The OfficeJet series of HP Printers is probably one of the most represented and popular series of home printers. Within the series, one model seems to stand out above the rest, and that's the HP OfficeJet 3830. Topping many of the Best Printers of 2018 lists, it's hard to argue that the OfficeJet 3830 isn't one of the best contenders of the recent years. With its multifunctional all-in-one inkjet printing capabilities, you can purchase in confidence, knowing that this is a highly effective piece of equipment.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the information that you need for setting up your HP OfficeJet 3830, including pricing, installation of ink cartridges, and a rundown of pros and cons.
The Basics
The HP 3830 is a multifunctional printer that is filled to the brim with the standard features of a premium HP inkjet printer, all at an appealing price point. As of 2020, the HP OfficeJet 3830 is currently running at an MSRP of $99.99, although it may frequently dip down anywhere from $69.99 to even $49.99 USD during a sale. The essential features of this HP printer include copying, scanning, and standard printing. With a price point well below many other all-in-one printers within its league, it does lack some features such as duplexing printing. In regards to its performance, it can produce around 8.5 pages per minute for black and white printing, which is a pretty decent rate for a home office printer.
What Ink Does HP 3830 Use?
When factoring in how cost-effective an OfficeJet 3830 is, you need to understand how costly the consumable ink cartridge is as well. As a general rule, cheap ink cartridges are usually linked to higher-priced printers. Cheaper printers, on the other hand, tend to have more expensive consumable ink cartridges in order to recoup the lost cost from the printer.
HP OfficeJet 3830 uses both black and color HP 63 ink cartridges as it's main consumable.
HP 63 ink cartridges come in two forms, the standard and the high yield cartridge. These are both the exact same size and work interchangeably with your HP OfficeJet 3830 printer. The only difference is that the high yield cartridge, called the HP 63XL, can print more pages than its standard yield counterpart.
In regards to both the color and black HP 63 ink cartridges, the high yield XL version will give you around double the pages of the standard yield. If you opt for the standard capacity, you should keep in mind that the HP 63 color cartridges will produce significantly fewer pages than the black cartridges. This is generally the case with black vs. color cartridges.
It is best to measure how often you print in color vs. black and white to get the best bang for your buck. Knowing this beforehand can save you money and help you decide whether to purchase the high yield or the standard capacity. If you're printing images and graphs, it's probably smarter to go with the high yield cartridges as your cost could add up quickly with the standard yield HP 63 color cartridges.
But there's a more in-depth way you can assess how cost-effective an ink cartridge actually is. By using the cost per page calculation, you can get a good idea of how much you will be spending on your printer ink. To calculate the cost per page, simply take the number of pages the cartridge can yield and divide it by the price of the cartridge.
We've done all the math, so you don't need to.
As we can see, the original standard HP 63 ink cartridges remain the most costly of the bunch. That initial low price point of $20.99 for the standard yield sounds appealing at first, but will quickly force you to buy double the amount of ink to produce the same amount of pages at the high yield version.
You can really see the price difference when considering any of the HP 63 color ink cartridges. By switching to recycled ink cartridges from 1ink.com, you can literally cut your cost in half.
1ink.com has the lowest prices across the board when it comes to overall pricing compared to standard and high yield HP 63 ink cartridges.
OfficeJet 3830 Pros
One of the appealing features of this HP printer is that it is fairly inexpensive, especially for its fantastic range and capabilities. This compact printer weighs around 12 pounds, and with its 8.5 x 17.2 x 14.3 (HWD) dimensions, it's sure to fit snugly on your home office desk without taking up too much space.
Boasting an impressive 1600 x 1600 pixel density, the quality of the 3830 inkjet printer packs a real punch in the resolution department. The color resolution clocks out to about 4800 x 1200 dots per inch, meaning it's more than capable of printing stunning images in a matter of seconds.
While not capable of printing photos as a professional inkjet photo printer would, this impressive output is more than enough to satisfy any novice photographer or someone who wants a picture printed every once in a while.
The OfficeJet 3830 also comes equipped with a minimalist touchscreen design, with everything from printing, scanning, faxing, and copying readily available on the interface screen at all times. Wi-Fi printing is also easily accessible and can be set up on this HP printer with ease.
HP 3830 Printer Cons
The HP OfficeJet 3830 lacks some standard functionality that is present in almost every other business printer. It has no ethernet port and cannot directly connect to a router. This may not be a huge deal-breaker for home offices or more AirPrint savvy users, but it is not ideal if you're looking to support more than one user in an office setting.
With all of the great things being said about the OfficeJet 3830, there has to be some sort of downside to the product. Unfortunately, the nail in the coffin comes in the form of expensive ink replacement.
The OfficeJet 3830 uses HP 63 ink as its main consumable. The HP 3830 ink cost really adds up, and for those who frequently print, it will end up costing more than the printer itself. The only way that you can keep your costs relatively low is to refrain from purchasing original brand HP 63 ink cartridges altogether.
There are some fairly easy workarounds for this issue, so don't be too concerned about pricing if you follow these guidelines.
Option 1: HP OfficeJet 3830 is actually one of the few printers eligible for HP Instant Ink support. HP Instant Ink is a paid online subscription-based service that automatically sends you ink cartridges whenever it detects you are running low.
However, this option may not be suitable or cost-effective for everyone. For more information about HP Instant Ink, check out our entire article about the hidden costs and actual performance right here.
Option 2: Purchasing recycled ink cartridges can cut your costs in half. Remanufactured ink cartridges are simply recycled HP 63 cartridges that are professionally cleaned, repaired if needed, and filled with the similar quality ink that HP uses for their OEM product.
You can find a huge selection of remanufactured HP ink cartridges right here on 1ink.com. With highly affordable pricing to fit your lifestyle, our compatible HP 63 ink cartridges are sure to lower your OfficeJet 3830 ink cost. All of our products are backed by a 1-Year and 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. 1ink.com cuts out the middleman and provides you with recycled ink cartridges that cost significantly less than the originals. These replacement ink cartridges function precisely the same as the originals, and the savings will be immediately apparent.
How to Install HP 63 Ink in OfficeJet 3830
- Remove the HP 63 cartridge from its packaging. Make sure to remove any pieces of protective tape that may be covering the microchip.
- Close the output tray extender and then rotate the output tray left to store it inside of the printer.
- Open the front door of the HP OfficeJet 3830 and lift the access door. Lock the access door firmly in the center of the printer.
- Press down on the ink cartridges to release them from their lock, then remove them from their slot.
- Insert the new HP 63 ink cartridge into the empty slot, make sure the cartridge clicks before shutting the access door.
Verdict
The HP OfficeJet 3830 is the perfect entry point All-in-One Printer for anyone who prints moderately. With a slick and compact design that is capable of producing a decent amount of printed pages at a moderate rate, this is a no brainer for those looking to set up their home office. However, costly consumable HP 63 ink cartridges could run your wallet into some trouble unless you use remanufactured HP ink cartridges.
If you're in the market for a well rounded HP printer for your home office, this might be your best bet. What it lacks in premium features, it more than makes up for in its compact design and easily accessible price point.