Epson EcoTank ET-2980 review: a fast, budget-friendly all-in-one printer suitable for families

      Epson EcoTank ET-2980

      MSRP: $299.99

      "Epson's EcoTank ET-2980 delivers quick performance and impressive long-term savings, albeit with some compromises to maintain affordability."

      Pros

      - Includes three years' worth of ink

      - Rapid printing for both short and long documents

      - Adequate print quality

      - Cost-effective per page

      - Sleek design featuring an icy-blue tower light

      Cons

      - Regular paper jams during duplex printing

      - Variable quality in photo prints

      - Small display

      Epson's latest EcoTank ET-2980 negates the inconvenience of changing cartridges and reduces ink costs due to its large reservoirs. It is also among the fastest ink tank printers available. The optimal printers strike a perfect balance between speed, quality, and cost. I tested the EcoTank ET-2980 to assess its performance, suitability for buyers, and overall value.

      Specifications

      Epson EcoTank ET-2980

      Dimensions: 14.8 x 13.7 x 7.4 inches

      Weight: 11.5 pounds

      Print speed: 15.5 pages per minute (black), 8 pages per minute (color)

      Copy speed: 11 copies per minute (black), 5.5 copies per minute (color)

      Print resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi

      Scan resolution: 1200 x 2400 dpi

      Ports: Hi-Speed USB

      Paper capacity: 100 sheets

      Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/k/v/r (multiband)

      Design

      The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is a compact and visually appealing printer. It is available in black or off-white to complement your interior. I have the white version with light gray accents, which suits most home settings well. The all-black model may fit nicely in darker-themed home offices.

      The ink tanks are clearly visible, allowing for easy monitoring of the ink levels. Epson’s promotional images show colorful stripes, but the translucent plastic reveals that all four inks appear dark gray.

      As an all-in-one printer capable of printing, copying, and scanning, the EcoTank ET-2980 maintains a compact footprint of 14.8 by 13.7 inches. Weighing only 11.5 pounds, it’s a user-friendly choice for families.

      While the design does resemble the Epson EcoTank ET-2850, the ET-2980 is even smaller and lighter. This new and faster model features a striking icy-blue alert light at the top of the ink tower that signals when attention is needed.

      The printer's design is predominantly functional, with a small color display measuring just 1.4 inches diagonally, encircled by 12 buttons for changing settings and copying. Although this might seem complicated, half of the buttons consist of standard navigation arrows, a back button, and an OK button. The control panel tilts for convenient use while standing or sitting.

      The EcoTank ET-2980 has a single rear paper tray that holds up to 100 sheets. An adjustable width slider accommodates various sizes, including small photo paper and envelopes. When loaded with letter-sized paper, its height reaches 10.4 inches. The output bin automatically extends nine inches from the front during printing.

      Printing performance

      The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is impressively fast for an inkjet tank printer. The initial page is produced in around six seconds, surpassing even the quickest color laser printers for single prints. This speed advantage arises from the inkjet’s lack of heat transfer.

      When printing lengthy monochrome documents, the speed can reach up to 15.5 pages per minute (ppm), while color documents can print at 8 ppm—50% faster than previous models in the same series.

      Epson achieved this enhanced speed through the integration of PrecisionCore technology, which is also found in high-end small business printers, such as the swift 25 ppm Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850.

      Despite the high printing speed, the quality remains excellent. Graphics are sharp, and even fine text is legible. The EcoTank ET-2980 performs well for color documents; however, there were some inconsistencies noted in photo prints.

      Most images turned out well, though a few were disappointing, particularly glossy prints that exhibited a blue tint in the shadows. Additionally, prints on plain paper lacked some contrast. The best photo printers are often specially designed for images and utilize more than four inks to enhance color precision.

      The EcoTank ET-2980 is susceptible to paper jams when printing double-sided documents. The display guides users through resolving these issues via the rear panel, which provides easy access to the rollers.

      Special features

      The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 includes a quick, high-resolution flatbed scanner.

      Epson distinguishes itself from other leading printer brands by no longer manufacturing laser printers, instead focusing on advancing inkjet technology. Their scanning approach also stands out