If you're shopping for printers and scanners, two HP all-in-ones are competing for the same desk: the Smart Tank Plus 651, a cartridge-free printer that comes with three years of ink, and the LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw, a laser printer with high-speed printing. At $174.99 and $280.00, they're not just priced differently; they're built for different workloads. The choice comes down to whether you print mostly photos and graphics or need to push through text-heavy documents.
Quick verdict
Choose the Smart Tank Plus 651 for low-cost printing and a fresh unit with support. Choose the LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw for fast jobs and office-friendly features.
Comparison table
| Product | Price | Technology | Black print speed | Connectivity | Condition | Price bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP Smart Tank Plus 651 | USD 174.99 | Color ink tank | 11 ppm | Wireless, USB 2.0 | New | |
| HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw | USD 280.00 | Laser | 42 ppm | Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 2.0 | Used |
Where each printer wins
The Smart Tank Plus 651 wins when your output is mostly color. It is a color ink tank machine, so it uses refillable tanks rather than replaceable cartridges. That makes it a strong choice for a home or small office that wants to avoid frequent cartridge purchases.
The LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw wins for productivity. Its black print speed is considerably faster, so multi-page documents finish much more quickly. It also supports duplex printing and networkability, which helps in a shared office.
Product notes
HP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer Scanner
The main reason to choose the Smart Tank is the ink that ships in the box. HP includes a three-year supply of ink bottles, so you can print for months without buying more. That supply is meant to cover thousands of pages, which removes a lot of the ongoing cost anxiety. The unit is new and covered by a two-year manufacturer warranty, giving you a fresh device with support from the start. The limitation is the connection side: the connectivity options are wireless and USB 2.0, so an office built around wired Ethernet will need a USB cable or a wireless setup instead. For a home desk with a router nearby, that is usually not a problem, but it matters if your office is built around wired network drops. It also uses liquid ink, so it is not a toner-based laser.
HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw All-in-One Printer Copier Scanner and Fax
Why pick the LaserJet? Its office-focused feature set. It includes duplex printing, networkability, and the copy function has been tested with clean copies produced. That makes it a practical choice for a shared workspace that mostly prints text documents. Duplex output helps cut paper use, and wired networking gives you a stable connection for high-volume jobs. The trade-off is that this is a used unit, and it ships with only the printer and power cable. The connectivity options are Ethernet and USB 2.0, so you will need a wired network drop or a USB connection. If your desk doesn't have easy access to an Ethernet jack, you may need to run a cable or plug in a USB connection.
Final choice by use case
Choose the HP Smart Tank Plus 651 if you plan to print a lot of photos and graphic documents. Choose the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw if you need quick pages in an office setting.
