HP 1012 Ink
Deskjet 1012 Ink Cartridges

HP 1012 Printer Review

The HP Deskjet 1012 inkjet printer is a very basic offering, but it also comes at a low price tag. Its maximum speeds of up to 20 pages per minute for black and 16 pages per minute for color are solid, but a first page out time of 17 seconds means users should expect to wait a bit. HP 1012 printer ink supplies are pretty expensive, but high-capacity versions help a bit.

Unlike several of the newer models from HP, the 1012 doesn't include multiple connection options. Only a single USB port is included, with no wireless support or extras like AirPrint that is prevalent in competing models. It does have a very compact design, however, measuring just 5x8.5x16.5 inches, with a weight of 4.5 pounds that also includes the Deskjet 1012 printer ink supplies.

Paper handling is not the unit's strong point, with a maximum input paper capacity of only 60 sheets. The machine does handle a range of media, such as envelopes, cards, labels, and photo paper, however. Print quality in the Max DPI mode is solid, with a resolution of 1200x1200 dpi, but it won't produce the kind of photos buyers can get from even slightly more expensive models.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment with the 1012 is the high cost of HP 1012 ink cartridges. With a combined tricolor Deskjet 1012 ink cartridge instead of separate colors, users will also end up throwing away a bit of extra ink fairly often. Using remanufactured HP 1012 ink is practically a necessity with this model in order to keep it affordable.

Buyers won't get the highest print quality in its class with the Deskjet 1012, and they won't get the fastest speeds. Nevertheless, it is a decent choice for basic uses that don't include a lot of photos or sharp graphics.