HP Envy 6000 Series | Detailed Product Review and Comparison

27th Jan 2025
Simon Cross

When you’re shopping for a printer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. If you’re shopping for business or home use, the HP Envy 6000 series is an excellent choice.

Designed for families, students, and anyone with moderate printing needs, the Envy 6000 strikes a great balance between affordability, functionality, and sleek design. After testing it out, I have to say that, for the price, this series offers a lot of value.

In this review, I’ve covered the HP Envy 6000 in detail, looking at its features, performance, and what makes it stand out. I’ll also compare it to other popular HP printer models, including the Envy 7000, DeskJet series, and OfficeJet Pro series.

HP Envy 6000 Overview

The HP Envy 6000 Series is an all-in-one printer designed with modern home users in mind. It’s ideal for families, students, and small teams with moderate printing needs.

Is HP Envy 6000 an inkjet or laser printer?

The HP Envy 6000 is an inkjet printer, which means it uses liquid ink to print. Inkjet printers are especially popular for home use because they are versatile and can produce very detailed, high-quality prints. If you’re someone who likes to print colourful family photos or documents with images, an inkjet printer like the HP Envy 6000 will do a great job.

It’s also worth mentioning that inkjet printers usually cost less upfront compared to laser printers, which can make them appealing if you’re on a budget.

But, I always like to remind customers that HP ink cartridges they use can be more expensive to replace over time compared to HP toner. Laser printers use toner (a powder-based material) which usually lasts longer and can be more cost-effective in the long run compared to inkjet printers when printing high volumes (over 500 pages a month).

So, while an inkjet printer like the HP Envy 6000 offers great quality and flexibility, it’s a good idea to think about how often you’ll print and what the total cost of replacing the ink might look like down the road. This way, you can decide if it’s the best fit for your needs!

Features of the Envy 6000

• All-in-One functionality: The Envy 6000 series combines printing, scanning, and copying capabilities. This is ideal as a home office printer so you don’t have to worry about managing multiple devices.

• Smart connectivity: With Wi-Fi, bluetooth and HP Smart App integration, users can print wirelessly from smartphones, tablets, or laptops with ease. With the HP Smart app, you also have the option to print and scan right from your phone.

• Compact design: One thing I love about the Envy 6000 is that it is one of the most compact and lightweight printers on the market, with most models weighing 6.2kg or less.

• Durability for moderate use: Most models in the Envy 6000 series have a recommended monthly page volume of 400 maximum pages.

• Print performance: With a resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi, the Envy 6000 delivers crisp, vibrant prints for text documents and photos alike. Print speeds of 10 ppm (black) and 7 ppm (colour) ensure efficiency for everyday tasks.

• Warranty: Like most HP printers, all Envy 6000s come with a one year warranty with the option for a further year for a small additional cost. For some information on how to maximise the life of your HP printer, visit the blog post where I give all my tips.

• User-friendly: This printer, not unlike other HP Printers, is very easy to use. The printer features a smart button interface that illuminates when needed. Setup is quick and simple with the HP Smart App.

Who is the Envy 6000 best for?

I recommend this printer series to families and students who need a reliable printer for homework, school projects, and occasional photo printing.

In my opinion, it would also be suitable for home offices or very small businesses with moderate printing volumes. HP actually recommends this printer for teams of up to 3 people, but any more than that and an upgrade would be in order.

Comparison of HP Envy 6000 to Other Popular HP Models

HP Envy 6000 vs HP Envy 7000

If you’re tossing up between the HP Envy 6000 and Envy 7000, you’re not alone! These two models are pretty close, especially since they’re both within the same series and have a similar target audience.

That said, in my opinion the Envy 7000 is a bit more advanced. It’s slightly pricier (by around £50 or so), and offers a few extra features that might sway you. Let’s break it down!

The Envy 7000 has an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)

Okay, so a big difference that I’ve found between the two models is that the Envy 7000 comes with an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), which is a game-changer if you need to scan or copy multi-page documents regularly. Instead of manually flipping pages on the scanner, the ADF does the heavy lifting for you.

On the other hand, the Envy 6000 skips this feature, so scanning or copying multiple pages can be a bit of a chore. If that’s something you’ll need often, the 7000 has the upper hand here.

The Envy 7000 has better print speed and capacity

The HP Envy 7000 is also faster and a bit more spacious:

• Print Speed: 12 pages per minute (ppm) in black compared to 10 ppm on the Envy 6000. Not a huge leap, but if you’re printing a lot, those extra seconds can add up.

• Input Capacity: The 7000 can hold 125 sheets, while the 6000 holds 100 sheets. Again, not massive, but handy for busier days.

• Paper Sizes: The 7000 also supports a slightly wider range of paper sizes, including envelopes, which is useful if you’re printing invitations or mailing labels.

So, for anyone who prints more frequently or needs a bit more versatility, the Envy 7000 pulls ahead.

The HP Envy 7000 has a touchscreen interface

In my opinion, a touchscreen display on a printer makes almost any printer a whole lot easier to use. From my tests, the navigation is super intuitive and it makes it really easy to scroll through options, adjust settings, and manage your print jobs compared to the button-based Smart UI on the Envy 6000.

While the Smart UI is sleek and works just fine, the touchscreen feels more premium and modern.

The Envy 7000 is bulkier and less energy efficient

Now, let’s talk trade-offs. The HP Envy 7000 is a bit bulkier and heavier, so if you’re short on space, the Envy 6000’s compact design might be more appealing.

The 7000 also consumes slightly more energy, which may not matter too much unless you’re particularly eco-conscious or watching your energy bills closely.

HP Envy 6000 vs HP DeskJet Series

In my opinion, the Envy 6000 is a step above the DeskJet. The Envy 6000 edges ahead if you’re looking for something that can handle a little more volume and speed, but the DeskJet can’t be beat for value and compactness.

The Envy 6000 has a larger monthly print volume

This is one of the main reasons that I say the Envy 6000 is a bit more robust. While the DeskJet models have a maximum recommended monthly output of 300, the Envy 6000’s is 400. Basically, the HP Envy 6000 can handle more printing, more regularly.

That’s why HP recommends it for small offices as well as home use, while DeskJet is solely for individuals. So, if you like the DeskJet but think you’ll be pushing 300 pages a month, consider the Envy 6000.

The Envy 6000 is faster than the DeskJet

Speed is another area where the Envy 6000 takes the lead. With print speeds of up to 10 pages per minute in black and 7 pages per minute in colour, it’s noticeably faster than the DeskJet series, which clocks in at around 7.5 ppm for black and 5.5 ppm for colour.

For users who need to print documents, homework, or even photos quickly, the Envy 6000 will get the job done with far less waiting around.

The Envy 6000 is sturdier

The real difference between the two comes down to the target audience. The DeskJet series is designed for light, budget-conscious users who print occasionally and don’t need anything too fancy. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a no-frills, affordable printer.

On the other hand, the HP Envy 6000 is better suited for families, students, or home offices that require something a bit more reliable and capable of handling moderate use without slowing down.

HP Envy 6000 vs HP OfficeJet Pro Series

I included this model in the comparison to give you an idea of how the HP Envy 6000’s specs stack up against a workhorse printer like the OfficeJet Pro. The OfficeJet Pro, like the name suggests, is built for office use and high-volume users who need more speed and capacity. Let me give you an overview of some of the features that set it apart.

The OfficeJet Pro prints really fast

With print speeds of 20 pages per minute in black compared to the Envy’s 10 ppm, the OfficeJet Pro is built for heavy-duty work. Obviously, speed isn’t a huge concern when you’re printing a few documents at home, so it’s not really a concern if you’re not buying a printer for office use.

Recommended Monthly Page Volume is higher for OfficeJet Pro

Of course, being built for office use, the OfficeJet Pro has a much higher recommended monthly volume at 2,000 pages compared to the Envy 6000’s 400 pages.

And it's recommended for teams of up to 5 users.

If you’re printing large reports, invoices, or just a lot of documents every week, the OfficeJet Pro keeps up without breaking a sweat, while the Envy 6000 might struggle with that kind of workload.

OfficeJet Pro comes with an automatic document feeder (ADF)

Just like the Envy 7000, the OfficeJet Pro comes with an ADF. Like I said before, I really like this feature when scanning, copying and faxing because it removes the tedious, manual parts of the job. You can just load the pages and let it do its thing.

For offices or anyone who does a lot of document work, the ADF is a must-have.

OfficeJet Pro has a large input capacity

Then there’s the input capacity. The OfficeJet Pro comes with a 250-sheet input tray, which is miles ahead of the Envy 6000’s 100-sheet capacity. This means far fewer interruptions to reload paper, especially if you’re printing regularly. It’s one of those little conveniences that makes a big difference when you’re juggling a busy workday.

To sum it up, the OfficeJet Pro is built for users who need more speed, capacity, and efficiency. It’s perfect for small businesses or home offices with heavier workloads. The Envy 6000, on the other hand, is great for families or light home use but isn’t quite up to the demands of high-volume printing.

If you need a workhorse, the OfficeJet Pro is the way to go. If you’d like to learn a bit more about the differences between the HP Envy and OfficeJet, I’ve actually gone in to a lot more detail in another post. So go check it out!

Popular HP printer models comparison table

Key Takeaways

The HP Envy 6000 series is an excellent all-in-one printer for families, students, and small home offices. It delivers solid print quality, smart connectivity, and a compact design at a budget-friendly price. While it’s not designed for heavy-duty use, it’s perfect for moderate printing tasks like homework, creative projects, or occasional photo printing.

If you need something with a bit more speed, capacity or more advanced features like an Automatic Document Feeder, you might want to check out the HP Envy 7000 or the OfficeJet Pro series. For a more comprehensive guide to the best HP printers for small businesses, check out my other blog post!

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a basic, no-frills option, the DeskJet series is a great alternative.

Ultimately, the HP Envy 6000 offers a fantastic mix of features and performance for everyday use. If you’re after a printer that keeps up with your family’s needs without breaking the bank, the Envy 6000 is definitely worth considering! If you need some more guidance on how to choose the best HP printer, have a read of my last blog post. 

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.