HP Tango X, an inkjet printer that innovates on form

Ergonomics

HP's first goal with the Tango X printer was to make it a pretty, unblemished product installed on the shelf of a library in the middle of the living room. Contract fulfilled, if one believes the enthusiastic reactions aroused by this printer within the editorial staff. All of them indeed found it pleasant to look at, perfectly constructed, and able - effectively - to integrate a designer interior without detonating.

It's a shame, however, that beyond aesthetics, minimalism is a costly choice for the Tango X according to our usual printer evaluation criteria. The absence of a screen, the lack of practicality of the integrated buttons, a simple flap that opens at the back to supply it with paper or the absence of a USB port for the benefit of a Wi-Fi only interface make it a confusing product .

Admittedly, pretty light effects are ensured by LEDs - backlit in particular the paper exit slot -, and the HP Smart application is quite readable and educational so as not to hinder the start-up of the product, but it is not sufficient in our eyes to erase some obvious practical flaws.

First, it is disappointing to note that this top-of-the-range positioning model - 20.6 cm deep by 37.7 cm wide and 9.1 cm thick - skips scanning, while 'an A4 page is 21 cm wide and it would certainly have been possible to ensure the role of a multifunction by making some small concessions on the size.

Then, it must be recognized that the behavior of the backlit sensor buttons is sometimes erratic, making the HP Smart application (on mobile as on computer) the best way to use or monitor your printer.

Finally, whether we opt for the Tango X model with or without a "cover", you should know that in use the printer is much less pleasant to look at and compact than what it suggests at first. on board. It is impossible, for example, to fit it between two shelves that are too close together if you want to be able to access its paper tray of only 50 sheets. A position in which you must of course leave the printer if you want it to be always available.

Similarly, the unfolded "cover" is supposed to ensure the role of the paper receptacle on the most expensive model (the one we tested). This requires being able to unfold it and therefore requires having no less than 45 to 50 cm of depth available at least, further reducing the possibilities of installation of the Tango X. A point on which, ultimately, the Tango X without "cover" equipped with a sliding receptacle does better.

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Consumption

The power consumption of the HP Tango X rises to 2.4 W in standby and 9 W in full A4 photo printing. We would have liked it to be a bit less voracious on standby, but it can be caught up by being very energy efficient when it is active. Above all, it turns out to be fairly quiet, our sound level meter positioned about one meter from the printer, having detected noise levels not exceeding 47.2 dB in office printing, and 45.8 dB in photo printing. This noise level remains very acceptable, even for a product potentially intended to integrate a living room.

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Cost per page

Comes with two HP 303 starter cartridges, with an advertised printing capacity of around 110 pages in color and 125 pages in black and white, this HP Tango X is clearly expensive to use. On the basis of XL cartridges - the most economical - we have calculated a cost price per page of 13 euro cents (€ 0.13), which is above average (around 10 euro cents per page).

However, we must clarify one thing: we cannot take into account the compatibility of this printer with the HP Instant Ink program in our rating. However, subscribing to this program is a very good way to limit the cost of your prints, from the moment you print a minimum regularly.

It is indeed possible to lower the cost per page between 6 and 3.3 euro cents depending on the selected print volume (50, 100 or 300 pages). Not eligible for the Instant Ink free plan, this Tango X adds, however, exclusively, the possibility of printing for free (excluding the cost of paper) an unlimited number of photos 10 x 15 cm from their smartphone to holders of 'an Instant Ink subscription.

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Photo

The HP Tango X takes 1 minute 25 seconds to print a photo in 10 x 15 cm format, and 2 minutes 30 seconds to perform the same operation in A4. For comparison, an HP Deskjet 3639 - entry-level multifunction par excellence at HP - performs the same operations in 1 minute 35 seconds and 3 minutes 37 seconds. This Tango X is therefore faster and fits in the right average for this exercise.

If, by eye or magnifying glass, the prints analyzed show very good accuracy and flattering rendering, the verdict of the colorimetric probe means tempering our remarks. Indeed, the pictures suffer from a fairly marked color drift, with a delta E to 8 (3 being the threshold beyond which the human eye is deemed capable of perceiving a difference in tone).

We are far from the fidelity of the best inkjet photo printers, which display delta E between 4 and 5. The renderings of blue and pale red weigh heavy on the average. A small game in which the Deskjet 3639 (which is generally found from around forty euros online) surpasses it, it which prints pretty photos with a delta E measured at 6.2.

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Office

In office, the rendering of the pages printed by this Tango X is excellent, perfectly clear, well contrasted. With flow rates of 15 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 12.5 ppm in color, it nevertheless misses the fifth star in this area, although our measurements place it well above the figures announced in the technical sheet. from the manufacturer (11 and 8 ppm respectively).

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Conclusion

Impossible to be fully convinced by the printer which did not want to be one from HP. Behind an attractive concept there are too many small faults and disappointments, especially at a premium price. And this, while an HP Deskjet 3639, which is regularly found for around forty euros, provides more than the essential in a format that remains compact despite the presence of a scanner.

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