What Ink Does the HP ENVY Inspire 7255e Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP ENVY Inspire 7255e uses HP 64 (standard) or HP 64XL (high-yield) black and tri-color ink cartridges — not HP 67, which is the most common mix-up on this model. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured HP 64XL that keep the original HP chip, with free U.S. shipping on orders over $50.
The ENVY Inspire 7255e is a photo-capable home all-in-one with a flatbed scanner (there is no document feeder) and a separate photo tray. The "e" means it was sold with HP+ offered at setup, and that setup screen matters more than anything else on this page.
CastleScore · October 2026
74/100 — Recommended
HP ENVY Inspire 7255e
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 77 | 3.97★ average across 3,137 ratings at Amazon (3.9), P.C. Richard & Son (4.2) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 60 | PCMag 3.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 76 | About 4.6¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 64XL (600 / 415 pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | 85 | Most-reported problems: photo/paper tray feels delicate or gets in the way when loading; 'Cartridge not making contact' errors; slow printing and scanning |
| Features (12%) | 69 | Print, copy, scan, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. No document feeder, no fax. |
| Value (5%) | 76 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. HP's store says the 7255e has been discontinued, and Best Buy no longer sells it new. We found no named successor; this guide is for current owners.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 64XL 2-packBlack + Tri-color
HP 64XL BlackN9J92AN · ~600 pages
HP 64XL Tri-colorN9J91AN · ~415 pages
HP 64XL 2-pack
HP 64XL Black
HP 64XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP ENVY Inspire 7255e Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|
| HP 64 (N9J90AN) | Black | ~200 pages |
| HP 64 (N9J89AN) | Tri-Color | ~165 pages |
| HP 64XL (N9J92AN) | Black | up to 600 pages |
| HP 64XL (N9J91AN) | Tri-Color | up to 415 pages |
It Is HP 64, Not HP 67
This trips people up constantly, because most HP ENVY models in the 6000 and 6400 series do use HP 67. This one does not. There is also no HP 64XXL — HP's 64 line stops at XL, so anything sold as "64XXL" is a third-party product.
The jump from standard to XL is unusually good value here: 600 pages against 200 for black, for well under three times the price. There is almost no case for buying standard HP 64 except as an emergency stopgap.
One thing to know about tri-color cartridges: cyan, magenta and yellow share a single housing. When any one color runs out the whole cartridge is finished, even with ink left in the other two. It is the main reason cost per page on this class of printer looks worse than the sticker price suggests.
Read This Before You Finish Setup: HP+
This is an HP+ eligible printer, and the choice you make on the setup screen is the single most consequential thing about owning it.
- Enroll in HP+ and HP's terms require Original HP ink for the life of the printer. That requirement does not lapse when the free Instant Ink months end — compatible and remanufactured cartridges will not work.
- Decline HP+ and you are free to choose your cartridges, within one limit: HP dynamic security still blocks cartridges with non-HP chips. Remanufactured cartridges that reuse the original HP chip, like ours, are the ones that work.
- Reversing it: HP+ can only be skipped during setup. HP documents no way to turn it off once it is activated, and HP Community experts say it can't be undone. Treat that setup screen as permanent.
- Enrolling gets you an extra warranty year and free Instant Ink months. Whether that is worth locking your ink supply for the life of the machine is the trade to weigh.
Separately, HP applies dynamic security to this printer — cartridges using non-HP chips may stop working after a firmware update, whether or not you enrolled in HP+. If you plan to run compatible ink, it is worth declining automatic firmware updates.
Is the ENVY Inspire 7255e Discontinued?
Yes, HP has discontinued it and names no successor. HP 64XL cartridges remain widely available.
What ENVY Inspire 7255e owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support forum and owner reviews, answered in our words.
What sizes can go in the photo tray?
The separate 15-sheet photo tray takes 4x6, 5x5 and 5x7 in paper. The printer also handles panoramic prints up to about 4x12 in.
Can it print on legal-size paper?
No. It tops out at letter size (8.5 in wide), and reviewers point out that it cannot print legal sheets.
Does it have a document feeder for scanning a stack?
No. It scans from the flatbed glass only, one page at a time. If you need a feeder, the ENVY Photo 7975 has a 35-sheet one and takes the same HP 64 cartridges.
Why does setup ask for an internet connection and an HP account?
Owners report both are needed to finish setup. If you enroll in HP+, HP requires an HP account and an ongoing internet connection for as long as you use the printer, plus Original HP ink for its life.
ENVY Inspire 7255e quirks worth knowing
- The 2.7-inch touchscreen sits on a tilting panel, and you can save custom shortcut profiles for jobs you repeat in copy and scan.
- Two-sided printing is much slower than one-sided. In one review it dropped to about 6.7 pages per minute two-sided, against 15 one-sided.
- HP recommends 300–400 pages a month for this printer, well above the 50–100 it suggests for DeskJets, even though both carry a 1,000-page maximum duty cycle.
- HP 64 is shared with the ENVY Photo 6200, 7100 and 7800 series and the HP Tango, so cartridges listed for those fit too. HP's 2026 cartridge changes (the HP 63/65 merger and the refreshed HP 61) do not affect HP 64.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP ENVY Inspire 7255e use?
HP 64 or HP 64XL, in black and tri-color. It does not use HP 67.
Is there an HP 64XXL?
No. HP's 64 line has standard and XL only. Listings advertising 64XXL are third-party cartridges using a name HP does not use.
Is HP 64 or 64XL better value?
64XL, by a wide margin — 600 pages black against 200, and 415 tri-color against 165.
Can I use compatible HP 64XL cartridges?
Only if the printer was not enrolled in HP+ at setup, and only if the cartridge carries an HP chip. Remanufactured 64XL cartridges that keep the original HP chip work; cartridges with a third-party chip are blocked by HP dynamic security either way.
Why does the color cartridge die when only one color is empty?
The three colors share one housing, so the cartridge is finished when any single color runs out.
Other printers that use HP 64
HP Envy Inspire 7955e · HP ENVY Photo 7858 · HP ENVY Photo 6255 · HP ENVY Photo 7975 · HP ENVY Inspire 7900e · HP ENVY Photo 7855
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (laser) — CastleScore 82
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — CastleScore 79
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 8, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement HP ink cartridges? Shop HP ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.