Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
If you ’re looking for a worldwide - purpose printing machine you may apply with a computer for printing letter and school report , the Tango is n’t a undecomposed option at all . But for keen photographers who like to print out selfies the free pic - printing process option could be a real deal .
Most inkjet printers discharge in the preceding few old age have adapted to mobile engineering by providing apps that allow you to print and read from smartphones and tablet , as well as from ye olde screen background and laptop computer computers . However , HP ’s Tangohas totally embraced mobile technology – to the point where HP ’s website specifically states that the Tango is ‘ designed for your smartphone ’ and even implies that it ca n’t be used with a Mac or PC . ( The Tango does n’t even have a USB port for connect directly to a computer , and merely relies on dual - band Wi - Fi to connect to all your devices . )
That claim is n’t entirely true – there is printer software for Macs and microcomputer available on HP ’s website if you take it – but the design of the printer and the way that HP upgrade its ‘ Instant Ink ’ subscription scheme make it clear that the Tango really is all about selfies and smartphones . And it even work with voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant – although not , sadly , with Siri , so you ca n’t just say : “ Hey Siri – impress that exposure of Pete falling over drunk … ”
It sound challenging , but is the HP Tango printer any good ? We put it through its paces to pass judgment print lineament and amphetamine , run cost , features and design . If you ’re looking for something more desktop - oriented , seeBest printer for Mac .
Features & design
At first glance , the Tango ’s £ 129 price tag looks pretty expensive – especially as it ’s just a printing machine , and does n’t include a built - in digital scanner and copier . It does n’t even have a control screen , as HP assumes that you ’ll be controlling it from your mobile devices most of the time .
It is possible to ‘ scan ’ documents by taking a pic with your smartphone or tablet and then print that photograph on the Tango – and the Tango does substantiate Apple’sAirPrint , which helps to speed up printing from iOS machine – but the Tango really is n’t meant for workaday tasks like scanning letters and documents .
Besides , add together a scanner would spoil its admirably compact intention , which measures just 389 mm wide , 246 millimetre rich and 91 millimeter high . It ’s in reality small enough to fit into a backpack , and there ’s a 2d example , called theTango X , which costs £ 179 and includes a wrap - around cover that doubles up as a carrying casing so you may take it with you to a booster ’s place for an even of Instagram lunacy .
Print quality
Above all else , a printer like the Tango needs to produce upright - quality picture prints , and we were n’t let down when we tested it using glossy postcard paper . All our exam picture displayed crisp , burnished colors , with good contrast that helped to bring out all the detail in the Tango ’s 1200 x 1200dpi resolution .
And although it ’s clearly not plan as an office printing machine , the Tango does a good job with round-eyed text text file too , raise suave , sharp-worded textual matter that is more than adequate for the occasional missive or schoolhouse report .
Print speed
This is n’t the fastest printer around .
HP quotes speeds of 11 page per minute ( ppm ) for text , 8ppm for colour and 37 bit for a 4x6 in postcard print . In fact , our tests bespeak speeds of around 7ppm for school text , and a small-scale 5ppm for text file with text and colour graphic , while our postcard print take a full 70 seconds to discharge into the yield tray .
That ’s the Tango ’s main failing , since an expensive exposure printer should provide snappier performance when it arrive to , y’know , print photograph .
Running costs
Most inkjet printers sting you in the pocket when it comes to replacement ink cartridge . But there ’s some good intelligence here , as the Tango actually offers a way of printing photograph all free of bang . However , you ’ll need to be a veridical Instagram freak , printing selfies on a regular basis , to really do good from this selection .
If you ’re only going to employ the Tango for the occasional alphabetic character or photo print then you may do things the old - fashioned way of life and just wait for the printing machine to run out of ink before buy replacement cartridges . These magazine are available in received and XL sizes , and you just have to corrupt two cartridges – one for black ink , and a tri - colour cartridge that compound the cyan , magenta and yellow ink in a individual cartridge ( rather than using four separate cartridges for each semblance ) .
Unfortunately , the calamitous ink cartridges work out really expensive , with even the XL cartridge ( around £ 26 ) costing you about 4.3p per Thomas Nelson Page for letter and text file with simple disastrous school text . The semblance cartridges are more affordable , as the standard cartridge ( £ 17 ) give you a price of 10.5p per page , and the XL cartridge ( £ 31.44 ) bestow that down to a competitive 7.6p . That ’s HP ’s mode of differentiate you that you should just stick to print selfies and other photograph .
That message is reinforced when you take a look at HP’sInstant Inksubscription schema . This system has been around for a twain of years now , and leave you to impress a fixed number of pages each calendar month for a flat monthly fee .
cost for these subscription jump at £ 1.99 per month , which take into account you to print 50 page per calendar month . And when the Tango hear it ’s run out of ink , it will automatically send an email to HP to dictate more ink – which is included in the cost of your subscription . That works out at a flat pace of 4p per Thomas Nelson Page , which is great for print photos and color documents such as cards and calendar , but still expensive for simple black and white text .
However , HP discombobulate in an total incentive for the Tango when you sign up for the Instant Ink scheme – which is that photos printed from your smartphone or pad of paper ( but not from a Mac or PC ) do n’t count towards that 50 - page monthly quota , so you could bust aside to your pump ’s mental object and impress out your roving photos gratis of charge .
Verdict
What a modern concept : a printer catering specifically for selfies – or at least for photograph ingest on a mobile gadget . And you ’ll belike know at once whether that construct is correct for you .
If you ’re face for a universal intention printing machine that you may use with a computing machine for print letters , schooling reports and other text edition - based documents then the HP Tango is n’t a good selection at all . But if you ’re a keen photographer who likes to print out selfies and other shots take on your smartphone or tablet then the loose photo - printing option useable with the Tango could be a real deal – as long as you ’re fain to commit at least £ 1.99 a month for HP ’s ink subscription dodge .
