Tank printers explained: the costs, benefits and who should buy one

Lots of households only need a printer every now and again. But plenty more need to use one on a regular basis. The question is: which should they buy?

For many, it will be a tank printer – read on to find out more about what these printers are, and who should buy one.

HP tank printer deals, from £149

Lots of shoppers will be fine seeking out a printer that’s only required every now and again.

But those with families, on the other hand, are probably looking for a reliable workhouse that can withstand regular use, whether that’s for documents or schoolwork.

If you’re in this position, you’ll find there’s a near-overwhelming range to choose from on the market – and my advice to you is to start with HP tank printers.

Last month, I wrote about a Currys discount on the HP Smart Tank 5106 All-in-One printer, which has been reduced from £209.99 to £149.99.

That’s a great deal on a device that comes from one of the biggest printer brands on the market – but you’ve only got until Wednesday 1st May to pick up this printer at sale price.

The HP 5106 can deliver 12 sheets of printer per minute, and is not only wireless but can be used remotely via the HP smart app.

On top of that, it’s got self-healing wi-fi, which offers superior levels of connectivity between the printer, your PC and your wi-fi network.

But before you invest in a home printer, it’s definitely worth making a decision on whether you’re picking up a typical cartridge inkjet model or a tank printer.

In this article, I’ll talk you through the essentials of tank printers: how they work, how they differ from cartridge printers and if they’re the right choice for you.

How do tank printers work?

Tank printers are often talked about as something entirely different to inkjet printers, but that’s not actually the case.

In reality, tank printers like the HP Smart Tank 5106 are simply a different kind of inkjet printer to the cartridge-based models that I’m guessing you’re more familiar with.

Instead of using replaceable, disposable cartridges, tank printers have reservoirs (usually 

four: cyan, magenta, yellow and black) that are refilled manually by their owners when the ink runs out.

You can buy these replacement bottles separately (though some are already included with the HP Smart Tank 5106).

If squeezing bottles of ink into your home printer sounds like a mess waiting to happen, it should be stressed that tank printers are carefully designed to prevent any unwanted spillages.

Having a printer with these refillable tanks has one major benefit for owners, which I’ll cover in the following section.

Tank printers: the costs

Anybody with one eye on the home printer market will see they are incredibly affordable devices, with prices on the Currys website starting at £39.99.

However, those sub-£50 prices are exclusively on cartridge printers. For tank printers, you should expect to spend upward of £100.

If those pricier upfront costs put you off, it’s worth considering the long game. How much are you planning to use your printer?

Refillable ink bottles contain far more ink than cartridges, and over the course of time, offer far better value for money.

In the case of the HP 5106, a three-year supply of ink is included with the printer.

So while you’ll almost definitely save cash on the initial cost of a cartridge printer, it could easily prove the more expensive option in the long term.

Should you buy a tank printer?

By now, you’ve probably figured out the criteria for whether you opt for a tank or cartridge inkjet printer.

Ultimately, it comes down to usage: if you’re somebody who only needs a printer for occasional, low-volume use, then a cartridge printer is the route to go.

But if you regularly print – and in large quantities too – you’re much better off investing in a tank printer to avoid racking up those needless cartridge costs.

If I’ve got any further advice to help you pick up the ideal printer, it’s that you buy from a reputable, big-name brand like HP, and from a reliable store like Currys.

Don’t forget that the store’s famous Price Promise policy means that you’re guaranteed not to spend any more than you would elsewhere.

HP tank printers at Currys

Currys stocks an expansive range of HP tank printers beside the Smart Tank 5106.

There are options at higher price points which deliver a higher yield of pages per minute and come with additional features like an automatic document feeder, and also support double-sided printing.

Here’s a full list of the HP Smart Tank printers you buy at Currys:

• HP Smart Tank 5105 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer, £209.99
• HP Smart Tank 5106 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer, £149 (was £209.99)
• HP Smart Tank 7005 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer, £199.99 (was £269.99)
• HP Smart Tank 7306 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer, £304
• HP Smart Tank 7605 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer, £299.99 (was £349.99)

HP tank printer deals, from £149