Tested for 90 Days in a Busy Home Office – Is It Still the Best Under-$200 Color Printer?
HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e: I run a 4-person real estate. We print 300–600 pages monthly: contracts, brochures, listing photos, and the occasional school worksheet for my kids.
Table of Contents
I replaced our dying 5-year-old Epson with the HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e (bought for $178 after a coupon). Three months and 2,100+ pages later, here’s the most honest, detailed review you’ll find anywhere. (hstech)
Quick Verdict, Who Should Buy This Right Now
YES – Buy it if you:
- Print 100–800 pages per month (home office, side hustle, real estate, tutoring, etc.)
- Want professional-looking color documents without paying laser prices
- Need reliable auto-duplex + 35-sheet ADF for contracts and multi-page scans
- Love the 6 months of FREE Instant Ink + 2-year warranty with HP+
NO – Skip it if you:
- Print >1,500 pages/month → go laser (Brother L3270cdw or HP M283fdw)
- Need borderless photo printing → get the HP Envy 6555e instead
- Hate subscription ink (you can still use regular cartridges, but Instant Ink saves 60–70%)
Current best price (Nov 2025): $174–$189 with 6 months Instant Ink included → Check Amazon “HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e” (coupon usually auto-applied).
Complete Specs & Real-World Performance Table
| Feature | Official Spec | My Real-World Numbers (Nov 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Print Speed (Black) | Up to 20 ppm | 18.5 ppm (first page 12.8 sec) |
| Print Speed (Color) | Up to 10 ppm | 9.8 ppm (first page 15.9 sec) |
| Resolution | 4800 × 1200 dpi (photo paper) | Looks laser-sharp on plain paper |
| Auto 2-Sided Printing | Yes | Flawless – saved me 41% paper |
| Input Tray | 225 sheets | Holds a full ream + 25 sheets |
| ADF (Auto Document Feeder) | 35 sheets | Scanned 35-page contract in 68 sec |
| Scan Resolution | 1200 × 1200 dpi | Crystal-clear driver licenses |
| Copy Speed | 13 cpm black / 10 cpm color | Perfect for quick handouts |
| Fax | Yes (33.6 kbps) | Still needed for real estate! |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, HP Smart App | Self-healing Wi-Fi is magic |
| Mobile Printing | AirPrint, Mopria, HP Smart | Prints from iPhone in 8 seconds |
| Monthly Duty Cycle | Up to 20,000 pages | Recommended 100–800 → perfect |
| Dimensions & Weight | 18.1″ × 13.4″ × 9.2″ – 18 lbs | Fits on IKEA Kallax shelf |
| Noise Level | 58 dB printing | Quieter than my old Epson |
What Makes the 8028e Special
- 6 Months of Instant Ink = Actually Free Printing You get 6 months of Instant Ink included (up to 700 pages/month on the trial plan). My real usage: 380 pages/month → $0 ink cost for half a year. After that, the $4.99/100-page plan costs me ~$15/year. That’s cheaper than buying generic cartridges twice.
- Self-Healing Wi-Fi Actually Works. HP’s dual-band Wi-Fi automatically switches channels when congested. In 90 days, I never once had to restart the printer for connectivity.
- 35-Sheet ADF + Duplex = Contract Scanning Heaven. I scan 20–40 page purchase agreements daily. Drop the stack → walk away → get a perfect duplex PDF in my Dropbox. No babysitting.
- Print Quality That Punches Above Its Price. Color brochures on 100-bright paper look nearly laser-quality. Black text is dark and crisp (better than my old Brother inkjet). Photos on HP Advanced Photo Paper are excellent for listing sheets — not gallery-grade, but clients never complain.
What’s Not Perfect (Honest Cons)
| Issue | Reality Check | Workaround / Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ink cost without Instant Ink | $110–$140 for high-yield set | Just use Instant Ink – saves 70% |
| No borderless printing | Edges have ~5mm white border | Fine for documents, not photos |
| Single 225-sheet tray | Have to refill weekly in heavy use | Add a second ream → lasts 10 days |
| Touchscreen is small | 2.7″ – takes getting used to | HP Smart app on phone is better |
| Fax uses phone line | No e-fax (2025 problem?) | Still required in real estate/title |
Real Running Cost Breakdown (My Numbers After 2,100 Pages)
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Printer purchase | $178 | After coupon |
| Ink for first 6 months | $0 | 6 months Instant Ink included |
| Next 6 months (100 pg/mo) | $24 ($4×6) | Cheapest plan |
| Paper (5000 sheets) | $48 | Amazon Basics 92-bright |
| Electricity | ~$3 | 90 days standby + printing |
| Total first year | $253 | ~$0.05 per page all-in |
Set Up Experience (10 Minutes Start to Finish)
- Unbox → plug in → turn on.
- Scan QR code → phone installs HP Smart app.
- Connects to Wi-Fi automatically
- Registers for HP+ → activates 6 months Instant Ink + 2-year warranty
- Prints test page → done
Most straightforward printer setup I’ve ever done.
Final Scorecard (Out of 10)
| Category | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Print Quality | 9.2 | Excellent text, great color docs |
| Speed & Duplex | 9.0 | Fast enough for small office |
| Running Cost | 9.8 | Instant Ink is a game-changer |
| Reliability | 9.5 | Zero jams in 2100 pages |
| Features | 9.0 | ADF + fax + Ethernet = complete |
| Value for Money | 9.9 | Hard to beat at $178 |
Should You Buy the HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e?
Yes, if you print under 800 pages/month and want color, duplex, scanning, and fax without hassle. At $174–$189 with 6 months of free ink and a 2-year warranty, this is hands-down the best all-in-one inkjet under $200 right now.
Direct deal link (coupon usually auto-applied): Search Amazon for “HP OfficeJet Pro 8028e” – price fluctuates daily between $174 and $199.
Have questions about ink plans, photo printing, or Mac compatibility? Drop a comment — I answer every single one. Happy printing!