DESIGN

The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635 is made out of matte polycarbonate with lots of white and a nice blue trim. The scanner, predictably, can be found on top of the printer. Next to it is the status display that shows the ink levels and some useful information about the printing and scanning operations.

BUILT-IN PRESETS

There are also 9 buttons for the operation of the printer – Cancel, Resume, Wireless, Information, Wi-Fi Direct, HP ePrint, Copy Color, Copy Black, and Power. Each button has an unique action, details of which can be found in the manual. The paper feed tray is accessed by sliding it out and can be tucked away when not in use. The same applies to the paper tray at the front.

The front bay also gives access to the cartridge holder when opened. A useful label inside clearly indicates which HP ink cartridges are compatible with the DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635. The DC-in and USB ports are located at the back of the printer.

WI-FI DIRECTLY USEFUL

The DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635 is a multi-purpose home and office printer. It can print, scan, copy and has almost everything you need in dealing with paperwork in such an environment. The built-in Wi-Fi allows you to print without connecting the USB cable.

The most useful feature of this printer is the Wi-Fi Direct printing feature. To use this, you do not even require a PC. Any recent Android device like a smartphone is sufficient.

But keep in mind that you will need to connect the printer at least once initially to a PC using the USB if you plan to print from a PC. After the device installation, the cable can be removed and all future PC printing can be done wirelessly. If you print from a PC, a much wider range of printing options will also be available. You can go borderless, set the type of paper to use or choose presets.

Using a photo editing application like Adobe Photoshop Elements,  you can also scan documents and save them as PDFs or JPEGs. If you are in need of photocopying facilities, it is only one click away with this printer. The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635 has buttons for direct copy, one for color and another for grayscale. It also has the ability to print while scanning.

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY

In its default printing mode, the DeskJet Ink Advantage 3635 produces text and images which can be described as adequate for home or small office use. It is also not the fastest inkjet printer we have seen. If you intend to print photos for an album, we absolutely recommend the highest quality photo paper you can find. But keep in mind that printing speed will go down dramatically as the quality setting is increased.

Verdict: A capable all-in-one printer for the home or small office

Value: 7/10

Features: 8/10

Performance: 7/10

Design: 7/10

Usability: 8/10

Total Score: 7.4

Written by Ajith Ram