Choosing between two all-in-one printers and scanners usually comes down to one question: do you need color, or do you need speed? On one side, the Canon imageCLASS MF273dw Wireless Black-and-White All-In-One Laser Printer is a monochrome laser workhorse built around crisp text and quick output. On the other, the HP Smart Tank 7603 All-in-One Inkjet Printer, Color Mobile Print, Copy, Scan is a color inkjet that adds faxing and fluid color to the same all-in-one concept. The right pick depends on the documents that actually cross your desk.
Quick verdict
If most of your printing is black-and-white text and forms, the Canon imageCLASS MF273dw is the focused option. It prints fast, keeps setup simple, and does not force you to pay for color you will not use. If you need color documents, fax capability, or a single machine that handles a wider mix of office tasks, the HP Smart Tank 7603 is the more complete choice with color output and a broader function set.
At a glance
| Canon imageCLASS MF273dw | HP Smart Tank 7603 | |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $90.20 | $349.99 |
| Output type | Black-and-white laser | Color inkjet |
| Functions | Print, copy, scan, wireless, ADF | Print, copy, scan, fax, wireless, ADF |
| Price bar |
Where each product wins
Canon imageCLASS MF273dw wins for text-heavy offices. Its monochrome laser output is a natural fit for letters, contracts, envelopes, and internal documents.
HP Smart Tank 7603 wins for color and fax. Its color inkjet output supports documents the monochrome laser cannot handle, and the built-in fax adds a dedicated communication channel.
Product notes
Canon imageCLASS MF273dw Wireless Black-and-White All-In-One Laser Printer
Canon designed the imageCLASS MF273dw for small and medium-size businesses that want low-maintenance printing. The adjustable 5-line screen makes settings easy to follow, and the printer can handle different media types and sizes, including envelopes, so mailings do not require a second device. Its 24-bit color depth helps the scanner capture subtle shading even though the final print is black-and-white, which is useful if you archive color documents as digital files. The limitation is obvious: there is no color printing at all. Any presentation, photo, or color-coded report has to be printed elsewhere. Supplies are Canon Genuine Toner 071 / 071 H, which keeps output consistent but means buying Canon cartridges. For a business that mostly prints text, this is a straightforward all-in-one.
HP Smart Tank 7603 All-in-One Inkjet Printer, Color Mobile Print, Copy, Scan
The HP Smart Tank 7603 takes the opposite approach: color is the whole point. The inkjet output handles color documents, and the fax function adds another communication option to the usual print, copy, and scan trio. It also keeps wireless, ADF, and mobile-friendly printing in one unit, so a small team can share it without adding a second device. The trade-off is mostly in the purchase price. At $349.99, it costs substantially more than the Canon, so you want to be sure color and fax are part of your regular workflow before choosing it. If they are, the HP Smart Tank 7603 can replace several separate devices with one color-capable workstation.
Final choice by use case
Pick the Canon imageCLASS MF273dw if your printing is mostly text. It gives you laser-sharp black-and-white pages and fast output.
Pick the HP Smart Tank 7603 if color and fax matter every day. It handles the wider mix of tasks in one machine.
