Printer shopping gets easier when you stop asking:
“Which HP printer is best?”
and start asking:
“How often am I actually going to print?”
Someone printing ten pages a month doesn’t need the same machine as a home office producing hundreds of pages.
A family printing school projects has different priorities from a small business that needs duplex scanning and fast color documents.
And someone printing almost entirely black-and-white text may be better served by a laser printer than by another inkjet.
So for Black Friday 2026, we’re organizing the HP lineup by printing workload, not by price tag.
Find Your HP Printer Fast
Occasional home printing → HP DeskJet 4255e / 4355
Family + photos → HP ENVY 6155
Higher-volume cartridge-free printing → HP Smart Tank 5100
High-volume home office → HP Smart Tank 7303
Home office / small business inkjet → HP OfficeJet Pro 9125
Fast black-and-white office printing → HP LaserJet Pro 4001dn
Color laser all-in-one → HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27.
We’re not inventing future sale prices or claiming unannounced savings. The Amazon links below show current listings so you can compare them against verified Black Friday pricing when promotions begin.
YOU PRINT ONLY WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO
HP DeskJet 4255e / HP DeskJet 4355
If your printer spends more time idle than printing, don’t overbuy.
The HP DeskJet 4255e is a basic wireless color all-in-one aimed at home users who need to print, copy and scan everyday documents.
HP has begun transitioning this model naming to DeskJet 4355, so you may encounter either designation depending on retailer inventory.
The important part is the use case.
This is a machine for:
- Forms
- Recipes
- Travel documents
- Homework
- Occasional scans
- Light household printing
It also includes an automatic document feeder, which is a useful extra at this end of the market.
Who should buy it?
Someone who wants a printer available when needed but doesn’t print enough to justify a large Smart Tank or office machine.
Who shouldn’t?
Someone printing hundreds of pages every month.
A low-cost cartridge printer can be inexpensive to buy and more expensive to operate if your print volume climbs significantly.
HP DeskJet 4255e / DeskJet 4355 — Check Price on Amazon
YOUR FAMILY PRINTS HOMEWORK, FORMS AND PHOTOS
HP ENVY 6155
The HP ENVY 6155 is where we’d move when the printer needs to do more than basic documents.
It is a wireless color all-in-one designed for home and family use with:
Printing
Scanning
Copying
Automatic two-sided printing
Borderless photo printing
HP rates it at up to 10 ppm black and 7 ppm color under ISO testing.
That isn’t office-printer speed.
It isn’t supposed to be.
The ENVY’s appeal is versatility rather than raw throughput.
Good fit for:
Families.
School projects.
Home paperwork.
Occasional photos.
People who want a touchscreen rather than the simplest control panel.
ENVY vs. DeskJet
Choose DeskJet when price and simplicity dominate.
Choose ENVY when you’ll use photo printing, duplex printing and the more polished home all-in-one experience often enough to justify moving up.
HP ENVY 6155 All-in-One Printer — Check Price on Amazon
YOU’RE TIRED OF BUYING INK CARTRIDGES
HP Smart Tank 5100
This is where the economics change.
The HP Smart Tank 5100 uses refillable ink reservoirs rather than conventional small cartridges.
HP includes enough bottled ink for up to several years of printing under its stated usage assumptions.
That’s why Smart Tank becomes interesting for households that print regularly.
The printer handles:
Copy
Scan
Wireless printing
and is designed around comparatively low ongoing ink costs.
Smart Tank makes more sense when:
You print frequently.
You print lots of color schoolwork.
You don’t want to replace cartridges constantly.
You expect to keep the printer for years.
Smart Tank makes less sense when:
You print five pages every three months.
The higher initial cost of a tank printer only becomes attractive when you’re actually taking advantage of the lower-cost ink system.
Black Friday angle
Don’t judge Smart Tank 5100 purely against its normal MSRP.
Compare its Black Friday selling price against a conventional ENVY or DeskJet plus the likely ink cost over your ownership period.
That’s the comparison that matters.
HP Smart Tank 5100 All-in-One Printer — Check Price on Amazon
YOU PRINT A LOT AND ALSO SCAN STACKS OF PAPER
HP Smart Tank 7303
The HP Smart Tank 7303 is the refillable-ink option we’d watch for a busier household or home office.
Compared with simpler Smart Tank models, the 7303 adds features that matter when printing becomes a regular workflow.
HP lists:
Automatic document feeder
Print, scan and copy
Wireless connectivity
Up to 15 ppm black
Up to 9 ppm color
and refillable ink tanks.
That ADF is the important upgrade.
If you’re frequently scanning:
Invoices.
School paperwork.
Applications.
Contracts.
Tax documents.
Multi-page forms.
loading one page at a time onto a flatbed gets old quickly.
Smart Tank 5100 vs. 7303
Choose 5100 when you mainly want economical printing.
Choose 7303 when scanning and multi-page document handling matter too.
HP Smart Tank 7303 All-in-One Printer — Check Price on Amazon
YOUR PRINTER IS PART OF YOUR JOB
HP OfficeJet Pro 9125
Once the printer becomes business equipment rather than a household accessory, OfficeJet Pro starts making more sense.
The current OfficeJet Pro 9125 is an all-in-one built around home-office and small-business workloads.
It supports:
- Copy
- Scan
- Fax
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Two-sided scanning
- Mobile and wireless printing
- Ethernet
That combination matters much more in a work environment than photo-printing extras.
Why OfficeJet Pro instead of Smart Tank?
This is not a simple “one is better” comparison.
Smart Tank emphasizes refillable ink economics.
OfficeJet Pro emphasizes business workflow.
If you regularly scan both sides of contracts, fax documents, connect through Ethernet or process office paperwork, the OfficeJet Pro feature set may matter more than the tank system.
Who should watch it?
Remote workers.
Small-business owners.
Consultants.
Real-estate offices.
Professional home offices.
Anyone replacing an aging multifunction office printer.
HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 All-in-One Printer — Check Price on Amazon
YOU PRINT MOSTLY BLACK TEXT AND YOU WANT IT FAST
HP LaserJet Pro 4001dn
Not everyone needs color.
If your printer’s main job is producing:
Contracts.
Invoices.
Reports.
Forms.
Shipping paperwork.
Business documents.
a monochrome laser printer may be the smarter tool.
The HP LaserJet Pro 4001dn focuses on fast black-and-white printing.
It includes automatic two-sided printing along with Ethernet and USB connectivity.
Why choose laser?
Laser printers make particular sense for text-heavy business workflows where:
Speed matters.
Sharp text matters.
Color doesn’t.
You don’t want to worry about an inkjet sitting unused for long periods.
Important limitation
The 4001dn is primarily about printing.
If you need built-in scanning, copying and faxing, move to a multifunction LaserJet instead.
Black Friday buying rule
Don’t pay extra for color just because the discounted color model looks like the “better deal.”
If 95% of what leaves your printer is black text, monochrome can be the more rational choice.
HP LaserJet Pro 4001dn — Check Price on Amazon
YOU WANT COLOR LASER + SCANNER + COPIER IN ONE MACHINE
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw
This is the business-oriented all-rounder in our list.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw combines color laser printing with:
Copying
Scanning
Faxing
Automatic two-sided printing
Wireless
Ethernet
HP rates color printing at up to 26 pages per minute.
That is a different class of machine from an inexpensive ENVY or DeskJet.
Who should consider it?
Small businesses.
Busy home offices.
Professional users producing both color and monochrome documents.
Teams that need one multifunction device rather than separate printer and scanner hardware.
Why it can make sense despite a higher purchase price
Time matters.
If a cheaper printer is constantly slowing down a business workflow, requiring more manual scanning or taking too long to produce documents, the lowest upfront price may not represent the lowest real cost.
Don’t buy it for casual home use
A family printing occasional recipes and homework does not need a color LaserJet MFP simply because Black Friday knocks a few hundred dollars off the price.
Buy this because you have the workload for it.
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw — Check Price on Amazon
The HP Printer Decision Tree
Still deciding?
Use this.
Less than occasional/light printing
DeskJet 4255e / 4355
↓
General family printing + photos
ENVY 6155
↓
Frequent household printing
Smart Tank 5100
↓
Frequent printing + multi-page scanning
Smart Tank 7303
Then branch depending on work:
Office inkjet
OfficeJet Pro 9125
Mostly black business documents
LaserJet Pro 4001dn
Color business documents + scanning
Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw
That’s more useful than ranking a $100 home printer against a professional color laser machine.
Cartridge, Tank or Laser? This Is the Real HP Decision
The HP logo isn’t the most important choice.
The printing technology is.
CARTRIDGE INKJET
Think:
DeskJet
ENVY
OfficeJet Pro
Advantages
Lower entry prices on many models.
Excellent color flexibility.
Good for mixed home use.
Wide range of multifunction options.
Considerations
Ink costs matter more as print volume rises.
REFILLABLE INK TANK
Think:
Smart Tank
Advantages
Much larger ink capacity.
Designed for higher-volume printing.
Less frequent refilling.
Potentially much lower ink cost per page.
Considerations
Higher printer purchase price.
Most worthwhile for people who actually print enough to benefit.
LASER
Think:
LaserJet
Advantages
Fast document printing.
Excellent text.
Good business workflow.
Particularly attractive for frequent office-document printing.
Considerations
Color models can cost significantly more.
Photo printing isn’t their main strength.
The correct technology matters more than whichever model receives the biggest Black Friday percentage discount.
HP Instant Ink: Should You Subscribe?
This is one of the most important questions for an HP inkjet buyer.
HP Instant Ink is a subscription-based ink service.
Instead of purchasing cartridges only when you run out, you select a plan based around printing usage and HP ships replacement ink as needed under the service terms.
That can be convenient.
It isn’t automatically right for everyone.
Instant Ink may suit you if:
Your monthly printing is fairly predictable.
You like replacement ink arriving automatically.
You don’t want to shop for cartridges.
Buying cartridges yourself may suit you if:
Your print volume varies dramatically.
You print very little.
You prefer avoiding another subscription.
Smart Tank takes a different approach
You buy bottled ink and refill the printer’s tanks.
So the comparison is not merely:
HP printer A vs. HP printer B.
It can also be:
subscription cartridge printing vs. traditional cartridge ownership vs. refillable tanks.
Consider that before Black Friday.
“Free Months of Ink” Is Not the Same as Free Ink Forever
Retail listings can include introductory Instant Ink offers.
That’s useful.
But an introductory period should not determine your entire printer purchase.
Read:
The enrollment requirements.
What happens after the included period.
Current plan pricing.
Cancellation terms.
How unused pages or plan limits work under the applicable offer.
A three- or six-month promotion lasts months.
You may own the printer for five years.
Choose based on the long-term fit.
HP Dynamic Security: Know Before You Buy
Many current HP printers use dynamic security.
HP says these printers are intended to work with cartridges containing new or reused HP electronic circuitry, while cartridges using modified or non-HP circuitry may be blocked.
That means buyers who specifically plan to use third-party cartridges should investigate compatibility before purchasing.
This isn’t a detail we’d hide at the bottom of a buying guide.
Your preferred ink strategy can materially affect which printer makes sense.
Do You Need an Automatic Document Feeder?
An ADF is one of the easiest printer features to underestimate.
Suppose you have a 20-page document to scan.
Without an ADF:
Place page.
Scan.
Remove page.
Repeat nineteen more times.
With an ADF:
Load the stack.
Let the machine process it.
If you scan multi-page documents regularly, an ADF can matter more than print resolution you’ll never notice.
That’s one reason models such as Smart Tank 7303 and OfficeJet Pro become more attractive for office-oriented users.
Duplex Printing vs. Duplex Scanning
These aren’t the same feature.
Automatic duplex printing
The printer can print on both sides of a sheet automatically.
Automatic duplex scanning
The scanner can process both sides of a document without requiring you to manually flip each sheet.
A printer can support one without the other.
If your work involves contracts and double-sided business documents, check the exact scanning specification.
Don’t Buy a Printer Based on Purchase Price Alone
Imagine:
Printer A costs $80.
Printer B costs $250.
Printer A sounds like the obvious bargain.
But if your household prints heavily and Printer B uses a much lower-cost refillable ink system, the ownership economics can reverse over time.
Think about:
Printer price
ink or toner
expected print volume
subscription costs
how many years you’ll keep it
That’s the actual cost of the printer.
HP Smart Tank vs. EcoTank
A lot of Black Friday shoppers will naturally compare HP Smart Tank with Epson EcoTank.
The concept is similar:
Large refillable ink reservoirs designed to reduce dependence on conventional cartridges.
Don’t choose solely by brand.
Compare the specific machines on:
- Print speed
- Automatic duplex
- ADF
- Paper capacity
- Connectivity
- Photo output
- Included ink
- Replacement ink cost
- Warranty
- Current sale price
A strong deal on either platform can change the value calculation.
Inkjet or Laser for a Home Office?
Here’s the simple version.
Choose inkjet when:
You print photographs.
You want good mixed color output.
Your household and office share one printer.
You need a lower upfront cost.
Choose laser when:
Documents dominate.
You print often.
Speed matters.
Sharp text matters.
You rarely print photographs.
For many home offices, OfficeJet Pro vs. LaserJet is a more useful comparison than “which HP is best?”
Don’t Pay Business-Printer Money for School Homework
Black Friday can distort buying behavior.
A $500 printer discounted to $350 may look like a much bigger bargain than a $150 printer discounted to $120.
But if the $120 machine does everything your family needs, spending another $230 is not saving money.
Buy for your workload.
A family machine should not be judged by the same criteria as a five-person office printer.
What We’re Changing From Older HP Printer Posts
A 2026 Black Friday refresh should not preserve aging hardware simply because it appeared in last year’s article.
HP’s current U.S. lineup still centers around:
DeskJet
ENVY
Smart Tank
OfficeJet Pro
LaserJet Pro
but model names and feature sets have evolved.
HP is also transitioning some listings away from the older “e” suffix naming, such as:
ENVY 6155e → ENVY 6155
and
OfficeJet Pro 9125e → OfficeJet Pro 9125
while maintaining the underlying product transition.
That is why our article uses the current naming where practical while still acknowledging older retailer listing names shoppers may encounter.
When Is HP Printer Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026.
Cyber Monday follows on Monday, November 30.
Printers often appear in retailer promotions before the actual Friday.
Instead of waiting blindly, choose your:
printer type
monthly print volume
need for color
need for ADF
duplex requirements
ink strategy
now.
Then compare actual holiday prices only among printers that meet those requirements.
HP Printer Black Friday 2026 FAQs
Does HP have Black Friday printer deals?
HP printers regularly appear in retailer and manufacturer promotions, but specific Black Friday 2026 offers are not confirmed in advance. We’ll update this guide when real holiday prices become available.
Which HP printer is best for home use?
For occasional printing, we’d start with a DeskJet. For a family that also prints photos and uses duplex printing, ENVY 6155 is a more capable option. Frequent printers should compare Smart Tank models because their refillable ink system may reduce ongoing ink costs.
Which HP printer is best for a home office?
OfficeJet Pro 9125 is a strong starting point when you need printing, scanning, copying, faxing, duplex functionality, Ethernet and business-oriented features. Higher-volume users should also compare Smart Tank and LaserJet depending on color and document needs.
Is HP Smart Tank worth it?
It can be especially worthwhile for households and home offices that print frequently. Its refillable bottled-ink system reduces the need to repeatedly purchase conventional cartridges. Light users should still compare the higher initial cost against cheaper cartridge printers.
HP Smart Tank or OfficeJet Pro: which should I buy?
Choose Smart Tank primarily for refillable-ink economics and higher-volume household printing. Choose OfficeJet Pro when business workflow features such as duplex scanning, Ethernet, fax and office document handling matter more.
Is HP LaserJet better than HP OfficeJet?
Neither is universally better. LaserJet is particularly attractive for fast, text-heavy office printing, while OfficeJet provides inkjet flexibility and color output at a different cost structure. Your monthly print mix determines the better fit.
Which HP printer is best for photos?
For casual family photo printing, the ENVY family is more appropriate than a monochrome LaserJet or office-focused machine. Serious photographers may want to compare dedicated photo printers beyond this general HP roundup.
What is HP Instant Ink?
HP Instant Ink is an optional subscription service that supplies replacement ink based on your plan and usage. It can be convenient for some households, but buyers should compare the ongoing subscription structure against purchasing cartridges directly or choosing a refillable Smart Tank.
Do I need HP Instant Ink to use an HP printer?
Not every HP printer requires an Instant Ink subscription for ordinary ownership. Some models include introductory offers, but whether you enroll should depend on the printer, cartridge system and your printing habits. Always check the exact listing and current HP terms.
What does HP dynamic security mean?
HP uses dynamic security on many printers to verify cartridge electronic circuitry. HP states that cartridges using modified or non-HP circuitry may be blocked. Buyers planning to use third-party cartridges should investigate the specific model before purchasing.
Should I buy an inkjet or laser printer on Black Friday?
Choose inkjet for mixed color documents, photos and versatile home use. Choose laser when fast document printing and sharp text dominate. A large discount should not override the technology that fits your actual workload.
Should I wait until Black Friday to buy an HP printer?
If you don’t urgently need a printer, comparing Black Friday pricing is reasonable. But decide the printer type and features you need first. A deeply discounted printer with expensive long-term ink or missing features can be a worse purchase than a smaller discount on the right machine.
The Simplest HP Printer Buying Rule
Here’s the whole article reduced to seven lines:
Print rarely?
DeskJet.
Family documents + photos?
ENVY.
Print a lot and hate cartridges?
Smart Tank 5100.
Print a lot and scan stacks too?
Smart Tank 7303.
Run a home office?
OfficeJet Pro 9125.
Mostly black business documents?
LaserJet Pro 4001dn.
Need fast color office printing plus scanning?
Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw.
Choose that category before Black Friday.
Then let the sale determine which configuration gives you the best ownership value, not merely which box has the biggest percentage-off badge.