Epson Expression Premium XP-520 Pro Reviews

Our feelings about Epson’s XP-520 are conflicted. It’s a step-up from the sub-$100 printers you sometimes find in supermarkets. It has great photo quality output, with the photo black ink providing razor-sharp blacks. But it also has some quirks and lack of features that we feel impact its day-to-day use (these include having to pull out the output tray after powering on the unit or loading the paper, having to verify the paper type each time the paper tray is replaced, a small LCD, and having no ADF on the scanner). For many home users, these are minor annoyances. If you can live without the aforementioned features, the XP-520 will reward you with great image quality – great if you’re looking for an affordable photo printer. (Although the printer is still new, look for possible price drops in a few months.) But if you are looking for a workhorse MFP that you’ll use all the features on daily, we suggest you spend a bit more and get yourself the Brother MFC-J4420DW, Canon Pixma MG7520, or even Epson’s Expression Premium 820. When it comes to value, it really depends on which side you sit on.

The Epson Expression Premium XP-520 is one of the few low-priced printers we've tested that's worth recommending. Its high-yield inks are surprisingly affordable, and it also delivers gorgeous output at a decent speed.