Verdict

Pros

• High quality scanner
• Quality feel to case
• Easy access cartridges

Cons

• No separate photo tray
• High asking price
• Large footprint for living room

Introduction

HP launched its original, lifestyle-targeted Envy 100 all-in-one back in 2011 and its low profile and sleek design impressed, there were still a couple of shortcomings including a low capacity, hard-to-open paper tray. In 2012 HP updated the Envy 100 with the Envy 110, and while this brought slightly faster print times, the same niggly problems remained. This year the company has had another go, this time with the imaginatively named Envy 120. And this time HP’s style-concious all-in-one actually feels more solid in several respects. But can it deliver the performance to match?

HP Envy 120 – Design and Features

With a 2mm glass top and transparent scanner first impressions of the HP Envy 120 are that it feels heavy and solid. The scanner has an innovative, inverted design too; the scan head is actually located in the lid of the device rather than beneath it. You place your document on a white flatbed underneath the glass and then lower the scanner onto it. The head is sandwiched between two sheets of glass and you can see it operate through the top.

The front panel is also glass, which makes a great surface for operating the 109mm touch panel and associated touch buttons. It’s also easy to wipe clean. The panel sits vertically on the machine when it’s off, but on applying power raises itself to a predefined angle, making it easy to use.

The touch-screen is sensitive and responds to gestures as well as button presses so, for instance, you can swipe the icons for any downloaded ePrint apps back and forth. There’s a touch button with an eject icon on it and this is used to power out the 80-sheet paper tray.

This tray takes plain paper up to A4, or 15 x 10 photo blanks, however it’s a shame there’s no way of incorporating twin trays, so you could have both media loaded together at the same time. A support arm for outputted documents swings out from just above the paper tray, when the machine starts to print.

Just to the right of the control panel is a flip-forward module with sockets for SD and Memory Stick cards as well as USB drives, though this socket doesn’t support Pictbridge, which is a shame.

HP Envy 120 – Installation and Software

USB is the only connection option on the back of the unit, and wireless connection is a bit more convoluted than normal as you’re encouraged to go through HP’s online installation process, which involves registering the machine at the ePrint Centre. Once this is done, you still have to enter a randomly generated, secure password on any mobile device you want to use with the printer.

Access to the twin ink cartridges, one black and the other tri-colour, is straightforward enough once you’ve hinged up the scanner lid and the white flatbed, underneath.