HP Smart Tank 5000 vs 5101: Which Refillable Printer Is Better?

The HP Smart Tank 5000 and HP Smart Tank 5101 are both designed around the same basic idea: replace traditional ink cartridges with refillable tanks and reduce the cost and frequency of printing. Both are wireless all-in-one printers that can print, scan, and copy, while also including enough original HP ink to handle thousands of pages.

After comparing the two models closely, I found that they have far more in common than their model numbers suggest. Both offer borderless color printing, automatic power-on, wireless connectivity, HP’s refillable ink system, and up to two years of included ink. The differences are mainly in speed, weight, and the specific features included with each model.

The Smart Tank 5000 is positioned as a straightforward home all-in-one with HP’s newer AI-assisted printing features highlighted in its specifications. The Smart Tank 5101 offers a slightly faster black-print specification and a lighter overall design. That makes the choice less about completely different capabilities and more about which details matter most for your everyday printing.

Key Difference Between HP Smart Tank 5000 vs 5101 Printer

The main difference is print speed and design weight. The HP Smart Tank 5000 is rated at up to 10 pages per minute for black printing, while the 5101 reaches 12 pages per minute. The 5101 is also lighter at 11.09 pounds compared with 14.15 pounds for the 5000.

Both models have a 5 ppm color-print speed, refillable ink tanks, wireless connectivity, scanning, copying, borderless printing, and up to two years of included ink.

HP Smart Tank 5000 vs 5101 Comparison Table

Feature	HP Smart Tank 5000	HP Smart Tank 5101
Printer Type	Wireless All-in-One	Wireless All-in-One
Printing Technology	HP Thermal Inkjet	HP Thermal Inkjet
Print Output	Color	Color
Black Print Speed	Up to 10 ppm	Up to 12 ppm
Color Print Speed	Up to 5 ppm	Up to 5 ppm
Ink System	Refillable Ink Tank	Refillable Ink Tank
Included Ink	Up to 2 years	Up to 2 years
Rated Yield	Up to 6,000 pages	Up to 6,000 pages
Scanner	Yes	Yes
Copier	Yes	Yes
Borderless Printing	Yes	Yes
Wireless	Yes	Yes
Wireless Band	Not specified in supplied data	2.4 GHz
Auto Power On	Yes	Yes
Energy Star	Yes	Yes
Weight	14.15 lbs	11.09 lbs
Best For	Home printing and low-cost high-volume use	Home users wanting a lighter, slightly faster printer
Check Latest Price on Amazon	Check on Amazon	Check on Amazon

Detailed Comparative Review

At first glance, the Smart Tank 5000 and 5101 can look almost identical. Both are cartridge-free color all-in-one printers, and both are built around the same refillable ink concept.

The important thing is that neither model is trying to compete as a high-speed office printer. Their strengths are lower ink intervention, convenient wireless printing, and the ability to handle everyday home documents, schoolwork, forms, photos, and color projects without constantly replacing cartridges.

The differences become more noticeable when I look at how each printer fits into an actual home workspace.

Design

My Experience with the HP Smart Tank 5000

The Smart Tank 5000 has a relatively conventional all-in-one printer design, but the refillable ink-tank system makes the front panel more interesting than a traditional cartridge printer.

At 14.15 pounds, it is not particularly difficult to move, but I would treat it as a printer that stays in one location rather than something I regularly relocate.

The white and Portobello color combination gives it a clean home-office appearance.

What I particularly appreciate is that the ink system is designed around easy-access refilling. Instead of handling individual cartridges, I can replenish the tanks using the compatible ink bottles.

What I like

• Clean home-office appearance
• Refillable ink-tank design
• Borderless printing
• Auto Power On
• All-in-one functionality

What could be better

• Heavier than the 5101
• Better suited to a permanent workspace

My Experience with the HP Smart Tank 5101

The Smart Tank 5101 follows the same general design philosophy, but its lower weight immediately makes it easier to handle.

At 11.09 pounds, it is more than three pounds lighter than the 5000. That difference may not matter once the printer is sitting on a desk, but it becomes useful when rearranging a home office or moving the printer between locations.

The white and Portobello finish also keeps it looking relatively unobtrusive.

What I like

• Lighter body
• Compact home-friendly design
• Refillable tanks
• Borderless printing
• Wireless operation

What could be better

• Still not designed around high-speed office printing
• 2.4 GHz wireless limitation should be considered

Ease of Use

Using the HP Smart Tank 5000

The Smart Tank 5000 is designed to reduce the hassle associated with traditional cartridge printers.

Instead of repeatedly removing cartridges, I can monitor the tank levels and refill them when necessary. HP also emphasizes its mess-free refill system, where the ink bottles are designed to connect directly to the tank.

Wireless connectivity is another useful feature. For a typical home setup, I can keep the printer away from the main computer and send documents over the network.

The AI-enabled printing feature is also interesting for people who frequently print content from websites or emails. According to the supplied specifications, HP AI can remove unwanted content and help format web pages before printing.

Using the HP Smart Tank 5101

The 5101 offers much of the same convenience.

Wireless printing makes it suitable for a household where multiple devices need access to the printer, while the refillable system means I don’t have to keep a collection of replacement cartridges nearby.

The 5101’s lighter weight is also useful if I need to move it.

One thing I would pay attention to is the stated 2.4 GHz-only wireless connectivity. If your home network setup relies heavily on 5 GHz devices or a more complicated wireless configuration, this specification is worth checking before purchasing.

Functions

HP Smart Tank 5000

The Smart Tank 5000 is more than a printer. Its all-in-one design gives me:

• Color printing
• Scanning
• Copying
• Wireless printing
• Borderless printing
• Refillable ink tanks
• Automatic power-on

The printer is rated at up to 10 black pages per minute and 5 color pages per minute.

For normal home documents, that is adequate. I wouldn’t choose it specifically for a busy office that regularly needs large batches of documents printed as quickly as possible.

The biggest advantage is the included ink. HP specifies up to two years of ink and up to 6,000 black or color pages right out of the box.

HP Smart Tank 5101

The 5101 has essentially the same multifunction approach but increases the listed black-print speed to 12 pages per minute.

That may sound like a small improvement, and it is. But if I regularly print multi-page black-and-white documents, those additional pages per minute can reduce waiting time.

Color printing remains rated at 5 pages per minute, so the speed difference primarily matters for black documents.

The 5101 also provides scanning and copying, making it suitable for everyday home paperwork rather than simply serving as a dedicated document printer.

Maintenance

This is where both Smart Tank models have a major advantage over traditional cartridge printers.

Instead of replacing a cartridge whenever one color runs out, I can refill the individual ink tanks. HP specifically describes its system as a mess-free refill design, which should make the process much less frustrating.

Both models are also intended for low-cost, high-volume printing, with up to two years of included HP ink and a stated yield of up to 6,000 pages.

That doesn’t mean I can completely ignore maintenance. Any inkjet printer still needs sensible use and routine care to avoid problems associated with ink drying or printhead maintenance.

However, the refillable design significantly changes the long-term ownership experience compared with constantly buying small ink cartridges.

HP Smart Tank 5000 Pros and Cons

Pros

• Refillable cartridge-free ink system
• Up to two years of included ink
• Up to 6,000 pages of stated yield
• Wireless printing
• Scanner and copier included
• Borderless color printing
• AI-assisted print formatting features
• Good fit for home printing

Cons

• Slower black-print rating than the 5101
• Heavier than the 5101
• Not intended as a high-speed office printer

HP Smart Tank 5101 Pros and Cons

Pros

• 12 ppm black-print rating
• Lighter 11.09-pound design
• Refillable ink system
• Up to two years of included ink
• Up to 6,000 pages of stated yield
• Wireless printing
• Scanner and copier
• Borderless printing
• Auto Power On

Cons

• Color speed remains 5 ppm
• 2.4 GHz wireless specification may matter for some network setups
• Still relatively modest printing speed for heavy office workloads

HP Smart Tank 5000 vs 5101: My Conclusion

The HP Smart Tank 5000 and 5101 are remarkably similar printers. Both are designed for home users who want an all-in-one machine without the recurring hassle of conventional cartridges.

The Smart Tank 5000 makes sense if the AI-assisted printing features and its overall feature package appeal to you. Its 10 ppm black-print rating is sufficient for typical home documents, and its refillable system is the main reason to consider it.

The Smart Tank 5101 adds a small but useful speed improvement, increasing black printing from 10 to 12 ppm. It is also considerably lighter, which makes it easier to move around.

My Recommendation

I would choose the HP Smart Tank 5101 if the prices are close and I regularly print black-and-white documents. The additional black-print speed and lighter body are practical improvements.

I would consider the HP Smart Tank 5000 if its price is lower or if its AI-assisted printing features are more important to my workflow.

For either model, the bigger buying decision is not really the two-year ink claim—it is whether you want a refillable ink-tank printer for relatively low-cost, higher-volume home printing rather than a traditional cartridge-based printer.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the main difference between the HP Smart Tank 5000 and 5101?

The 5101 has a faster rated black-print speed of up to 12 pages per minute, compared with 10 pages per minute for the 5000. The 5101 is also lighter.

Do both HP Smart Tank printers come with ink?

Yes. Both models are specified as including up to two years of HP ink, with a stated yield of up to 6,000 black or color pages.

Are the HP Smart Tank 5000 and 5101 wireless?

Yes. Both are wireless all-in-one printers. The supplied specifications specifically identify the 5101 as supporting 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.

Can both printers scan and copy?

Yes. Both the Smart Tank 5000 and 5101 are all-in-one machines with printing, scanning, and copying capabilities.

Which HP Smart Tank is faster?

The HP Smart Tank 5101 has the faster listed black-print speed at up to 12 pages per minute. Both models are rated at up to 5 pages per minute for color printing.

Are these printers suitable for high-volume printing?

They are designed for low-cost, higher-volume home printing and include enough ink for a stated yield of up to 6,000 pages. However, their relatively modest page-per-minute ratings mean they are better suited to home and light-duty workloads than demanding high-speed office environments.