Epson EcoTank ET-8550 & Epson EcoTank ET-8500 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 rather than the Epson EcoTank ET-8500.
Why Do I Recommend The Epson EcoTank ET-8550?
- The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 features a maximum 13×19 inches print size for creating large-format posters and gallery-quality photos in a single pass, while the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 supports only up to 8.5×11 inches.
- Epson EcoTank ET-8550 comes with a rear straight paper path for feeding thick fine-art media at A3+ size to produce professional art prints on heavyweight paper, whereas the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 has a rear feed limited to A4 width.
- It supports tabloid printing up to 11×17 inches for in-house CAD drawings and event signage, while the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 handles only standard letter and A4 sheets.
- The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 features borderless printing up to 13×19 inches for seamless large-edge photo output, whereas the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 supports borderless printing only up to 8.5×11 inches.
- Epson EcoTank ET-8550 has a wider panoramic print width up to 13 inches to create expansive landscape photos without stitching, while the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 allows a maximum panoramic width of 8.5 inches.
- It supports larger scrapbook and album page printing such as 12×12 inch sheets for professional book projects, whereas the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 is restricted to smaller page formats.
- The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 includes the capability to reduce tiling and joining by printing wide-format charts and posters in one sheet for time-efficient production, while the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 requires multiple sheets for the same output size.
- Epson EcoTank ET-8550 comes with an expanded print scaling range to enlarge high-resolution images for marketing displays and fine-art reproductions, whereas the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 is limited to standard A4 scaling.
Maybe the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Epson EcoTank ET-8550. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | Epson EcoTank ET-8550 | Epson EcoTank ET-8500 |
| Maximum Print Size | A3+ (13″ × 19″) | A4/Letter (8.5″ × 11″) |
| Borderless Print Capability | Up to 13″ × 19″ | Up to 8.5″ × 11″ |
| Rear Paper Feed Width | Accepts 13″ wide media | Accepts 8.5″ wide media |
| Supported Media Types | Tabloid, A3+, 11″ × 17″ | Letter, A4 only |
| Fine-Art Sheet Size | Supports large fine-art sheets up to A3+ | Supports fine-art sheets up to A4 |
| Panoramic Print Width | Up to 13″ | Up to 8.5″ |
| Large Poster Printing | One-pass 13″ × 19″ | Requires tiling for sizes above A4 |
| Physical Dimensions | Larger chassis | More compact |
| Desk Space Requirement | Needs wider workspace | Fits tighter spaces |
| Event Signage Capability | Prints A3+/tabloid signs | Limited to A4 signs |
| Scrapbook Page Size | Handles 12″ × 12″ | Limited to smaller pages |
| CAD/Design Layouts | Prints 11″ × 17″ or 13″ × 19″ | Prints only A4/Letter |
| Media Path | Rear straight path for wide format | Rear path limited to A4 |
| Large-Format Photo Time | Supports 13″ × 19″ timing | Not applicable |
| Packaging Size | Larger | Smaller |
| Ink Consumption per Sheet | Covers larger area per pass | Smaller area per pass |
| Power for Large Prints | Stable for A3+ output | Standard for A4 only |
| Price | Check EcoTank ET-8550 Price | Check EcoTank ET-8500 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- 6-Color Claria ET Ink System: Both printers use a six-color Claria ET ink set, including photo black and gray, to produce exceptionally vibrant colors and smooth gradations that enhance photo quality.
- Photo Black & Photo Gray Inks: Each model includes dedicated photo black and gray inks, allowing for deeper shadows and improved monochrome photo output, which is important for professional photography and fine-art printing.
- Print Technology: Both employ PrecisionCore heat-free technology, which provides consistent droplet placement for sharp details while reducing energy use and minimizing maintenance.
- Print Resolution: Each printer achieves a high 5760 × 1440 dpi resolution, ensuring crisp text and detailed photographic prints suitable for gallery-quality results.
- Front & Rear Paper Trays: Both have dual trays, letting you load photo paper and plain paper simultaneously for convenient switching between projects without constant reloading.
- 4.3-inch Touchscreen: Each model features a large, intuitive color touchscreen, simplifying navigation through settings, maintenance, and direct printing from memory cards.
- Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi Direct): Both support Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, enabling quick, cable-free connections to laptops, smartphones, and tablets for flexible placement and easy printing.
- Mobile Printing (AirPrint/Mopria/Email Print): Each supports popular mobile protocols like Apple AirPrint and Mopria, allowing seamless printing directly from iOS and Android devices without additional drivers.
- Borderless Printing (within max size): Both print borderless photos up to their respective maximum sizes, ensuring professional, edge-to-edge output for albums, presentations, or wall art.
- Automatic Duplex Printing: Each printer supports automatic two-sided printing, reducing paper usage and making document production more efficient for home or office tasks.
- Memory Card Slot (SD): Both include an SD memory card slot, enabling direct photo printing without a computer, ideal for quick prints straight from a camera card.
- USB & Ethernet Ports: Each has USB and Ethernet connections for reliable wired networking and direct PC printing when wireless is not preferred.
- Scanner Type: Both use a flatbed CIS scanner, delivering sharp 1200 dpi scans for archiving documents or reproducing photos with accurate color.
- Copy and Scan to Cloud: Each model supports scanning or copying documents directly to cloud services, improving workflow for remote storage and sharing.
- High-Capacity Ink Tanks: Both incorporate refillable ink tanks that hold a large volume of ink, drastically reducing the frequency of refills and lowering cost per page.
- Low-Cost Ink Refills: Both printers use affordable bottle-based ink refills, cutting ongoing expenses compared to traditional cartridges and minimizing plastic waste.
- Quiet Printing Mode: Each offers a quiet mode, helpful for printing late at night or in shared spaces without disturbing others.
- OS Compatibility (Windows/Mac): Both are compatible with modern Windows and macOS systems, ensuring easy driver support and integration across different computers.
- Print Speed (approx. 16 ppm black/12 ppm color): Both deliver similar print speeds for documents and photos, providing efficient output for home offices or photo projects.
Common Features
| Feature | Epson EcoTank ET-8550 | Epson EcoTank ET-8500 |
| 6-Color Claria ET Ink System | Yes | Yes |
| Photo Black & Photo Gray Inks | Yes | Yes |
| Print Technology | PrecisionCore Heat-Free | PrecisionCore Heat-Free |
| Print Resolution | 5760 × 1440 dpi | 5760 × 1440 dpi |
| Front & Rear Paper Trays | Yes | Yes |
| 4.3-inch Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi Direct) | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Printing (AirPrint/Mopria/Email Print) | Yes | Yes |
| Borderless Printing (within max size) | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Duplex Printing | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Card Slot (SD) | Yes | Yes |
| USB & Ethernet Ports | Yes | Yes |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed CIS | Flatbed CIS |
| Copy and Scan to Cloud | Yes | Yes |
| High-Capacity Ink Tanks | Yes | Yes |
| Low-Cost Ink Refills | Yes | Yes |
| Quiet Printing Mode | Yes | Yes |
| OS Compatibility (Windows/Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Print Speed (approx. 16 ppm black/12 ppm color) | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check EcoTank ET-8550 Price | Check EcoTank ET-8500 Price |
FAQ
What type of ink system do the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 and ET-8500 use? Can these printers produce borderless prints? Do they support wireless printing? Are these printers compatible with mobile printing apps? What is the maximum print resolution for both models? Do the ET-8550 and ET-8500 have automatic duplex printing? Is there a touchscreen for operation on both printers? Can I print directly from a memory card? What type of scanner do these printers have? Are these printers energy efficient? Do the printers support Ethernet connections? How cost-effective are the ink refills? Are they compatible with Windows and Mac computers? Do the ET-8550 and ET-8500 have a quiet printing mode? What is the main difference between the two models? |