Let me start by saying I’ve been burned by printers before—streaky ink, Wi-Fi dropouts, cartridges that dry up faster than my motivation on a Monday. But this HP Smart Tank 5103? It’s been my reliable sidekick for half a year now, and I’m obsessed.

The setup was shockingly easy. No tech degree required—just follow the cartoon-style instructions (yes, really), pop in the print heads, and pour the ink bottles like you’re bartending for robots. Pro tip: Push down FIRMLY on those ink bottles—they click when properly seated. Within 45 minutes, I was printing scripts for my freelance gigs without guilt-tripping over ink costs.

Speaking of savings: The included 2-year ink supply isn’t marketing fluff. Six months in, my tanks are still halfway full despite printing weekly coloring pages for my niece and borderline-excessive vacation photos. My old cartridge printer would’ve demanded a blood sacrifice (or $150) by now.

Print quality? Crisp enough that my mom framed a family photo thinking it was professional. Wireless printing via the HP app works seamlessly—unless the printer naps too hard. Then it pulls a teenager move: ignores all wake-up calls until you power-cycle it. Minor annoyance, but worth it for borderless photo prints that make my Instagram look bougie.

Two quirks to note: It’s slower than my morning brain (3 mins/color page), and double-sided printing requires manual page-flipping acrobatics. But for under $300? I’ll take these compromises over another landfill-bound printer any day.