Choosing a printer scanner for a home office often comes down to one question: do you want a cartridge-free tank printer with included ink, a model that also handles ADF and fax jobs, or a used all-in-one at a lower upfront listed price? This comparison walks through four HP printer scanner options from HP's Smart Tank and PhotoSmart lines and matches each one to a different work style.
Quick take
If you want a new tank printer and are watching the listed price, start with the HP Smart Tank Plus 651. Need a more complete all-in-one function list? The HP Smart Tank 7603 is the broadest of the four. Want a mid-priced tank model with extra connection options? The Hewlett Packard Smart Tank 6001 slots in there. Willing to consider a used unit with accessories? The HP PhotoSmart 7520 is the wild card.
Listed price comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| HP Smart Tank Plus 651 | USD 174.99 | |
| HP Smart Tank 7603 | USD 349.99 | |
| Hewlett Packard Smart Tank 6001 | USD 199.99 | |
| HP PhotoSmart 7520 | USD 175.00 |
The listed price gap from the most affordable to the most expensive is USD 175.00.
Decision matrix
| Product | Notable listed features | Best match |
|---|---|---|
| HP Smart Tank Plus 651 | Wireless + USB 2.0, scanner + fax, 11 ppm black | New tank printer with scan and fax features |
| HP Smart Tank 7603 | Print, copy, scan, fax, ADF, wireless, Color Mobile Print | New all-in-one with a broader function list |
| Hewlett Packard Smart Tank 6001 | 12 ppm black, Bluetooth, HP Jetdirect, USB, duplex, networkable | New tank printer with extra connection options |
| HP PhotoSmart 7520 | Used, cable, scanner, copier, portable, accessories | Used all-in-one with accessories included |
Product notes
HP Smart Tank Plus 651
The core of the Smart Tank Plus 651 is a refillable ink tank setup, and the bundled ink bottles make it easy to print a lot before restocking. It lists 11 ppm black print speed and scanner plus fax in its feature set, with USB 2.0 as one of its connectivity options. That gives you a practical home-office hub in a new tank printer. The trade-off: among the two new tank models here with a listed black speed, 11 ppm is the slower mark. If fax-and-scan is your daily routine, this is a solid starting point.
HP Smart Tank 7603
The Smart Tank 7603 carries the roomiest function list in this group: print, copy, scan, fax, ADF, and Color Mobile Print. That makes it a strong candidate for a small office where one device needs to juggle scan, fax, copy, and print jobs. The main caveat to weigh is whether you actually need the extra depth. If fax and ADF are a regular part of your workflow, the additional spend over the other tanks becomes easier to justify; if not, a simpler tank model will do the same daily work.
Hewlett Packard Smart Tank 6001
With a listed black print speed of 12 ppm, the Smart Tank 6001 is the speediest of the new tank models here. It also lists Bluetooth, HP Jetdirect, USB 2.0, and a feature set including scanner, copier, portable, networkable, and duplex. If you want a fast, connected tank printer with double-sided printing, this is the focused pick. Buyers who rely on fax or an automatic document feeder should compare it against the 7603, which lists those functions explicitly.
HP PhotoSmart 7520
The PhotoSmart 7520 is the only used printer in the lineup, and it arrives with an unopened black ink cartridge, setup guide, data cable, and power cord. Its listed features include scanner, copier, portable, and cable connectivity. The description is upfront that the print head and cartridge likely need replacing, so consider this more of a project machine than a plug-and-play option. If you're comfortable with a used unit and the likely upkeep, it's a distinctive alternative to the new tank models; otherwise, the new printers on this list are the safer route.
Final recommendation by use case
- Lowest listed price overall: HP Smart Tank Plus 651 at USD 174.99.
- Most complete function list: HP Smart Tank 7603 at USD 349.99.
- Mid-priced new tank option: Hewlett Packard Smart Tank 6001 at USD 199.99.
- Used route: HP PhotoSmart 7520 at USD 175.00.
