Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 Wireless All-in-One Review

Epson’s Expression Photo XP-8700 Wireless replaces the XP-8600 Small-in-One. The All-in-One-in-One99) is an entry-level inkjet AIO printer with good photo printing but restricted copying and scanning. The XP-8700 has a flatbed scanner without an ADF for multipage documents, like several photo-centric home and home-office multifunctions. It uses traditional Epson ColorWorks Inks cartridges instead of Epson’s EcoTank, Canon’s MegaTank, and HP’s Smart Tank Plus printers’ refillable bulk-ink reservoirs, making it more expensive. Those prioritizing photo quality will find the six-ink Expression Photo XP-8700 fast and responsive.

Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 Wireless All-in-One Specifications

A Compact, Photo-Ready Multifunction Model

While not called small-in-one, the XP-8700’s size (7.2 by 20.7 by 13.7 inches) and weight (15 pounds) are identical to its predecessor. It is comparable to or somewhat more significant than the Canon Pixma TS9120 and TS8320 and the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 in this ultra-competitive segment. The HP Envy Inspire 7955e, Epson Expression Premium XP-7100, and Canon Pixma TR8620 are larger and heavier AIOs. Their automated document feeders are the difference. Scan or copy pages one at a time on the XP-8700’s scanner glass without an ADF. It is laborious if you scan and copy a lot. Manufacturers modify inkjet AIOs to make photo printers. Adding ink is a typical and effective modification. Most inkjets use CMYK—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Hues increase colour accuracy and detail by expanding the colour gamut.

Networking and Software

The Expression Photo XP-8600 featured Ethernet wired networking, while the XP-8700 does not. The new AIO only supports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and cellphones, USB 2.0, and Wi-Fi Direct. Wi-Fi Direct, a peer-to-peer protocol, lets Android smartphones and tablets connect to the printer without sharing a network or router. Print via email, scan to and print from the cloud, Apple AirPrint, Mopria for Android, and Epson’s Smart Panel app are further mobile connectivity options. You may print and scan to USB flash drives, SD cards, and local storage through Wi-Fi. Two ports are on the left side of the chassis, beside the output tray. Epson offers Smart Panel and Creative Print, a smartphone app for designing and printing greeting cards, business cards, and stationery. Other drivers and utilities are Epson Scan 2, Smart Scan, and Print Layout for iOS. Epson gives you all you need to maximize this small AIO with this software, plus more. Finally, like many modern consumer printers, the XP-8700 supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

High speed and excellent print quality

Epson rates the XP-8700’s monochrome print speed at 9.5 ppm—the same as the XP-8600, but at least 5.5 ppm slower than the others. The Epson XP-7100 and ET-8500 print 15.8ppm and 16ppm. I started testing by printing our 12-page Microsoft Word text document numerous times and averaging the results using a USB connection to our Intel Core i5-based Windows 10 Pro testbed. XP-8700 scored 9.4 ppm, whereas competitors achieved at least 15 ppm (excluding Pixma TS9120, 13.2 ppm). Next, I timed the XP-8700 while it produced our colourful and complicated business documents, including Adobe Acrobat PDFs with elaborate artwork and text in various fonts and colours, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with charts and graphs, and Microsoft PowerPoint slides. Our set of test papers scored 6.7 ppm after combining those results with the Word score. That was 2.7 ppm faster than the XP-8600 and closer to its competitors, who averaged eight ppm, except for the fast Epson ET-8500 at 10.7 ppm.

Low-volume running costs

The XP-8700’s’sypical cartridge design and hefty operating expenses will turn you off as a high-volume copier and scanner without an ADF. Black-and-white pages cost 4–6 cents, whereas colour pages cost 15–17 cents. Photography with 100% ink coverage costs extra. These data are unclear because it’s impossible to tell when the light cyan and magenta inks deploy and how much ink is dispensed, but the Epson isn’t the only culprit. Canon’s TS8320 and other photo printers are equally priced and easy to use. The Envy Inspire 7955e and other HP four-ink printers are eligible for the company’s Instant Ink subscription program, which levies a monthly price for a set amount of pages and can reduce operating expenses to 3.5 cents per page for letter-size photographs. Canon’s MegaTank models and Epson’s ET-8500 are expensive, but they can lower your per-page cost to under a penny.

User-friendly

Built-in Wi-Fi lets you print from anywhere in the house, and you can also print immediately from your smartphone using Wi-Fi Direct. A large 10.9-cm touchscreen simplifies operation and level checking. Double-sided printing saves paTouchscreencreen photographs that can be accessed via memory cards. Two front-loading paper trays (A4 and picture) and a rear media tray for CDs and DVDs make switching between jobs easy.

Wireless printing

Epson’s iPrint and Creative Print apps let you print images from Facebook, create greeting cards, and more from your smartphone.

Claria Photo HD Ink

Claria Photo HD Ink prints glossy, quality photographs. Six ink tanks, including Light Cyan and Light Magenta, give a richer, more accurate colour spectrum and a durable print.

Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 Wireless Setup

1. Epson Product Setup includes everything you need to use it.
2.  This utility installs the latest Epson drivers and software and may download network utilities and other software.
3. Internet access is required to use this software. Depending on your internet speed, this may take time.
4. The software installs instantly after downloading. Screens will help you through the procedure.

Should You Buy the Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 Wireless All-in-One?

Who Should Consider It?

• Photography Enthusiasts: The XP-8700 excels in photo printing thanks to its six-ink system, including light cyan and light magenta, which enhances colour accuracy and detail.
• Home Users: Its compact design, ease of use, and multiple connectivity options make it ideal for home use.
• Casual Printers: Those who print occasionally and prioritize high-quality photo outputs will appreciate this printer.

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

• High-Volume Users: The cost per page for both colour and black-and-white prints is relatively high, making it less suitable for those who need to print large volumes regularly.
• Office Settings: The lack of an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and slower printing speeds compared to other models make it less ideal for busy office environments.

Verdict

The Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 is a solid choice for those who prioritize high-quality photo printing and need a compact, versatile printer for home use. Its six-ink system produces exceptional photos, and the printer offers a range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi Direct and support for mobile printing apps. However, its higher running costs and lack of an ADF may be drawbacks for high-volume users or office environments. Overall, for photography enthusiasts and casual home users, the XP-8700 offers a good balance of performance and quality.

FAQs

Q: Does the Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 support borderless printing?

A: Yes, the XP-8700 supports borderless printing for various photo sizes.

Q: Can I print directly from my smartphone or tablet?

A: Yes, you can print directly from your smartphone or tablet using Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint, Mopria for Android, and Epson’s Smart Panel app.

Q: What types of ink does the XP-8700 use?

A: The XP-8700 uses Claria Photo HD Ink, which includes six individual ink cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, and light magenta.

Q: Does the XP-8700 have an Ethernet port?

A: No, the XP-8700 does not have an Ethernet port; it supports wireless connectivity through Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct.

Q: What is the print speed of the XP-8700?

A: The XP-8700 has a rated print speed of 9.5 pages per minute (ppm) for color prints and 9.4 ppm for monochrome prints.

Q: Does the printer support automatic duplex printing?

A: Yes, the XP-8700 supports automatic duplex printing, which allows you to print on both sides of the paper.

Q: How do the operating costs compare to other printers?

A: The XP-8700 has higher running costs compared to bulk-ink models like Epson’s EcoTank or Canon’s MegaTank series, with color pages costing between 15 to 17 cents and black-and-white pages costing 4 to 6 cents.