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Keeping up with all the Epson Ecotank models can be very difficult. There are over a dozen models to choose from. Some are upgrades from previous models while others have unique features. Picking the best Ecotank can be hard, but our Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 2850 review will make that easier for you. Which of these is right for your home office? Let’s take a look.
Our Epson Ecotank 2850 vs 2720 review will compare these based on overall functions, printing speed, paper size, and the printing methods that are available.
Read on to find out which Epson Ecotank is right for your home office and business needs.
| Epson Ecotank 2720 | Epson Ecotank 2850 |
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How Does Ecotank Work?
If you’ve owned or used an inkjet before, then you’re used to the conventional ink cartridges. While the cartridges themselves are large, they only hold a small amount of ink. Not only that, but a substantial amount of plastic is used to make the cartridge, which is a waste of resources and money.
Epson Ecotank is different. Regardless of which model you choose, all of them allow you to put ink directly into the ink tank system. Refillable ink tanks don’t just save you money, but you’ll also find that you can print way more pages before having to buy ink again.
So whether you’re looking to save money, save the environment, or save time, the Epson Ecotank printers all do the same thing. While they might have different features, this is one feature that is consistent among them.
Check Price: Epson Ecotank 2720 ->
Epson Ecotank ET-2850 vs ET-2720: Functions
It’s rare now to find a printer that only prints. Most are actually multifunction printers that can also scan, copy, and they might have several other features. Let’s compare these to see which one wins.
In terms of basic functions, these two are identical. You can print, copy, and scan with both of them. Printing is done either via wired or wireless printing (more on this later), while scanning and copying is done from the flatbed scanner on top. They also both allow you to do monochrome black printing or color printing.
So, if we were only talking about basic functions, then our Epson Ecotank ET-2720 vs Ecotank ET-2850 review would be a tie here. But, there’s one extra function you get with 2850.
This printer has automatic duplex printing. Duplex printing is also commonly called double-sided printing. It means that the printer is able to flip the page after one side is printed so that it can print on the other side.
Now, you can do double-sided printing with 2720, but it’s what we’d call manual duplex printing. You would print the first side and then load the sheets back into the printer. There is a chance that the sheets won’t be facing the right direction, so you’ll want to print a test copy or two to make sure it’s right. As you can tell, this is inconvenient.
If there’s even a remote chance you’ll do duplex printing, then we suggest the ET-2850 Epson Ecotank. It might just have one extra function, but it’s a very useful one.
Check Price: Epson Ecotank 2850 ->
Epson Ecotank 2850 vs 2720: Printing Speed
If you’ve read some of our other Epson Ecotank printer reviews, then you might have realized by now that many of them are rated as the same speed, but they function differently in the real world.
Both of these offer 5PPM for color printing and 10PPM for black-and-white printing. PPM means pages per minute. This means you should expect around 5-10 prints every minute depending on what you’re printing.
Copying is a slower process, though not by much. The speeds are 4PPM for color printing and 8PPM for black-and-white. While a little slower, this isn’t that bad when compared to similar printers.
What about duplex printing with the 2850? These speeds are pretty good at 4PPM for color and 6PPM for black-and-white. Considering you’re printing on both sides, this is actually a little faster than single-sided printing.
Now, what we found was that 2850 was faster in real-world printing when compared to 2720. The difference isn’t huge and won’t be that noticeable unless you doing larger print jobs, but it’s good to know. If you frequently print and copy, then 2850 is right for you. If you’ll only print every now and then, then 2720 should be fine.
| Epson Ecotank 2720 | Epson Ecotank 2850 |
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Epson Ecotank ET-2720 vs ET-2850: Paper Size
This is another section in our Epson Ecotank ET-2850 vs Ecotank ET-2720 review where things are very similar, but 2850 pulls ahead.
Both of these offer the same paper capacity of 100 sheets of regular paper. You can also place 10 envelopes or 20 sheets of photo paper in the tray as well for special printing. Another similarity is the paper sizes themselves.
The Epson Ecotank paper sizes include:
- 3.5×5
- 4×6
- 5×7
- 8×10
- 8.5×11
- 8.5×14
- A4
- A6
- Executive
- Half Letter
- No. 10 Envelopes
So far both of these seem the same, but the difference comes down to weight. As you may know, every paper type has a different weight. For example, a sheet of regular paper is much lighter than a sheet of cardstock.
The 2720 is best at handling lighter sheets of paper while 2850 can handle thicker sheets. While we wouldn’t recommend Ecotank for lots of cardstock printing (the printer in general is meant for regular printing), we would say that 2850 can handle occasional heavier printing and copying.
Check Price: Epson Ecotank 2720 ->
Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 2850: Printing Methods
Both of these offer several printing methods such as wired printing and wireless printing, but there is one extra feature you only get with 2850 that is lacking with 2720.
A wired connection is the most common and stable. Simply connect the printer to your computer via a USB cable and you’re good to go. Both of these also offer wireless printing. You can do this with your phone or any other compatible device. Just download the Epson app and pair the devices. It should only take a few seconds.
Another printing method offered by both Ecotanks is voice command printing. Pair your Ecotank with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant and you can tell your printer to print, scan, and copy with ease.
The one advantage you get with ET-2850 Ecotank is the automatic duplex printing. Double-sided printing doesn’t just save you paper. It’s faster overall and best for books, reports, and many other common documents. This printer flips the paper for you.
While you can do duplex printing with 2720, chances are that you might put the paper in incorrectly. You need to print one side and then load that paper back into the tray. This might be fine for flyers or other one-sheet documents, but it’s not nearly as good for reports and books.
They are similar, but 2850 wins with the automatic duplex printing.
Check Price: Epson Ecotank 2850 ->
What is the Difference Between Epson Ecotank 2720 and 2850?
Curious about what is the difference between Epson Ecotank 2850 and 2720? They are similar overall, but we found some very important differences.
Read our other Epson Ecotank 2720 reviews here:
- Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 2760 (Best Inkjet for Home Use)
- Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 2850 (Best Inkjet for Bulk Printing)
- Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 15000 (Which Ecotank is the Best Value?)
- Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 4800 (Best Supertank Printer)
- Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 2800 (Best Epson Ecotank Printer)
In terms of similarities, they both offer most of the same functions, use the same paper types, and both offer wireless printing.
While their speeds are similar, 2850 performed better in real-world tests and was much faster with larger documents. This model also handles paper better, and it offers automatic duplex printing, which is helpful with those larger documents and when you want to save paper.
We would say this duplex printing is the most significant difference between them. If you think that you’ll be doing any double-sided printing, then we suggest the Epson ET-2850 Ecotank. However, if price is more your priority and you don’t think you’ll do any double-sided printing, then Epson ET-2720 Ecotank might be better for you.
| Epson Ecotank 2720 | Epson Ecotank 2850 |
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Final Thoughts
So, who wins in our Epson Ecotank 2720 vs 2850 review? Both are amazing and very similar, but we have to go with 2850. Not only is the model newer, but it handles paper better and offers automatic duplex printing, which is a very handy feature.
While you can often get a better deal with 2720, you will be missing out on some features. It’s a great printer, but we think you’ll get more value from the 2850.