Epson Stylus SX515W review

The problem that faces high-end home devices is standing out from the crowd. Most offer network options, media card readers and LCD screens, and while extra features could add to the value, Epson has opted for a different approach with the SX515W: raw speed.

It spat draft prints into the output tray at 17.6ppm, and normal prints at 13.6ppm. Copies took just 22 seconds in mono and 25 seconds in colour, and its scan speeds were quicker than most other devices we’ve tested recently. This is an all-in-one for those in a hurry.

Those times don’t reveal the whole picture, though, as Epson confusingly offers two normal quality modes: Text, with which the speeds above were achieved, and Text & Image. In the former, the quality of diagrams and pictures isn’t quite as refined as the latter mode, which slows things down considerably. Side by side, we’d be happy choosing Text mode for all but the most graphics-heavy print jobs, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re the sort who prefers to err on the side of quality.

Photo quality was decent but unspectacular; Epson’s prints all have a washed out look to them that’s easy to spot next to the bold colours of rival Canon and HP printers. The detail is all there, but there’s no real punch to photos, and at this price that’s disappointing. Scan quality was similar – above average but without the detail or vibrancy of the best we’ve seen. That’s hardly unexpected given its tremendous speed, but it sums up this Epson to a tee: it’s a compromise between quality and pace.

As for the device itself, it’s well-designed and offers all the features you’d expect in the home. It can connect via USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi, has a 120-sheet input tray and uses four individual inks. They won’t last too long but are cheap to replace, and a 9p cost per A4 page is reasonable.

Operation is a pain, though, as the menu is difficult to navigate easily – we often found ourselves closing an option when we tried to select it – and most useful settings are in submenus. The placing on the main Copy screen of a borderless option but not quality settings is just baffling.

The SX515W is a mixed bag, then. If you like your prints fast and don’t mind losing a bit of quality in the process, it could be worth a look. But elsewhere it doesn’t quite have enough to challenge the best from HP and Canon.