like an eyesore on your desk.

As part of HP's "e" series, the ENVY 6055e comes with HP+. This is a smart printing system that offers six free months of Instant Ink and extra warranty, provided you agree to keep the printer connected to the internet and use only original HP ink cartridges. In this detailed review, we'll break down everything from its sleek design to its print quality, running costs, and whether the HP+ ecosystem is truly worth it for you.

2. Design and Build Quality

One of the strongest selling points of the HP ENVY 6055e is its striking, minimalist design. Unlike the bulky, gray office printers of the past, this unit features a sleek, low-profile white chassis constructed from over 20% recycled plastic. Measuring approximately 17.0 x 14.2 x 5.2 inches and weighing around 11.5 pounds, it easily fits on a standard bookshelf or desk corner.

Noticeably absent from the ENVY 6055e is an LCD display screen. Instead, HP has opted for a smart contextual control panel. The buttons only light up when they are needed, and a glowing RGB status strip runs along the paper output tray. This strip pulses purple during setup, glows blue when connected to Wi-Fi, and turns green when printing. While this adds a futuristic flair, users who prefer a traditional screen to troubleshoot errors or initiate standalone copies might find the lack of a display slightly frustrating.

3. Setup Process and Connectivity

Quick Setup Guide

  1. Unboxing: Remove all protective blue tape and the cardboard insert from the scanner glass.
  2. Power Up: Plug in the printer (avoid using a USB cable yet). Wait for the front light bar to glow purple, indicating it is in setup mode.
  3. Install App: Download the HP Smart App on your iOS, Android, PC, or Mac.
  4. Connect: Follow the app's guided prompts to connect the printer to your 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi network.
  5. Hardware Initialization: Open the cartridge access door, insert the included HP 67 setup cartridges, load standard paper into the hidden tray, and scan the automatically printed alignment page to calibrate the printheads.

Connectivity is strictly modern. The primary method of connection is Dual-Band Wi-Fi with self-healing capabilities, meaning the printer actively searches for the best connection to prevent dropouts. It supports Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and Wi-Fi Direct. There is a USB port on the back for a wired connection, but a USB cable is not included in the box, and HP heavily encourages wireless operation through the HP Smart App.

4. Print Quality and Performance

For a budget-friendly home printer, the print quality of the ENVY 6055e is highly commendable. It utilizes a two-cartridge system (one black, one tri-color).

  • Text Documents: Black text prints sharply with excellent legibility down to very small font sizes. It is more than adequate for school essays, shipping labels, and work-from-home documents.
  • Color Graphics: Charts, graphics, and web pages print with vibrant, accurate colors. There is minimal banding on standard copy paper.
  • Photos: The printer supports borderless photo printing up to 8.5 x 11 inches. When using HP Advanced Photo Paper, the results are surprisingly rich and detailed, rivaling entry-level dedicated photo printers.

Speed: Where the ENVY 6055e shows its budget nature is in print speed. It tops out at 10 pages per minute (ppm) for black and 7 ppm for color. Furthermore, while it does feature automatic duplex (two-sided) printing—a massive plus for saving paper—the printer pauses for a few seconds to let the ink dry before pulling the page back in to print the second side, slowing down large multi-page jobs.

5. Scanning and Copying

The device features a standard flatbed scanner with an optical resolution of up to 1200 dpi. Scans are crisp, accurately colored, and perfect for digitizing old photos, IDs, or family recipes. However, it lacks an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). If you frequently need to scan or copy 10-page contracts, placing each page on the glass one by one will quickly become tedious. For occasional scanning, the flatbed is perfectly fine, and the HP Smart App allows you to scan directly using your smartphone camera as a neat alternative.

6. Running Costs and HP+ (Instant Ink)

Running costs are a crucial factor for inkjet printers. The ENVY 6055e uses HP 67 cartridges. The standard cartridges have a very low page yield (approx. 120 pages for black, 100 for color), making the cost per page quite high if you buy ink off the shelf. Even the high-yield HP 67XL cartridges (240 pages black, 200 color) remain somewhat pricey.

This is where HP+ and Instant Ink come in. By opting into HP+ during setup, you agree to always leave the printer connected to the internet and use only genuine HP ink. In return, you get 6 free months of HP Instant Ink. Instant Ink is a subscription service based on pages printed, not ink used. Whether you print a single line of text or a full-page borderless color photo, it counts as one page. If you print a lot of photos or heavy color graphics, Instant Ink makes the ENVY 6055e incredibly economical. If you print very rarely (less than 10 pages a month), buying cartridges manually might be better, but you must opt-out of HP+ during the initial setup to use third-party ink in the future.