HP Smart Tank 520 All-in-One Printer, Print/Copy/Scan, USB Interface – Model No: 1F3W2A

HP Smart Tank 520 All-in-One USB Inkjet Printer (1F3W2A)

The HP Smart Tank 520 All-in-One USB inkjet printer is a refillable tank printer designed for homes and small offices that print at high volumes and want to reduce ink costs significantly compared to cartridge-based alternatives. It covers print, copy, and scan in a single unit, connecting directly to a computer via USB without requiring network configuration. Additionally, borderless printing support makes it a practical choice for households that also print photos alongside everyday documents.

Technical Specifications

Functions & Technology

Control Panel

Print Performance

Copy

Scan

Ink & Yield

Connectivity

Media

Operating System Compatibility

Physical

Power

Sustainability

Warranty

In the Box

Use Cases

USB-Connected Home and Home Office Printing

The Smart Tank 520 suits users who connect a printer directly to a single PC and have no need for wireless sharing across multiple devices. Because it requires no router configuration or network setup, it connects and prints in minutes via USB. For instance, a home worker who prints contracts, reference materials, and invoices regularly from one desktop workstation will find the 520 a straightforward and low-cost fit.

High-Volume Document Printing at Low Per-Page Cost

With two GT53XL bottles in the box delivering a combined 12,000 black pages, the 520 is engineered for users who print frequently and want to minimise recurring supply costs. A household printing 400 pages per month could run for approximately two and a half years on the included black ink alone. Furthermore, colour refill bottles cost significantly less per page than traditional inkjet cartridges at equivalent volumes.

Borderless Photo and Colour Output

The 520 supports borderless printing up to A4, making it suitable for printing photos, creative projects, and school materials without white margins. The 4800 × 1200 dpi colour resolution produces sharp, vibrant output on compatible photo papers and glossy media. Additionally, the flatbed scanner allows users to digitise physical photos, ID cards, and signed documents directly from the glass.

Budget-Conscious Small Teams

The 520 targets teams of up to three users printing up to 800 pages per month, where the priority is low running cost over wireless convenience. However, because the 520 connects via USB only, teams that need to share the printer across multiple computers will require a USB-to-network print server or should consider the Wi-Fi enabled 580 or 585 instead.

Considerations

Connectivity and Platform Limitations

• USB Only — No Wi-Fi or Wireless Capability: The HP Smart Tank 520 connects exclusively via USB 2.0. It does not support Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or mobile printing. Users who need wireless printing from a smartphone, tablet, or multiple computers should consider the Smart Tank 580, 582, or 585 instead.
• Windows Only: The 520 is compatible with Windows 7 SP1, Windows 10, and Windows 11 only. It does not support macOS, Chrome OS, Android, or iOS. Mac users and mobile-only households are not compatible with this model.
• No Mobile Printing Support: The absence of Wi-Fi means Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and the HP Smart App are not available on the 520. All print jobs require a USB-connected Windows PC.

Scanning, Duplex, and Output Limitations

• Limited Scan File Formats: The 520’s scanner outputs JPEG and PDF only. Unlike the 580/582/585 series, it does not support PNG, TIFF, or HEIF scan formats. Users who need a wider range of output formats for archival or design workflows should note this gap.
• Manual Duplex Only: Two-sided printing requires manually flipping and reloading the paper stack. The printer does not return the sheet automatically for the reverse side, which slows double-sided jobs compared to models with automatic duplexing.
• Flatbed Scanner Only — No ADF: Multi-page scanning requires placing each sheet individually on the glass. Users who regularly digitise stacks of paperwork will find this time-consuming and should consider a model with an ADF.
• Colour Speed is Slow at 5 ppm: Black printing reaches 12 pages per minute at ISO speeds; however, colour output drops to 5 pages per minute. This may create delays in environments that regularly produce colour-heavy documents.

Ink Yield and Warranty

• Black Yield is Lower Than the 580 Series: The 520 delivers up to 12,000 black pages per two-bottle fill, compared to 18,000 black pages on the 580/582/585. Teams or households with very high print volumes may find the 580 series more cost-effective over time.
• Warranty Is Page-Count Limited: The standard warranty expires at whichever comes first — one year or 30,000 pages. High-volume users approaching this threshold should register promptly to explore extended service options.

Considering a wireless alternative? Compare the HP Smart Tank 580 All-in-One printer for built-in Wi-Fi and broader OS support.

For driver downloads, ink compatibility, and warranty registration, visit the HP Smart Tank 520 official support page.