Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Printer Review

Author : Purcell Blevins | Published On : 12 Oct 2025

The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 sits fairly low down the company’s product tree, but it packs a punch in terms of print quality and cost. Unlike standard ink cartridges, which have 2-year expiration dates, Ecotank ink is squirted into a chamber that’s sealed so it can’t dry out. It also uses Micro Piezo heat-free technology, so it’s lower on electricity consumption than a laser printer.

The ET-2850 has a good number of features for such a cheap machine, including Wi-Fi and AirPrint support. You can also connect it to your home network via Ethernet. It can auto-duplex print at a reasonable rate and resolution, as well as scan documents into searchable PDFs or TIFF files. It can even handle coated photo paper and card.

Epson’s EcoFit ink bottles are a big part of its “zero-cartridge waste” promise. They’re easier to refill than standard ink cartridges and use a clearer plastic that’s easier to see through, as well as less packaging material. They can also be dropped into recycling bins, which is a plus if you’re trying to reduce your environmental footprint.

Another great feature is the automatic shutoff function, which turns off the machine when it hasn’t been used for a certain amount of time. This saves energy and prevents it from heating up to avoid damaging the print head. However, if you don’t run the maintenance / cleaning routines regularly, the print heads can still dry out or clog.

This happened quite a few times during our page yield tests, as did the need to run printhead cleanings and alignments, which can use a lot of ink. Epson says the print heads are specially coated to prevent drying and clogging, but this doesn’t entirely eliminate the need for regular maintenance.

sketchup 2024 is the Canon PIXMA G7020, which feels more solidly built, prints more pages, has a lower cost-per-print for color documents, and prints photos with better detail. It can also print double-sided automatically, whereas the ET-2800 and ET-4800 require you to manually flip over each sheet when prompted.

Overall, the ET-2850 is a good choice for people who need a cheap and reliable inkjet that’s easy to maintain. Just keep in mind that it’s not the best choice for photographers, and that it might not be a good fit if you need a flatbed scanner with fax functionality or an Ethernet port. If you want a better all-in-one, consider the Canon PIXMA G7020 instead, which offers a larger display, higher page yields, and faster printing speeds. It also has an automatic document feeder, a built-in fax machine, and supports heavier paper weights. It’s a bit more expensive, but it may be worth the extra expense for you.