Epson Expression Photo XP-960 review

We liked

Thanks to a clever design, this A3 multifunction printer requires no more desk space than your average A4-sized MFP, and when you’re not using the extra-large paper tray at the back, it folds out of sight, leaving you with two cassettes that can automatically feed either plain or photo paper. 

It’s easy to operate the device from the Epson iPrint app, or the user-friendly touchscreen which nestles in the motorised control panel. This panel and the powered document out-tray both fold away automatically when you switch the power off.

More importantly, the XP-960 prints exceptionally well in full colour. The six cartridge system no doubt helps realise the vibrant and naturally shaded colour palette.

We disliked

For a multifunction inkjet, the XP-960 is on the expensive side and that’s because you’re paying a premium for its A3 capability – so if you’re not going to use large format paper, then look elsewhere.

The ink is also expensive, especially as there are six fairly small cartridges to replace regularly. Epson’s Elephant ink costs £58 (around $75, AU$100) for a multipack of six regular-sized refills.

Final verdict

For any business that needs, on occasion, to produce A3-sized documents or posters, the Expression Photo XP-960 should be a definite consideration. Thanks to its accurate six ink cartridge system, it turned out professional production quality prints every time in our full colour tests. Printing onto photo paper yields especially vibrant and stable colours. 

For plain text documents this machine begins to look a little expensive to buy and run, but its wide feature set and ease of use justify the costs if you plan to do any kind of A3 printing as well.

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