The Epson ET-3850 and ET-4850 are both supertank all-in-one printers with wireless, Ethernet, ADF (auto-document feeder), automatic duplex printing, and large input trays. The ET-4850 adds a few more extras (fax support, more robust features), but for many home offices or personal users, the ET-3850 already offers almost all you need—excellent ink yield, solid build, and lower cost.
Let’s make long story short: If you need fax capabilities or slightly more premium features, the ET-4850 has them. But unless those are essential, ET-3850 gives excellent value: same high ink yield, essential features for home and small offices, and simpler cost-of-ownership.
Why Do I Recommend the Epson ET-3850?
- Same high ink yield, same ink bottles — Both printers use Epson’s T502 bottles: Black (127 mL) yields ~7,500 pages; Color bottles (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 70 mL each) ~6,000 pages.
- Core features mostly identical — Both have ADF, Ethernet + wireless, large 250-sheet paper tray, automatic duplex printing. ET-3850 already includes most of those.
- Lower cost, simpler package — ET-3850 is usually cheaper unless you specifically need fax capability or color/finish options of ET-4850.
- Smaller variety of color choices & finishes — ET-4850 sometimes comes in black or white; ET-3850 is more limited in color options. If you don’t need the extra style/fax, 3850 is more than enough.
Detailed Comparison & Recommendation
| Feature / Spec | Epson ET-3850 | Epson ET-4850 | Which Is Best & Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Yield / Running Cost | ~7,500 pages black / ~6,000 color with included bottles (T502) | Same yields using same bottle set; difference is more in extras rather than ink cost | Tie — cost per page almost the same |
| Feature Extras (Fax, Finish, Color) | Does not include fax; comes in white only; simpler package. | Includes fax; available in black or white; slightly more display polish possibly. | ET-4850 if you need fax or prefer styling/color options |
| Print Speed & Paper Handling | 15.5 ppm black, 8.5 ppm color; 250-sheet tray; automatic duplex printing; 30-sheet ADF. | Very similar print speed & paper handling; same tray / ADF / duplex. | Tie — equal in most day-to-day throughput |
| Scanner, Copier & ADF | Flatbed + 30-sheet ADF; high-resolution glass scanner; 2.4″ color touch display. | Same ADF, flatbed scanner, etc; maybe minor firmware or UI tweaks. | Tie — scanning performance similar |
| Fax Capability | ✘ None | ✔ Built-in fax | ET-4850 if you need fax function |
| Color / Style Options | White only; simpler finish. | Has color/finish options (e.g., black); slightly more premium look. | ET-4850 for aesthetics or matching setup |
| Check Best Seller | Check Epson ET-3850 Best Price | Check Epson ET-4850 Best Price | ET-3850 gives better value for most users |
What Are The Major Differences
- ET-4850 has fax capability; ET-3850 does not.
- ET-4850 is offered in black or white finishes; ET-3850 mostly white.
- Both have the same ADF, ink yield, automatic duplex, and paper capacity/tray size.
- ET-4850 costs more upfront because of extras (fax, color finish etc.). ET-3850 is more affordable and simpler.
- User experience (print speed, scan quality, ADF use) very similar. The extra features on 4850 are useful only if you need them.
What Users Are Saying
| Feature / Feedback | ET-3850 | ET-4850 |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday Home / Small Office Use | “Great home office printer; reliable, less need to refill; text quality excellent.” | “Same strong quality; love that I got fax, and the black version looks nicer in my office.” |
| Feature Utility (Fax etc.) | “I don’t need fax, so ET-3850 is perfect — simpler, cheaper, fewer features unneeded.” | “Fax occasionally useful; for my business paperwork it has been helpful.” |
| User Cost & Running Ink | “Ink bottles last a long time; cost per page very low.” | “Same ink cost; price difference upfront was the trade-off I accepted.” |
| Recommended Best Seller | Check Epson ET-3850 Best Price | Check Epson ET-4850 Best Price |
Fair Advice to Consider
- Choose ET-4850 only if you use fax (yes, still relevant in some offices), want black version or want matching office color, or need the physical look.
- Choose ET-3850 if you want the core features, excellent ink savings, strong performance, and want to save money now without giving up on what matters most (ADF, duplex, etc.).
Quick Comparison – Epson ET-3850 vs ET-4850
| Feature / Spec | Epson ET-3850 | Epson ET-4850 |
|---|---|---|
| Print Speed | 15.5 ppm black / 8.5 ppm color | 15.5 ppm black / 8.5 ppm color |
| Print Resolution | Up to 4800 × 1200 dpi | Up to 4800 × 1200 dpi |
| Ink System | EcoTank, uses Epson 502 bottles (same yields) | EcoTank, uses Epson 502 bottles (same yields) |
| Page Yield | ~7,500 pages black / ~6,000 pages color | ~7,500 pages black / ~6,000 pages color |
| Scanner & Copier | Flatbed + 30-sheet ADF, 1200 dpi optical | Flatbed + 30-sheet ADF, 1200 dpi optical |
| Auto Duplex Printing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Fax Capability | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Display | 2.4″ Color touchscreen | 2.4″ Color touchscreen |
| Paper Capacity | 250-sheet input tray | 250-sheet input tray |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet | USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet |
| Available Colors | White | Black or White |
| Weight | ~16.1 lbs | ~16.4 lbs |
| Price | Check Epson ET-3850 Best Price | Check Epson ET-4850 Best Price |
FAQs
What is the main difference between the Epson ET-3850 and ET-4850?
The ET-4850 includes fax capability and comes in black or white finishes, while the ET-3850 does not include fax and is generally only available in white.
Is print quality or speed different between the two?
No. Both printers offer 15.5 ppm black / 8.5 ppm color, with print resolution up to 4800 × 1200 dpi. Text and photo output are almost identical.
Do both support auto-duplex printing and ADF scanning?
Yes. Both have automatic two-sided (duplex) printing, a 30-sheet ADF, and flatbed scanning with 1200 dpi optical resolution.
Which one is more affordable?
The ET-3850 is usually priced lower, since it skips the fax and extra styling options. The ET-4850 costs more upfront, mostly for the added fax and finish options.
Which should I buy: Epson ET-3850 or ET-4850?
Buy the ET-3850 if you want to save money and don’t need fax. Choose the ET-4850 only if faxing or aesthetics are essential to your workflow.
Final Verdict
For most users—home offices, families, people who want to print, scan, copy with low running cost—the Epson ET-3850 is the smarter buy. It gives almost everything the ET-4850 offers (ADF, duplex, large ink yield), while being simpler, cheaper, and sufficient for most workflows. The ET-4850 is a better pick only if you specifically need the fax feature or prefer the stylistic choices or finish options it offers.