Epson is a leading manufacturer of high-quality printers known for its EcoTank printer series. The EcoTank printers are revolutionary cartridge-free printers with high capacity ink tanks. Two of the most popular EcoTank photo printers are the ET-8500 and ET-8550 models.
In this article, we’ll compare the key specs and features of the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 and ET-8550 printers to help you decide which one best suits your needs.
Overview of ET-8500 and ET-8550
The Epson ET-8500 and ET-8550 are wireless all-in-one color photo printers with scanning, copying and fax capabilities. Both utilize Epson’sPrecisionCore printhead and Claria ET ink technology for vibrant, high-quality photo prints.
The ET-8500 is the more compact and affordable option suitable for home and small office use. It can print borderless photos up to 8.5″ x 11″.
The ET-8550 is a larger format printer capable of borderless prints up to 13″ x 19″. It’s built for photography studios and creative workspaces that need to print posters and enlargements.
Comparing Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 vs ET-8550 Printer
Print Quality
- Maximum Print Resolution: Both printers have an identical maximum print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi. This produces lab-quality photographic prints.
- Ink Technology: The ET-8500 and ET-8550 use the same 6-color Claria ET ink system with individual bottles for Photo Black, Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Gray inks. The gray ink allows for neutral B&W prints.
- PrintHead: Epson’s PrecisionCore printhead provides highly accurate ink droplet placement for sharp detail and clarity. The printhead is permanent – no need for replacements.
- Color Gamut: Both printers can achieve up to 98% of the PANTONE color gamut. Excellent for color matching and graphics printing.
Overall, the ET-8500 and ET-8550 offer identical professional-grade print quality. The only difference is the maximum printable paper size.
Print Speed
- Black Print Speed: Up to 16 ISO ppm on plain paper for both models – fast enough for everyday document printing.
- Color Print Speed: 12 ISO ppm on the ET-8550. Slightly faster at 15 ISO ppm on the ET-8500.
- 4R Photo Speed: As fast as 15 seconds for a 4″ x 6″ photo print on the ET-8550. ET-8500 is close behind at 17 seconds.
The ET-8550 has a small advantage in print speeds. But both deliver fast photo prints and crisp documents without making you wait.
Paper Handling
- Input Capacity: ET-8500 has a 150-sheet rear paper tray and 20-sheet front tray. ET-8550 has a larger 250-sheet rear tray and 150-sheet front tray.
- Maximum Paper Size: Up to 8.5″x11″ sheets on the ET-8500 vs. 13″x19″ sheets on the ET-8550. A big difference that allows larger prints on the 8550 model.
- Paper Types: Both support plain paper, glossy photo paper, fine art media and poster board up to 1.3mm thick.
- Borderless Printing: Available on both models – up to 8.5″x11″ on the ET-8500 and 13″x19″ on the ET-8550
- Auto 2-Sided Printing: Built-in auto duplexer for two-sided prints on both models
The ET-8550 accommodates thicker paper stock and has higher input capacity for large print jobs. But both offer versatile paper handling with auto duplex printing.
Connectivity
- Wired: High-speed USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
- Mobile: Epson Smart Panel app for iOS and Android
- Memory: SD and SDHC memory card slot
The ET-8500 and ET-8550 have identical connectivity options. Print from multiple computers, smartphones, cameras and cloud services.
Printer Dimensions
- ET-8500: 14.5 x 13.7 x 24.1 inches (WxDxH)
- ET-8550: 18.1 x 16.7 x 32.4 inches (WxDxH)
As expected, the ET-8550 is considerably larger to accommodate bigger paper sizes. Both have integrated flatbed scanners with similar dimensions.
Cost of Operation
A major advantage of EcoTank printers is the extremely low ink costs.
- Ink Supply: Each model includes enough ink to print up to 14,000 pages black/7,500 color. Replacement ink bottles yield up to 6,000 pages black/ 6,000 color.
- Ink Cost: Less than 1 cent per ISO page for black ink and under 5 cents for color pages. Equivalent cartridges would cost 4X more.
Operating costs are virtually identical for both printers. The equivalent of hundreds of cartridges for less than $60 in bottle ink!
Key Differences Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 vs ET-8550 Printer
| Epson ET-8500 | Epson ET-8550 |
|---|---|
| Smaller/more compact | Larger maximum print size (13″x19″) |
| Lower price | Higher capacity paper trays |
| Up to 8.5″x11″ borderless prints | Slightly faster print speeds |
Conclusion
The Epson ET-8500 and ET-8550 EcoTank photo printers deliver professional quality prints with ultra-low operating costs.
The ET-8500 is ideal for home offices and smaller photography studios. It provides excellent quality up to 8.5″x11″ at an affordable price point.
For larger prints, posters and graphic art reproduction, the ET-8550 is the better choice. The larger ink tanks and paper capacity make it suitable for high volume photo printing.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with either model. If your printing needs extend beyond standard sizes, the ET-8550 is worth the extra investment. Otherwise, the ET-8500 offers tremendous value for everyday home and office use.
FAQs
What is the biggest difference between the ET-8500 and ET-8550?
The maximum printable paper size. The ET-8500 can print borderless up to 8.5″x11″ while the ET-8550 can handle larger 13″x19″ sheets.
Do the printers use the same ink bottles?
Yes, both printers use the same 6 Claria ET color ink bottles – photo black, black, cyan, magenta, yellow and gray. The ink is fully interchangeable.
How frequently do the ink bottles need to be replaced?
Very infrequently thanks to the high-capacity ink tanks. Each set of replacement bottles yields up to 6,000 pages black and color. Much more economical than cartridges.
Can I print from my smartphone?
Yes, both printers offer wireless connectivity and mobile printing support through Epson’s Smart Panel app for iOS and Android devices.
Which printer has the faster print speed?
The ET-8550 is slightly faster when printing in color – 12 ISO ppm vs 15 ISO ppm on the ET-8500. But both deliver speedy photo prints in 15-17 seconds for 4″x6″ size.
