The blinking red light on my ancient, dusty HP LaserJet 4 Plus—a relic from the pre-internet era—mocked me. Again. This time, a paper jam I couldn’t wrestle free. Truth be told, that tank of a printer has survived everything short of a nuclear winter. Still, it was high time to see if modern technology held a candle to its brutal efficiency. Enter the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e. My mission? To see if this cloud-connected contraption could truly deliver on its promise of streamlined, intelligent printing.

First impressions were, let’s say, aesthetically pleasing. Gone were the beige monstrosities of my youth. This model is a sleek black brick, surprisingly compact for an all-in-one unit. Setting it up was, thankfully, a breeze. The HP Smart app, while a tad intrusive with its push notifications (a minor annoyance I eventually disabled), walks you through the process with impressive clarity. The cloud connectivity, a major selling point, instantly linked the printer to my various devices, from my aging work laptop to my newer tablet. Wireless setup? Virtually flawless.

The 9015e boasts impressive print speeds – up to 22 pages per minute in black and white, and 18 in color. That’s significantly faster than my old workhorse, and a real godsend when you’re staring down a mountain of paperwork. More important, however, is print quality. The color output is vibrant, sharp, and suitable for professional-looking documents and marketing materials. Unlike some inkjet models, this one doesn’t seem to bleed ink into the paper quite as much, delivering crisp text even on cheaper stock. Plus, it uses the HP 962 ink cartridges, which, if you’re smart, you sign up for the optional instant ink service to avoid regular trips to the store. It’s a surprisingly smart move for HP – a good deal all around.

Here’s a category-specific detail: The 9015e utilizes a duplex printing unit—automatically printing on both sides of the paper. This feature is now a standard, but it’s the efficient implementation here that warrants mention. The paper handling is generally reliable, with the paper tray holding a generous amount of media. However, I will note a single small imperfection: the scanner lid doesn’t quite have enough “give” for thick books. A workaround? Simply place the book carefully face down and let gravity do the work.

Compared to the older OfficeJet Pro 9010, the “e” version offers some incremental improvements, primarily in the form of added software features within the Smart app. It’s a worthwhile upgrade if you value advanced features like mobile faxing.

Ultimately, who is this printer for? This is an excellent choice for small businesses, busy home offices, or anyone who needs a reliable, feature-rich all-in-one. If you print a lot, the instant ink subscription makes this even more appealing. So, ditch that outdated beast and take the plunge. You might just be pleasantly surprised.