Families usually share a single printer. Most of these printers only connect via a USB cable, so only one person can use it at a time. Dad must print a report for work, mom wants to print the recipe or grocery list for dinner, and the children need to print for school projects and reports. Situations like this make families fight over who will use the printer next. Moreover, it is inconvenient to only have a printer that can print over the USB cable. It’s either you get your laptop over to the printer or get the printer entirely. One great solution to this problem is to buy a wireless all-in-one printer so everyone can use it anywhere in the house.
Fortunately, we are going to look at two wireless all-in-one printers that are Alexa-compatible as well. Both printers are from HP’s ENVY lineup – the HP ENVY 5055 and ENVY 6055. Since both printers are all-in-one, both can print, copy, and scan in just a single machine. We are going to scrutinize both printers and pick which is better at the final verdict section.
| HP ENVY 5055 | HP ENVY 6055 | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
| Print Technology | HP Thermal Inkjet | HP Thermal Inkjet |
| Compatible Ink Cartridges | HP 65/65XL | HP 67/67XL/67XXL |
| Duplex Printing | Automatic | Automatic |
| Print Speed (Black) | Up to 10 ppm | Up to 10 ppm |
| Print Speed (Color) | Up to 7 ppm | Up to 7 ppm |
| Print Resolution | 1200 x 1200 rendered DPI | 1200 x 1200 rendered DPI |
| Maximum Print Area | 8.5 x 14 inches | 8.5 x 11 inches |
| Wireless Capability | Wi-Fi 802.11n (Dual-Band), Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 802.11ac (Dual-Band), Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Copier Settings | Color, Mono | Color, Mono |
| Copy Resolution | 600 x 300 DPI | 300 x 300 DPI |
| Mobile Printing Services | HP Smart App, HP ePrint, Apple AirPrint, Mopria-certified | HP Smart App, Apple AirPrint, Mopria-certified |
| Included Software | HP Printer Software | HP Printer Software, HP Photo Creations |
| Input Tray Capacity | Up to 100 sheets | Up to 100 sheets |
| Media Sizes Supported | A4, A5, B5, DL, C6, A6, Letter, Legal, No. 10 Envelopes | A4, A5, B5, DL, C6, A6, Letter, No. 10 Envelopes |
| Product Dimensions (W x D x H) | 17.53 x 22.22 x 5.04 inches | 17.03 x 20.14 x 5.2 inches |
| Weight | 11.93 lbs | 11.51 lbs |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
HP ENVY 5055 vs 6055 – Similarities
Let’s see what these machines have in common.
Printing Capabilities
Printed photos and documents using these HP ENVY printers are impressively detailed and colorful. Since both are inkjet printers, the photos you print will never smudge and blot, unlike other printers. Both the ENVY 5055 and 6055 are capable of borderless printing, so printing an edge-to-edge photo is never a problem. Moreover, both are capable of printing on both sides of the paper. This feature is automatic, meaning you don’t have to manually reinsert the paper to print on the other side.
Print Quality
The print quality is the most important attribute of a printer. The reason why prints are detailed is its high print resolution of 1200 x 1200 rendered DPI. The 5055 and 6055 share a fast print speed of 10 pages per minute for monochrome prints and 7 pages per minute for colored prints.
Connectivity
HP ENVY 5055 and 6055 have the next level of connectivity. While previous generations of printers can only print via the USB cable, you are given the choice of printing over USB or wirelessly. Since both have built-in dual-band Wi-Fi, you can print anywhere in the house using the HP Smart App that will be discussed shortly. If that’s not enough for you, you can also print over Bluetooth using your smartphones and tablets. On top of all that, both ENVY printers are Alexa-compatible so you can ask Alexa to assist you with your printing. There are many things you can ask Alexa such as printing your shopping list or to-do list. You can even ask it to print coloring pages, forms, and games.
HP ENVY 5055 vs ENVY 6055 – Differences
Physical Differences
On the surface, both ENVY printers look similar. But there are key differences you should know about.
HP ENVY 5055
The first striking difference between these ENVY printers is their color. The 5055 is mainly available in black, but I have seen it in a white variant also. There is one key difference that puts the ENVY 5055 ahead is its 2.2” monochrome display. Not to mention, this display is a touchscreen panel that is flanked by capacitive buttons. Both ENVY printers draw paper from their paper tray that can hold up to 100 papers.
HP ENVY 6055
Although both are made from plastic, 6055 is made with 20% recycled plastic. The 6055 is available only in a white variant. White, especially on plastic bodies, fades its color over time and becomes yellowish. Their bottom-loading paper tray has a paper guide for different paper sizes. Moreover, both ENVY printers have extendible output paper holders which can hold up to 25 sheets. Although the HP ENVY 5055 came into the market first, it has more advanced features than the 6055.
The Winner Is- HP ENVY 5055
Mobile Printing Services and Software
As mentioned many times over, both ENVY printers can print documents and photos using methods other than connecting to the machine directly over USB.
HP ENVY 5055
Although both ENVY printers use the same software to print using mobile devices, there is one feature the 5055 can that the 6055 cannot: print using email. It is called the HP ePrint which lets you print anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. You can email the document or photo you want to print directly to the printer. You can also use HP Smart App and Apple AirPrint to print using Wi-Fi.
HP ENVY 6055
In terms of included software, however, the HP ENVY 6055 has the edge over the 5055. Aside from the HP Printer software, the 6055 also includes HP Photo Creations which can be used to make personalized cards, calendars, photo books, and much more. Unfortunately, this software has already retired.
The Winner Is- HP ENVY 5055
Print, Copy, Scan
Since these ENVY products are all-in-one printers, both are capable of printing, copying, and scanning. Let’s see where they differ in this category.
HP ENVY 5055
The ENVY 5055 and 6055 have identical printing and scanning features. Where their difference lies is in their copying prowess. The HP ENVY 5055 can copy photos and documents with a higher resolution of 600 x 300 DPI. Moreover, the 5055 has a larger maximum print area of 8.5 x 14 inches.
HP ENVY 6055
On the other hand, the HP ENVY 6055 can only copy with a less detailed resolution of 300 x 300 DPI. However, you can still resize your copies on both printers from 25% to 400%. Lastly, the 6055 has a lower maximum print area the size of a letter paper.
The Winner Is- HP ENVY 5055
Compatible Ink Cartridges
Although they came from the same lineup, both printers have their own compatible ink cartridges.
HP ENVY 5055
The ENVY 5055 is compatible only with HP 65 or 65XL. I suggest you get the XL variant, so you won’t have to order cartridge replacement frequently. If you don’t want to order ink manually. You can sign up for HP’s Instant Ink program. Instant Ink is an ink replacement program wherein your printer automatically orders ink cartridges when it is low. Therefore, you will always have ink available. Once HP is notified, they immediately send an ink replacement right into your mail.
HP ENVY 6055
The HP ENVY 6055 is compatible with HP 67, 67XL, and 67XXL. Again, you can save your money by buying the HP 67XXL. If you want to save more money, you can also register for HP Instant Ink. Since HP 67 and 67XL are considerably more inexpensive than the 65/65XL, the HP ENVY 6055 takes this one.
The Winner Is- HP ENVY 6055
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of HP ENVY 5055 and HP ENVY 6055 will help us to determine which printer is is a better choice.
HP ENVY 5055
Pros:
- The ENVY 5055 has a convenient 2.2” touchscreen display with capacitive buttons.
- You can print photos and documents anywhere in the world via email using HP ePrint.
- Copying using 5055 is more detailed because of its higher DPI of 600 x 300.
Cons:
- If you intend to buy ink cartridges from the kiosks, it will cost you more because 5055’s compatible cartridges are more expensive.
HP ENVY 6055
Pros:
- The HP ENVY 6055 is a powerful printer that can print edge-to-edge and back-to-back.
- Although you cannot use HP ePrint, other mobile printing services such as HP Smart App and Apple AirPrint are more than enough for most.
- The HP ENVY 6055 is made out of 20% recycled plastic.
Cons:
- HP chose to move forward with the HP Creations software.
Which HP ENVY printer is better?
HP ENVY printers are ideal for large families who share a single printer as HP markets both as “everything families need”. Upon reading the entire article, you should already have an idea which of these printers is better. There is no doubt that the HP ENVY 5055 is a better all-around all-in-one wireless printer. Although 6055 is newer, it is somehow inferior to 5055. This is exactly why 5055 is a steal because its price has been slashed since its release. Getting the HP ENVY 5055 with the Instant Ink sounds like a great deal.