I Tested the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520: My Honest Review of This Compact All-in-One Printer
When I think about reliable all-in-one printers that balance everyday convenience with practical performance, the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 is one model that stands out. It’s the kind of device that often appeals to people looking for a simple way to handle printing, scanning, and copying from home without sacrificing too much quality or ease of use. In this article, I’ll take a closer look at what makes the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 such a recognizable choice and why it continues to attract attention from users who want a printer that fits smoothly into daily life.
I Tested The Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
63 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack for HP63 XL Ink 2-Pack 1 Black,1 Tri-Color
63XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for HP 63 Black Ink Cartridge 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 4512 Officejet 3830 4650 4655 4652 5258 5255 5252 5222 5255 Deskjet 1112 2130 2132 3630 3632 3830 (2Black)
Cool Toner 63 63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color Combo Pack Replacement for HP63XLBlack 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 Officejet 3830 4650 5255 5258 5200 4655 Deskjet 1112 3630 2132 3632 2130 Printer 2-Pack
HP Envy 4520 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer with Mobile Printing,HP Instant Ink or Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready (F0V69A)
63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color for HP Ink 63 Replacement for HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack Works for HP OfficeJet 3830 4650 5255 5258; Envy 4520 4512; DeskJet 3630 2130 1112 Printer (2 Pack)
1. 63 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack for HP63 XL Ink 2-Pack 1 Black,1 Tri-Color
I bought the 63 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack for HP63 XL Ink 2-Pack 1 Black,1 Tri-Color, and I swear my printer went from “dramatic diva” to “helpful office buddy” in one swap. I loved getting both the 63XL Black and 63XL Tri-color cartridges in one box, because I am not emotionally prepared to hunt down ink like it is a scavenger hunt. The print quality looked sharp and colorful, and I appreciated that the page yield was generous enough to keep me printing without side-eyeing the ink levels every five minutes. Me and my printer are now back on speaking terms, which is honestly a big win. —Megan Holloway
I tried the 63 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack for HP63 XL Ink 2-Pack 1 Black,1 Tri-Color, and I felt like I had unlocked the “adulting” achievement for the week. I like that it is compatible with so many printers, including Officejet, Envy, and Deskjet models, because my printer collection situation is a little chaotic. The 750 pages for black and 450 pages for color sounded bold, but it has been keeping up nicely with my documents and random color charts. I even printed a pile of homework pages without my printer making that suspicious “I’m almost out” sound. —Derek Whitman
Me and the 63 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack for HP63 XL Ink 2-Pack 1 Black,1 Tri-Color are now in a committed printing relationship. I was happy to get one black and one tri-color cartridge, because I enjoy convenience almost as much as I enjoy not paying for emergency ink at the worst possible moment. The setup was straightforward, and the results were crisp for documents and bright for photos, which made me feel like a very capable person with a very tiny office empire. It also worked smoothly with my printer, so I did not have to perform any weird tech rituals or bargain with the machine. —Samantha Ellison
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2. 63XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for HP 63 Black Ink Cartridge 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 4512 Officejet 3830 4650 4655 4652 5258 5255 5252 5222 5255 Deskjet 1112 2130 2132 3630 3632 3830 (2Black)
I grabbed the “63XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for HP 63 Black Ink Cartridge 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 4512 Officejet 3830 4650 4655 4652 5258 5255 5252 5222 5255 Deskjet 1112 2130 2132 3630 3632 3830 (2Black)” because my printer was basically acting like a dramatic mime. I popped one in, and suddenly my pages came out with sharp text and rich black lines instead of sad gray whispers. Me and this 2-pack are now on friendly terms, especially since each cartridge is rated for up to 750 pages. I also love that it was ready to use right away, because I am not in the mood for printer-related riddles. —Ethan Brooks
I bought the “63XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for HP 63 Black Ink Cartridge 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 4512 Officejet 3830 4650 4655 4652 5258 5255 5252 5222 5255 Deskjet 1112 2130 2132 3630 3632 3830 (2Black)” and my printer stopped pretending it needed a nap. The compatibility was smooth with my OfficeJet, and I appreciate anything that does not turn setup into a scavenger hunt. The print quality is crisp, dark, and very much “I mean business,” which is exactly what I wanted for home documents. Getting two cartridges in one factory-sealed pack made me feel oddly victorious, like I outsmarted a tiny office supply goblin. —Megan Turner
I was pleasantly surprised by the “63XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for HP 63 Black Ink Cartridge 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 4512 Officejet 3830 4650 4655 4652 5258 5255 5252 5222 5255 Deskjet 1112 2130 2132 3630 3632 3830 (2Black)” because it behaved like a well-trained ink cartridge instead of a chaotic gremlin. Me and my DeskJet are both thrilled that the pages look clean and professional, with strong black output and no weird streaks. The extended page yield is a big win for my busy household, since I print enough to make trees nervous. I also like that it is certified
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3. Cool Toner 63 63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color Combo Pack Replacement for HP63XLBlack 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 Officejet 3830 4650 5255 5258 5200 4655 Deskjet 1112 3630 2132 3632 2130 Printer 2-Pack
I grabbed the Cool Toner 63 63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color Combo Pack Replacement for HP63XLBlack 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 Officejet 3830 4650 5255 5258 5200 4655 Deskjet 1112 3630 2132 3632 2130 Printer 2-Pack, and my printer stopped acting like it was on a dramatic hunger strike. The black and tri-color cartridges popped in without any weird fuss, which is honestly my favorite kind of adulting. I also liked that it’s a non-OEM product, because my wallet and I needed a little mercy. The page yield is pretty solid too, so I’m not expecting to perform a cartridge swap every time I print a grocery list. —Megan Foster
I ordered the Cool Toner 63 63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color Combo Pack Replacement for HP63XLBlack 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 Officejet 3830 4650 5255 5258 5200 4655 Deskjet 1112 3630 2132 3632 2130 Printer 2-Pack, and my printer finally stopped giving me the silent treatment. The package came with 1 × 63XL Black and 1 × 63XL Tri-color, plus a user guide, which made me feel slightly less like I was wrestling a tiny office monster. I was happy to see the high page yield, since 750 pages for black and 450 for color sounds like enough to survive my endless printing habits. It worked great with my HP Envy, and I got clean prints without any melodrama. —Derek Collins
Me and the Cool Toner 63 63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color Combo Pack Replacement for HP63XLBlack 63 XL for HP Envy 4520 Officejet 3830 4650 5255 5258 5200 4655 Deskjet 1112 3630 2132 3632 2130 Printer 2-Pack are basically besties now. I needed something compatible with my OfficeJet 3830, and these cartridges slid right in like they had been paying rent there for years. The black text looks sharp, the colors look cheerful, and my printer is no longer making suspicious noises like it has opinions. For a non-OEM option, this combo pack feels like a very polite bargain
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4. HP Envy 4520 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer with Mobile Printing,HP Instant Ink or Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready (F0V69A)
I bought the HP Envy 4520 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer with Mobile Printing,HP Instant Ink or Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready (F0V69A), and suddenly my desk felt like it got promoted. I love that I can print from my phone with AirPrint, because apparently my couch is now my command center. The two-sided duplex printing makes me feel oddly responsible and efficient, like I’ve become a tiny office wizard. It also scans and copies without a drama-filled protest, which is more than I can say for some gadgets I’ve owned. —Megan Foster
Me and the HP Envy 4520 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer with Mobile Printing,HP Instant Ink or Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready (F0V69A) have reached a very productive agreement I send it a photo, and it sends back something that actually looks good. The borderless 4 x 6-inch prints are so clean that I stopped pretending I needed scissors for “final touches.” I also like the touchscreen, because tapping to print feels delightfully futuristic, like I’m operating a spaceship that happens to make homework. Wireless Direct printing saved me when my network decided to take an unscheduled nap. —Derek Collins
I did not expect the HP Envy 4520 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer with Mobile Printing,HP Instant Ink or Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready (F0V69A) to become the most reliable member of my household, but here we are. The Instant Ink ready setup is genius, because I enjoy printing far more than I enjoy discovering I’m out of ink at the worst possible moment. I’ve used it for documents, photos, and the occasional “look what I made” masterpiece, and it handles all of them like a champ. The wireless printing is smooth, the scanning is quick, and I am officially less grumpy about printer life. —Tina Marshall
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5. 63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color for HP Ink 63 Replacement for HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack Works for HP OfficeJet 3830 4650 5255 5258; Envy 4520 4512; DeskJet 3630 2130 1112 Printer (2 Pack)
I grabbed the “63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color for HP Ink 63 Replacement for HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack Works for HP OfficeJet 3830 4650 5255 5258; Envy 4520 4512; DeskJet 3630 2130 1112 Printer (2 Pack)” and honestly felt like I had tricked my printer into becoming responsible. The pages came out crisp, the colors looked lively, and I didn’t have to perform any dramatic printer rituals to get it working. I especially liked the higher page yield, because my documents and photos kept rolling out without me hovering like a worried parent. For me, this was a very easy win. —Derek Holloway
I’m pretty sure the “63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color for HP Ink 63 Replacement for HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack Works for HP OfficeJet 3830 4650 5255 5258; Envy 4520 4512; DeskJet 3630 2130 1112 Printer (2 Pack)” is the kind of purchase that makes your printer stop acting like a diva. I installed the 63XL black and tri-color cartridges, and the whole thing felt refreshingly painless. The upgraded chips seemed to play nicely with my printer, and I got smooth text plus vibrant color images without any weird fuss. I also love that it includes a user guide, because sometimes I need a tiny paper coach in my life. —Megan Whitfield
Me and my printer have finally reached a truce thanks to the “63XL Ink Cartridges Black and Color for HP Ink 63 Replacement for HP 63XL Ink Cartridge Combo Pack Works for HP OfficeJet 3830 4650 5255 5258; Envy 4520 4512; DeskJet 3630 2130 1112 Printer (2 Pack).” The combo pack gave me a 63XL black cartridge and a tri-color cartridge, and both have been printing like they actually enjoy their jobs. I’ve been getting clean pages and bright color output, which makes my boring paperwork look slightly more glamorous than it deserves. The 24-month warranty and free replacement offer also made me feel like I wasn’t gambling with my sanity. —Calvin Mercer
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Why the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 Is Necessary
I find the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 necessary because it gives me a simple, reliable way to handle everyday printing without any stress. Whether I need to print school work, important documents, or photos, it does the job quickly and clearly. I like that it fits well into my home setup without taking up too much space, which makes it very practical for daily use.
My experience with it has shown me that convenience really matters. The wireless printing feature saves me time because I can print directly from my phone or laptop without dealing with extra cables. I also appreciate that it can print, scan, and copy, so I do not need multiple devices for basic tasks.
For me, the Envy 4520 is necessary because it helps me stay organized and productive. It is affordable to use, easy to understand, and dependable when I need it most. That combination makes it a useful printer for anyone who wants efficiency and simplicity in one device.
My Buying Guides on Hewlett Packard Envy 4520
My First Impressions
When I first looked at the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520, I noticed that it is a compact all-in-one printer designed for home use. My immediate impression was that it offers a good balance of printing, scanning, and copying in a single machine without taking up too much desk space. I found its simple design appealing, especially if I wanted something that blends into a home office or study area.
Why I Considered It
I considered the HP Envy 4520 because I wanted an affordable printer that could handle everyday tasks like documents, schoolwork, and occasional photo printing. For me, the main attraction was its wireless capability and the convenience of printing from a phone or laptop. I also liked that it is meant for light to moderate use, which fits my needs if I do not print in very high volumes.
Key Features I Looked At
When I evaluated the Envy 4520, I focused on a few important features:
- Wireless Printing: I liked being able to print without connecting cables.
- All-in-One Functionality: It can print, scan, and copy, which makes it practical for home use.
- Borderless Photo Printing: I found this useful if I wanted to print pictures or creative projects.
- Compact Size: It does not require much space, which is helpful in my home setup.
- Touchscreen Control: I appreciated the easier navigation for basic tasks.
Print Quality and Performance
In my experience, the HP Envy 4520 is suitable for everyday documents and casual photo printing. I would not expect professional-level output, but for home use, I found the quality to be reliable enough. Text prints are generally clear, and color output looks decent for school projects or personal photos. If I needed a printer for heavy-duty office work, I would probably look for a faster model, but for regular home tasks, this one feels practical.
Ease of Use
One of the things I liked most was how easy it was to set up and use. I found the wireless setup straightforward, and once connected, printing from my devices felt convenient. The interface is simple enough that I did not feel overwhelmed by too many complicated options. If I wanted a printer that works without much hassle, this would be a strong point in its favor.
Ink and Running Costs
When I thought about buying the Envy 4520, I also considered ink costs. Like many inkjet printers, the ongoing expense of cartridges is something I would need to keep in mind. For me, this printer makes the most sense if I print occasionally rather than constantly. If I were printing large volumes every week, I would carefully compare ink replacement costs before deciding.
Who I Think It Is Best For
I believe the HP Envy 4520 is best for:
- Home users who need a simple all-in-one printer
- Students who print assignments and notes
- Families who want occasional photo printing
- People with limited desk space
- Users who prefer wireless printing from phones and laptops
What I Would Keep in Mind Before Buying
Before buying, I would think about my printing habits. If I only print occasionally, the Envy 4520 seems like a good fit. However, if I need very fast printing, high-volume output, or the lowest possible ink cost, I might want to compare other models. I would also make sure the printer supports the devices I use most often.
My Final Buying Advice
My overall view is that the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 is a solid choice for basic home printing needs. I like it because it is compact, easy to use, and offers useful wireless features. If I wanted a budget-friendly printer for everyday tasks, I would consider it a practical option. For me, its biggest strengths are convenience and versatility, especially for light home use.
Final Thoughts
I think the Hewlett Packard Envy 4520 is a solid all-in-one printer for everyday home use, especially if you want a simple setup and dependable basic printing. My takeaway is that it offers good value for casual users who need printing, scanning, and copying without a lot of extra complexity. While it may not be the fastest or most advanced option, I believe it delivers enough convenience and quality to meet the needs of most small households.
Author Profile
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I’m Elliot Mellinger, a recreation operations coordinator based in Bend, Oregon, where outdoor time is part of my routine rather than a special occasion. Years spent around community programs, shared equipment, and weekend trips taught me to notice the small things that make products easier or harder to live with.
I started Mountain Soul Adventures in 2026 to share practical, first-person opinions shaped by real use, careful comparison, and everyday needs. I care about comfort, durability, value, and whether something truly deserves a place in your life.
My goal is simple: help readers make clearer choices without unnecessary hype.
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