When comparing the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 and ET-4800, both are versatile all-in-one inkjet printers designed for home offices and small businesses.
They offer refillable ink tanks, wireless connectivity, and support for printing, scanning, copying, and faxing.
However, there are notable differences that may influence your choice
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 vs ET-4800: Specs Comparison
Feature | Epson EcoTank ET-4850 | Epson EcoTank ET-4800 |
Printing Technology | Inkjet with PrecisionCore Heat-Free | Inkjet with Micro Piezo Heat-Free |
Print Speed (Black / Color) | 15.5 ppm / 8.5 ppm | 10 ppm / 5 ppm |
Ink Yield (Black / Color) | 7,500 pages / 6,000 pages | 4,500 pages / 7,500 pages |
Paper Capacity | 250 sheets | 100 sheets |
Auto Document Feeder (ADF) | Yes | Yes |
Duplex (2-sided) Printing | Yes | Yes |
Weight | 14.8 lbs | 11 lbs |
Price | $459 | $239 |
Customer Rating | 4.2 (1,640 reviews) | 4.1 (3,955 reviews) |
Which is Better: Epson EcoTank ET-4850 or ET-4800?
Answer: ✅ Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is the better choice.
Reasons to Choose Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Faster Print Speeds: With up to 15.5 ppm for black and 8.5 ppm for color, the ET-4850 significantly outpaces the ET-4800, making it ideal for busy environments where time matters.
Larger Paper Capacity: It features a 250-sheet front-loading tray, which means fewer refills and smoother workflows, especially for higher-volume printing.
Touchscreen Convenience: The 2.4″ color touchscreen provides a modern, intuitive user experience for navigation and settings—something the ET-4800 lacks.
Office-Grade Features: Built-in Ethernet, Auto Document Feeder (ADF), duplex printing, and PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology make the ET-4850 much more equipped for professional use.
Better Build and Design: The ET-4850 is sturdier and designed for longer-term performance, giving users a more reliable setup for daily printing, scanning, and copying.
Why the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Falls Short
Slower Performance: With a max of 10 ppm for black and 5 ppm for color, the ET-4800 is noticeably slower, which could be frustrating for users with more than occasional print needs.
Limited Paper Handling: Its 100-sheet rear feed tray is fine for light use but impractical for high-volume printing.
Outdated Interface: It lacks a touchscreen and uses physical buttons with a small color display, making it feel outdated and less user-friendly.
Lower Black Page Yield: It offers only 4,500 black pages per ink refill vs. the ET-4850’s 7,500, making it less efficient for document-heavy tasks.
Not Built for Heavy Workloads: While it’s a solid budget option, the ET-4800 isn’t built for the kind of daily demand that professionals or small businesses often require.
Verdict: Choose Power Over Price
If you’re looking for a printer that can truly keep up with a fast-paced office or home business environment, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is the clear winner. While the ET-4800 is a decent option for casual, budget-conscious users, it simply doesn’t offer the speed, capacity, or features needed for serious productivity.
In short: ET-4850 = Better performance, better features, better long-term value.
What is the Main Difference Between Epson EcoTank ET-4850 and ET-4800?
The main difference between the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 and ET-4800 is performance and productivity.
The ET-4850 is designed for higher-volume, office-level use. It offers faster print speeds (15.5 ppm vs. 10 ppm black), a larger 250-sheet paper tray, a 2.4″ color touchscreen, and PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology for sharper, more professional-quality prints.
The ET-4800, while more affordable, is better suited for light home use. It has slower speeds, a 100-sheet rear tray, and a more basic control panel with physical buttons. It delivers good print quality but lacks the advanced features and speed of the ET-4850.
In short: The ET-4850 is built for productivity and efficiency, while the ET-4800 is a more basic, budget-friendly model for everyday home printing.
Design and Build: Compact vs. Business-Ready
The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is clearly designed with productivity in mind. Weighing about 14.8 pounds, it’s solidly built and features a 2.4-inch color touchscreen that makes navigating menus and settings easy and intuitive. Its 250-sheet front-loading paper tray supports high-volume workflows, reducing the need for frequent refills—ideal for small businesses or power users who print regularly.
The ET-4800, on the other hand, is more compact and lightweight at 11 pounds, making it easier to fit into smaller spaces like a home office or a student’s workspace. Instead of a touchscreen, it uses a basic color display with physical buttons, which may not be as intuitive but gets the job done for casual use. It also comes with a 100-sheet rear paper feed—perfectly suitable for light to moderate printing needs.
Performance and Print Speed: Speed Favors the ET-4850
When it comes to printing speed, the ET-4850 has a clear edge. It prints up to 15.5 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 8.5 ppm in color, making it much more efficient for larger print jobs or busy days. It’s designed to keep pace with office-level productivity.
In contrast, the ET-4800 prints at 10 ppm in black and just 5 ppm in color. This slower speed may not be a dealbreaker for home users or those with low print volume, but if you need documents quickly and frequently, the ET-4850 is the more capable machine.
Ink System and Cost Efficiency: Both Excel, with Slight Trade-offs
Both models feature Epson’s cartridge-free EcoTank system, which dramatically reduces the cost of printing. With up to 90% savings on ink compared to traditional cartridges, both printers are winners in terms of long-term cost efficiency.
However, there are slight differences in ink yield. The ET-4850 can print up to 7,500 black pages and 6,000 color pages per refill, which is ideal for users who print a lot of text documents. The ET-4800, meanwhile, offers 4,500 black pages and a higher 7,500 color page yield—a great option if your print jobs lean more toward photos, charts, or color-heavy documents.
Features and Functionality: Premium vs. Practical
The ET-4850 comes loaded with premium features that enhance office productivity. Alongside auto 2-sided printing, it includes a 30-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and supports Ethernet connectivity for stable, wired networking. It’s also equipped with PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology, which ensures crisp text and vibrant color prints on virtually any paper type.
The ET-4800, while more basic, still covers the essentials well. It includes a flatbed scanner, copier, ADF, and voice-activated printing. It also features Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology, delivering sharp, detailed prints. And while it lacks some of the finesse of the ET-4850—like the larger paper tray and touchscreen interface—it makes up for it with useful additions like Epson Email Print, allowing you to send documents directly to your printer from anywhere via email.
Connectivity and Ease of Use
Both printers support wireless connectivity, mobile printing, and compatibility with the Epson Smart Panel App, which lets you manage print jobs from your smartphone or tablet. They’re also compatible with Mopria Print Service and voice assistants for hands-free use.
However, the ET-4850’s Ethernet support and color touchscreen give it an edge when it comes to navigation and flexibility in more connected, fast-paced environments.
Price and Value: Budget vs. Business Investment
One of the most noticeable differences is the price. The ET-4850 is priced around $459, while the ET-4800 comes in at a more budget-friendly $239. For nearly half the price, the ET-4800 delivers solid features, great print quality, and all the EcoTank benefits, making it a fantastic value for home users.
That said, the ET-4850 justifies its higher price with a faster engine, better usability, more advanced connectivity, and a larger paper capacity—valuable features for those who need a reliable, professional-grade machine.
Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Buy?
If you need a fast, feature-rich, and office-ready printer that can handle large jobs with minimal interruption, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is the smarter choice. Its print speed, touchscreen interface, and larger capacity make it ideal for small businesses or serious home offices.
On the other hand, if you want something affordable, reliable, and efficient for everyday tasks—like schoolwork, occasional photo printing, or light document work—the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 offers impressive value at nearly half the price.
Either way, both printers share the core strengths of the EcoTank lineup: exceptional ink savings, minimal waste, and reliable performance. Your final choice comes down to how much printing you do, and how much speed and convenience you’re willing to pay for.
