HP Envy 4522 Review: A Simple Wireless All-in-One Printer

Our HP Envy 4522 review in short: this is a compact, easy-to-use wireless all-in-one that prints, scans and copies, with sharp documents, vibrant borderless photos and automatic double-sided printing. It's simple to set up from a phone or laptop and suits busy homes, students and home offices. It's not the fastest printer and ink can get pricey, but HP Instant Ink helps keep costs down.

Below we cover its design, print quality, speed, connectivity and running costs, and who should buy one.

HP Envy 4522 at a glance

What is the HP Envy 4522?

The Envy 4522 is part of HP's ENVY 4520 series of home all-in-one printers. It's designed for households that need to print homework, documents and the odd photo, scan paperwork and make quick copies, all from one compact machine that connects wirelessly to phones, tablets and laptops.

Design and build

The Envy 4522 has a sleek, low-profile design that fits neatly on a desk or shelf without dominating the room. Paper loads into a front tray, and the output tray extends automatically when you print, then tucks away again, which keeps things tidy.

A small 5.5cm touchscreen on the front handles setup, Wi-Fi connection, copying and scanning. It's not large, but menus are simple and easy to follow. A quiet mode is useful if the printer lives in a bedroom, office or shared space.

Print quality

For everyday use, print quality is very good. Black text is sharp and clean, so homework, letters and documents look crisp. Color prints are bright and vibrant, and the Envy 4522 can print borderless photos up to A4, which makes it handy for family photos, school projects and posters.

It's not a dedicated photo printer, so serious photographers will want a model with more ink colors. For a household all-in-one, though, the results are impressive.

Speed and double-sided printing

HP rates the Envy 4522 at up to 9.5 pages per minute in black and 6.8 in color. That's fine for home use, where most jobs are a handful of pages, but it's on the slow side for large color jobs. If you regularly print long reports, a faster office printer or laser printer will save time.

Automatic double-sided printing is a big plus at this level. It flips the page for you, saving paper on longer documents without any fiddling.

Connectivity and mobile printing

This is where the Envy 4522 really shines. You can connect over Wi-Fi, use Wi-Fi Direct to print without a network, or plug in with USB. It supports Apple AirPrint for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and HP's app lets you print, scan and manage the printer from Android, iOS and Windows devices. HP ePrint also lets you print by emailing documents to the printer.

Ink and running costs

The Envy 4522 uses HP 302 black and tri-color cartridges, with higher-capacity 302XL versions available. Standard cartridges don't print a huge number of pages, so if you print regularly, the XL cartridges are better value.

It's also compatible with HP Instant Ink, a subscription that charges by the number of pages you print rather than the ink you use and posts new cartridges before you run out. For families who print a lot of color, it can make running costs far more predictable. If you rarely print, buying cartridges as you need them is usually cheaper.

Who should buy the HP Envy 4522?

• Families and students who need homework, documents and photos from one printer.
• Home offices with light printing and scanning needs.
• Anyone who prints from their phone and wants simple wireless setup.

Heavy users who print lots of pages each week will save money with an ink-tank or laser printer.

Final verdict

The HP Envy 4522 is a tidy, easy-to-use wireless all-in-one that produces sharp documents and vibrant photos, with automatic double-sided printing and excellent mobile support. It's not the fastest, and ink costs need watching, but for a typical home or student setup it's a reliable and convenient choice.

HP Envy 4522 FAQ

What ink does the HP Envy 4522 use?

It uses HP 302 black and tri-color cartridges, with higher-yield 302XL versions available.

Does the HP Envy 4522 print double-sided?

Yes. It has automatic double-sided (duplex) printing.

Can I print from my phone with the HP Envy 4522?

Yes. It supports Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint and HP's mobile app for Android and iOS.

Does the HP Envy 4522 work with HP Instant Ink?

Yes. It's compatible with HP Instant Ink, which charges by the number of pages you print.