Why are printers so terrible? $4 vs $400 printer

Printers — those seemingly simple devices that have been a staple in homes and offices for decades, have an almost universal reputation for being frustrating, unreliable, and needlessly complicated. Whether you're trying to print a simple document or a high-quality photo, the process often feels like a battle against technology itself. But why exactly are printers so terrible?

To explore this question, I decided to put two drastically different printers to the test: a $4 thrift store printer and a $400 high-end printer. The results were both eye-opening and painfully predictable. In this article, I'll break down everything from setup to performance, explain why printers have earned their notorious reputation, and offer some insight into whether spending more money really gets you a better experience.

The History of Printer Frustration

Printers have been around since the 1980s, evolving from dot matrix printers to modern inkjet and laser models. Despite massive advances in technology, the basic user experience of printers hasn't improved nearly as much as other devices like smartphones or laptops.

The main issue is that printers still rely on outdated design principles and business models that prioritize profit margins over user experience. Ink cartridges are notoriously overpriced, drivers are often buggy, and connectivity issues are practically a feature at this point.

But how bad is it really in 2025? I wanted to find out firsthand by testing two printers on opposite ends of the price spectrum.

The $4 Printer: The Budget Nightmare

I found this relic at a local thrift store, an old HP DeskJet 3630 inkjet printer. It looked like it hadn't been used in years, but for $4, I figured it was worth the gamble.

Setup Process

The setup process alone almost made me throw the printer in the trash. The included CD for drivers was useless (who even has a CD drive anymore?), and HP's website buried the necessary drivers under layers of outdated web pages.
After about an hour of troubleshooting, I finally managed to install the drivers. But just as I was about to print my first page, the dreaded "Printer Offline" message popped up — a classic printer problem with no clear solution. Restarting the printer, the computer, and my router finally got it working — but not before testing my patience.

Print Quality

Once I finally got the printer to work, the print quality was exactly what you'd expect for $4 — blurry text, streaky lines, and painfully slow speeds. Printing a single black-and-white document took nearly 30 seconds per page.

Running Costs

The real kicker? Replacement ink cartridges cost more than the printer itself — around $30 for a single black cartridge. It’s no wonder so many people throw away perfectly functional printers when the ink runs out.

The $400 Printer: High Hopes, Crushed Dreams

Next up was the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 — a high-end all-in-one printer designed to eliminate the need for expensive ink cartridges by using refillable tanks.

Setup Process

Setting up the Epson was surprisingly simple compared to the HP. It connected to Wi-Fi without any issues, and the companion app made installing drivers a breeze.
But just when I thought I'd found the holy grail of printers, it hit me with its own share of problems. The touchscreen interface was slow and unresponsive, and the firmware updates took nearly 20 minutes to install.

Print Quality

The print quality was significantly better than the $4 printer — crisp text, vibrant colors, and much faster speeds. But was it $400 better? Not exactly.
Even the high-end model struggled with double-sided printing, often jamming or leaving smudges on the page. Scanning documents was another headache — the software constantly failed to detect the scanner unless I rebooted the entire system.

Running Costs

The refillable ink tanks were a huge improvement over traditional cartridges, costing around $60 for enough ink to last two years. But the initial investment was steep, making it hard to justify unless you print regularly.

Why Are Printers So Terrible?

After testing both printers, I started to see a pattern — and it's not just about price. The core issues with printers come down to three key factors:

1. Outdated Business Models

Printer companies don't make money from selling printers — they make money from selling ink. This razor-and-blades business model incentivizes manufacturers to sell printers at a loss and gouge customers on consumables.
Even high-end printers like the Epson EcoTank are priced higher upfront to offset the lack of recurring ink sales, which explains why printers are either cheap and terrible or expensive and only slightly less terrible.

2. Bloated Software

Printer drivers are some of the most poorly designed software you'll ever encounter. Instead of simple plug-and-play functionality, most printers require bloated driver packages that often conflict with operating system updates.

3. Planned Obsolescence

Many printers are deliberately designed to fail after a few years of use. Features like ink expiration dates and chip-based cartridges force users to buy new supplies even when the existing ones are perfectly fine.

Is There Any Hope for Printers?

Despite their flaws, printers aren't going away anytime soon. However, there are a few bright spots on the horizon:

• EcoTank and MegaTank Systems: These refillable ink systems are slowly disrupting the cartridge-based model.
• Open-Source Drivers: More companies are starting to offer open-source drivers, which could make printers easier to set up and maintain.
• Subscription Ink Services: While controversial, services like HP Instant Ink offer flat-rate monthly subscriptions that can lower costs for frequent users.

Final Verdict: $4 vs $400

So, is a $400 printer really 100 times better than a $4 printer? Not exactly.
Both printers had their share of problems, and neither delivered a truly frustration-free experience. The only real difference was the quality of life features; faster speeds, better print quality, and lower running costs on the high-end model.

If you're someone who prints frequently, investing in a high-end printer like the Epson EcoTank can save you money in the long run. But if you only print a few pages a year, even the cheapest printer will probably drive you insane.

Conclusion

Printers have earned their terrible reputation through decades of bad design, predatory business practices, and sheer stubbornness. Whether you spend $4 or $400, the experience is rarely smooth, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon.

If you're in the market for a new printer, my best advice is to set your expectations low. Buy the simplest model that meets your needs, avoid brand-name cartridges whenever possible, and pray that you never have to troubleshoot a driver issue at 3 AM.

Until someone finally reinvents the printer, the only way to win the battle is to print as little as possible, or embrace the paperless life altogether.

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