HP ENVY Inspire 7955e
All-in-One Inkjet Printer

The HP ENVY Inspire 7955e is one of the best-looking and best-feeling consumer inkjets on the market. HP's design and software teams have clearly put effort into the user experience. But good design doesn't eliminate the fundamental tension at the heart of this product: it's built around HP's Instant Ink subscription model, and that shapes the economics in ways buyers should understand before committing.

Photo Quality

This is where the 7955e genuinely excels. Photo output on glossy paper is outstanding for a sub-$250 inkjet. Skin tones are accurate, shadows retain detail, and colour transitions are smooth even in large prints. If you regularly print photos and care about quality, the 7955e is one of the best options at this price point.

The Instant Ink Question

HP promotes its Instant Ink subscription service heavily with this machine. The subscription model is not required, but HP's marketing creates the impression that it is. If you choose not to subscribe, you use standard HP cartridges — which are expensive at roughly 6–8 cents per black page and 12–15 cents per colour page at current retail prices.

The Instant Ink subscription offers lower per-page costs, but you're paying monthly whether you print or not, and unused pages don't roll over indefinitely. For light users, the economics of the subscription are less favourable than they appear.

Score Breakdown

Final Verdict

The HP ENVY Inspire 7955e earns its score through genuinely excellent photo quality and strong software. If printing photos is a meaningful part of your use case and you'll use the Instant Ink subscription consistently at the right tier, it's a solid choice. If you primarily print documents, or if you prefer not to be tied to a subscription, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 or Brother MFC-J4335DW will serve you better at lower long-term cost.