The HP OfficeJet 250 is a mobile all-in-one printer. This means the HP OfficeJet 250 is meant to be used in a mobile situation. It isn’t meant to be a replacement for your home printer. This is a printer for customers who work out of their vehicle or hotel rooms. When you need to print and scan on the go, and you can’t get to a print shop, a mobile printer is what you need.
This printer is a mobile printer that is also considered to be part of HP’s OfficeJet series. These are high-level inkjet printers built for speed and efficiency. Has the HP OfficeJet 250 earned this moniker?
Pros
Size
For mobile print users, typically space is at a premium. My customers are typically looking for something that will fit next to the bed in the cab of their rig, or in their suitcase for business trips. The HP OfficeJet 250 is perfect for this purpose.
Weighing just over 6.5 pounds, the HP OfficeJet 250 measures about 15” x 8” x 3.5” when closed. This is small enough to fit in your checked bag on an airplane, or under the seat in your work van. Pull it out when you need to print off some proposals or invoices. When you’re done, stow it away again. That’s the entire purpose of these printers.
Versatility
Now, most mobile printers just print. The reason this printer is a bit more expensive than comparable models is the HP OfficeJet 250 is an all-in-one. This means, along with printing, this printer can scan and run copies. For a digital nomad or anyone who travels a lot for work, this is a priceless feature. If your boss sends you an email, you can print, sign, send, and return quickly no matter where you are. Or, when meeting with a client, you can have them sign a contract, and then you can scan it in. Now you can let them have the original copy; you have a digital copy that won’t get lost or destroyed.
Battery Life
Most mobile printers have batteries to allow for printing when no outlet is available. I’ve had a lot of construction foremen buy this printer for job sites, and the battery life is a key feature. The HP OfficeJet 250 advertises an all-day battery that charges in less than 90 minutes. Plug the printer in overnight, and you can carry it around with you all day.
Connectivity
The HP OfficeJet 250 offers a few different connectivity options. My recommended option whenever possible is to hardwire to the printer with a USB cable (sold separately). If you don’t have a cable with you, or you’re printing from a phone or tablet, you have a couple options left. You can connect to the device using a WIFI connection, like normal mobile printing. The HP OfficeJet 250 also includes Wireless Direct. This is a private WIFI network your printer will broadcast. You can connect your phone, tablet, or PC to this network and use it to print over. If you don’t know what the network situation will be like wherever you’ll be printing, Wireless Direct is a great feature.
So the HP OfficeJet 250 has a lot going for it, especially for a mobile printer. Now let’s talk about what’s working against it.
Cons
Ink Cartridges
The ink for this printer is a huge drawback. The HP OfficeJet 250 is an OfficeJet; it’s in the name and everything. So why in the name of your chosen deity they decided to use the 62 series of cartridges with this printer I will never understand.
The 62 cartridge series prints just 200 pages of black and 175 of color for the standard sized cartridges. Even the XL cartridges only print 600 pages per cartridge. At best, your cost per page is going to be about eight cents.
This is simply not what we’ve come to expect from the OfficeJet series. It’s not that this is a terrible feature for a mobile printer; most mobile printers have low page yields. If I had to guess, I’d say this is due to the inconsistent printing nature to mobile printing customers. My issue is with the naming. There is no way this printer deserves the OfficeJet designation.
Speed
Mobile printers are slow, and this printer is no exception. Up to eleven pages per minute of black. You aren’t going to want to print a fifty-page contract while your client waits. This isn’t a deal breaker for most of these types of customers, but it is something you need to be aware of. Plan accordingly; print ahead when possible.
Monthly Volume
Oh god, how is this an OfficeJet? The maximum monthly volume recommended for the HP OfficeJet 250 is a whopping 500 pages. In what world does an office printer max out at 500 pages. I know mobile printers are not meant for huge volume. They are not meant to be your primary printer. They are meant to work when you need something printed now, and you don’t have anything else available. Also, you can only make something this small so resilient. I just completely resent calling a mobile all-in-one printer an office printer.
So, with all that said, would I recommend this printer?
Verdict
You might be surprised, but yeah, I recommend this printer. I have sold a lot of HP OfficeJet 250 printers, and most of my customers have been really satisfied.
But what about all those cons I listed? They sounded like deal breakers.
Well, for any other OfficeJet printer they definitely would be. But that is the nature of mobile printers. There isn’t a single con I listed that isn’t the same for every other mobile printer I’ve seen, regardless of brand. When you are purchasing a printer in this space, you need to understand you’ll be making sacrifices. Again, this isn’t your everyday driver. This is what you break out when you are away from home and you need to print right now.
If you don’t believe me, check out the Amazon reviews. Even most of the negative reviews mention that this is the best mobile printer on the market. If you understand what you’re looking for when you are buying a mobile printer, then I promise the HP OfficeJet 250 will fit your needs.
Click here to purchase the HP OfficeJet 250 on Amazon.
