Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Review: 8.4/10 - SuperTank Value for High-Volume Printing
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At a Glance
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 earns an 8.4 out of 10, excelling in its core value proposition of ultra-low running costs for high-volume printing.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is a mid-range SuperTank all-in-one inkjet printer that uses a refillable ink tank system instead of traditional cartridges, dramatically reducing running costs. With up to 7,885 monochrome or 4,681 color pages per set of ink bottles, the cost per page drops to around 0.3 cents for text and 2.7 cents for color graphics. It competes directly with the HP Smart Tank 7301 and Canon MegaTank G3270, targeting home offices and small businesses that print high volumes.
Design & Build
The ET-3850 measures 375 by 490 by 254 mm and weighs 6.7 kg, with a boxy white design that integrates large translucent ink tanks on the right side of the front panel. The 2.4-inch color display provides menu navigation for print, copy, and scan functions, though it is a non-touchscreen unit requiring button-based navigation. A 250-sheet standard paper tray handles A4, letter, and legal sizes, while the rear feed supports specialty media, and the output tray on top holds approximately 60 sheets.
Performance
Print speeds reach 15.5 ppm for monochrome and 5.5 ppm for color documents, which is adequate for home and small office use but noticeably slower than laser alternatives for heavy workloads. Print resolution tops out at 4800 by 1200 dpi using Epson’s Micro Piezo inkjet technology, producing detailed text and vibrant color graphics suitable for school projects, presentations, and marketing flyers. The automatic document feeder holds 30 sheets for unattended copying and scanning, and the flatbed scanner offers 1200 by 2400 dpi optical resolution for sharp document digitization.
Features
The signature feature is the EcoTank refillable ink system using Epson 502 ink bottles, with a full set of four 65 ml bottles included in the box that provides up to two years of printing for typical home users. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB, with support for Apple AirPrint, Mopria, Epson Smart Panel, and voice-activated printing through Alexa and Siri. Automatic duplex printing is standard, and the printer supports borderless photo printing up to 8.5 by 11 inches for occasional photo output.
Pros
- Extremely low running costs at ~0.3 cents per monochrome page and ~2.7 cents per color page
- Refillable ink system with up to 7,885 black or 4,681 color pages per bottle set (502 EcoTank bottles)
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Mopria, and voice-activated printing through Alexa and Siri
- Automatic duplex printing reduces paper usage by up to 50%
- 30-sheet ADF enables unattended multi-page copying and scanning
Cons
- Print speed of 15.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm color is significantly slower than laser-class competitors
- 2.4-inch non-touchscreen display with button navigation feels basic for a $380 asking price
- No fax functionality limits its utility in traditional office environments
- Initial $380 purchase price is ~3x a cartridge-based all-in-one; savings only recoup at high volume
- Color accuracy can drift between refills, requiring occasional nozzle checks and cleaning cycles
Verdict
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 earns an 8.4 out of 10, excelling in its core value proposition of ultra-low running costs for high-volume printing. It loses points for slower print speeds compared to laser alternatives and the absence of a fax function, but the sheer volume of pages you get from each ink refill makes it an outstanding choice for families, students, and small offices that print frequently in color. If you rarely print color, a monochrome laser may offer faster speeds, but for mixed-content high-volume printing, the ET-3850 is hard to beat. Its key differentiator versus the HP Smart Tank 7301 is the lower cost-per-page from Epson’s PrecisionCore print head, while the Canon MegaTank G3270 offers a lower upfront price at the expense of slightly slower color output.
Sources
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: Epson EcoTank ET-3850 vs. Competitors
| Specification | Epson EcoTank ET-3850 | Epson SureColor P900 | Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw | HP LaserJet Pro M404dn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $380 | $1349 | $599 | $299 |
| Release | 2021 | -- | -- | 2018 |
| Rating | 8.4/10 | -- | -- | 8.6/10 |
| Price | $380 | -- | -- | $299 |
| Category | printers | -- | -- | printers |
| Status | Available | -- | -- | Available |
| Type | -- | Professional 17-inch desktop photo printer | Color laser all-in-one (print, scan, copy, fax) | -- |
| Print Technology | -- | 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC printhead | -- | -- |
| Ink | -- | 10-color UltraChrome PRO10 pigment ink | -- | -- |
| Max Print Size | -- | 17 x 22 inches (sheets), 17-inch rolls (optional) | -- | -- |
| Resolution | -- | 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi | 1200 x 1200 dpi print | -- |
| Connectivity | -- | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, USB 3.0 | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Ethernet, USB 2.0, NFC | -- |
| Display | -- | 4.3-inch color touchscreen | 5-inch color touchscreen | -- |
| Dimensions | -- | 20.3 x 30.3 x 16.5 in (operating) | -- | -- |
| Weight | -- | 35.3 lb | -- | -- |
| Print Speed | -- | -- | Up to 33 ppm color and mono | -- |
| Scan Speed | -- | -- | Up to 50 ipm duplex (one-pass) | -- |
| Paper Capacity | -- | -- | 250-sheet cassette + 50-sheet multipurpose tray | -- |
| Security | -- | -- | Secure Print, Department ID, IP/MAC filtering | -- |
| Monthly Duty Cycle | -- | -- | Up to 85,000 pages | -- |
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- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
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