Introduction & Positioning
The Epson EP-879AB is a multifunction inkjet printer released around October 2016 (Japan market). It belongs to Epson’s Colorio / カラリオ line of home / small office multifunction devices, aimed at users who want a compact all-in-one solution with photo printing, network connectivity, and moderate document printing.
Although it is not a high-volume office device, it packs useful capabilities for mixed photo / document workflows. This article examines how well it performs over time, where it fits, and whether it still can serve in small offices or light business environments.
Key Specifications & Features
Here are the major specifications and features of the EP-879AB, based on Epson’s official spec sheet (Japan).
Printing / Output
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Printing Technology / Maximum Resolution: Epson’s MACH (Micro Piezo) inkjet method, with 5760 × 1440 dpi maximum resolution.
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Automatic Duplex Printing: Supports automatic two-sided (duplex) printing as a standard feature.
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Paper Input / Capacity:
• Front (tray): up to ~100 sheets (A4, 75 g/m²)
• Rear / manual feed (back tray): Accepts one sheet (thicker / special media) up to thickness 0.6 mm. -
Supported Media / Sizes: A6 up to A4, legal, plus borderless printing on some photo sizes (cards, L, 2L, etc.)
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Borderless / Full-bleed Printing: Yes, for several photo / card / A4 sizes; margins can be 0 mm on borderless modes for select sizes.
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Thickness / Paper weight: Normal paper 0.08–0.11 mm; Epson’s specialty papers up to 0.30 mm; rear feed up to 0.6 mm.
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Other printing modes: CD/DVD / Blu-ray label printing via front tray; envelope printing; various layout / scaling modes.
Scanning & Copying
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Scanner Type: Flatbed scanner (CIS sensor) for scanning documents/photos.
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Optical Resolution: 1,200 × 2,400 dpi (main / scanning resolution) in flatbed mode.
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Copy Functions: Standalone copying (without PC) is supported; copy scaling from 25% to 400%; borderless copy is possible for certain media sizes.
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Copy Speed: Epson lists “≈ 50 seconds (for A4 photo gloss)” for a standard photo copy mode.
Connectivity & Network
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Interfaces:
• Hi-Speed USB ×2 (one rear for PC connection, one front for external memory / PictBridge)
• Wired LAN: 10Base-T / 100Base-TX Ethernet support
• Wireless: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (Wi-Fi) built-in
• Infrared (IrDA) support (for older devices / cameras) -
Network features: The EP-879AB supports both LAN and Wi-Fi simultaneously.
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Command / Driver Protocols: It uses Epson’s ESC/P Raster / ESC/P-R command sets.
Physical / Power / Dimensions
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Dimensions (closed / stored): 349 × 340 × 142 mm (W × D × H)
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Dimensions (in use / with trays open): 349 × 527 × 183 mm
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Weight: ≈ 6.7 kg (excluding cartridges / power cord)
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Power Consumption: ~19 W (standalone copy mode)
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Other features / controls: 2.7-inch LCD display on the printer body for status / menu control.
Other Notes
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The EP-879AB was supported until repair availability until 2022 September 30 in Epson's support channels.
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It was introduced in October 2016.
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The model is part of the EP-879 series (variants AW, AB, AR).
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It uses 6 independent dye ink cartridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan, Light Magenta) — the “6色” (six-colour) dye model.
Performance & Real-World Behavior
Given its specs, how does the EP-879AB perform in typical use? Below are observations and expectations based on spec data and user reviews.
Print Quality & Output
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For photo printing, the high dot resolution (5760 × 1440) combined with six-colour dye inks gives excellent gradation, smooth color transitions, and vibrant photo output. Borderless photo prints appear well beyond typical consumer printers of its era.
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For document printing (text, graphics), results are decent but not laser-class — text is legible but not ultra-crisp, especially at small fonts or on lower quality paper. Dye ink tends to absorb into media, so sharpness is sensitive to paper quality.
Speed & Throughput
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Photo prints (A4 glossy) take time: Epson advertises ~50 seconds for a photo copy in photo mode. That implies photo printing is not for high volume rapid output.
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Normal document printing (text / graphics) will be modest — the EP-879AB is not optimized for speed, but for quality and versatility.
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Automatic duplex printing is helpful for two-sided jobs, but duplex printing increases complexity and time; large duplex jobs will slow throughput.
Scanning & Copying
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The scanning function (flatbed) offers good resolution for photos and documents. For multi-page scanning, the lack of dedicated ADF may slow batch scanning (if this model lacks an ADF — from Epson’s spec page, an ADF is not explicitly listed).
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Copying from flatbed works well for originals, including photo and document materials.
Connectivity / Network Use
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With both Ethernet and Wi-Fi, the EP-879AB can be integrated into small office networks. Users can print from multiple PCs and mobile devices.
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Given that it supports both wired and wireless simultaneously, it is flexible in deployment — you can place it centrally and allow both wired and Wi-Fi users to access it.
Business or Small Office Use: Suitability & Use Cases
While the EP-879AB is not a heavy-duty business printer, there are use cases where it can serve well in small offices or business-adjacent environments:
Where It Fits Well
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Photo studios / small graphic businesses doing occasional photo printing and proofs, plus document tasks. The six-color dye system and borderless printing help with visual output.
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Creative freelancers / designers who need a printer that handles both documents and good quality photos in one unit, without buying separate photo printers.
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Small offices / general offices where document printing is modest (a few tens to low hundreds of pages daily), and occasional color/photo tasks occur.
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Reception / marketing support areas needing signage, flyers, invitation printing in small batches.
Limitations for Larger Business Use
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Print speed & throughput: Not designed for heavy up-time day-long printing of many pages. For high volume, office-grade lasers or business-focused inkjets perform much better.
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Consumables & running cost: Dye-based inks tend to cost more per page and can dry if not used frequently. For high document usage, the cost per page may be prohibitive.
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Limited scanning / batch workflow: If your work involves scanning many pages daily (contracts, forms, invoices), a model with an ADF and faster sheet-fed scanning is better suited.
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Support / repair availability: Epson’s repair support ended its repair acceptance in September 2022. That means obtaining parts or warranty repairs may be difficult in many regions.
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Aging architecture / driver compatibility: As a 2016 model, newer operating systems or software updates may no longer fully support all features or drivers.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
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High-quality photo printing with six-colour dye ink and borderless capabilities.
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Automatic duplex printing helps with printing two-sided documents to save paper.
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Network flexibility with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet interfaces.
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Compact for the capabilities — relatively narrow width (349 mm) compared to older models.
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Versatile media support, including thick media via rear feed, CD/DVD printing, envelope support, etc.
Weaknesses / Trade-offs
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Relatively slow for photo and high-quality prints (50 s for A4 photo).
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Running cost and ink longevity concerns — dye inks degrade faster, require maintenance, and are more expensive over time.
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Support & parts availability declining (repair support ended)
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No built-in ADF (based on spec sheet): scanning multi-page stacks will require manual page placement.
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Heavy for a home device: 6.7 kg is non-trivial; placement, power, and stability matter.
Deployment & Practical Tips
If using the EP-879AB in a small office or business-adjacent setting, here are tips to optimize longevity and usability:
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Use good media: High-quality photo or inkjet-compatible papers reduce ink bleed and yield sharper results.
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Keep ink cartridges fresh / used often: Dye inks benefit from periodic use to prevent nozzle clogging.
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Enable duplex default where possible to save paper and reduce time for two-sided jobs.
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Network placement: Place near wired or Wi-Fi access points; Ethernet connection is more stable for frequent printing from multiple PCs.
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Stock replacement consumables (ink cartridges, maintenance box) since repair / supply might become harder over time.
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Backup driver / software installers: As OS support evolves, having the original drivers may help with compatibility.
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Regular cleaning & maintenance cycles: Run nozzle checks, head cleanings, and alignment cycles periodically.
Is EP-879AB Still Worth Using in 2025?
Given its age and the discontinuation of support, would it make sense to rely on an EP-879AB today? The answer depends on use case:
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Yes, if your volume is modest, you highly value photo printing, and you can tolerate occasional maintenance and parts sourcing challenges. It can still produce very good photos and general documents for light-to-moderate use.
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No, if you require high throughput, strong long-term support, network integration, scanning automation (ADF), or very low running cost for documents. Modern All-in-One inkjet or laser printers are more efficient, faster, and better supported.
If you already own one and it’s functioning well, it can continue to serve, but consider migrating to newer models over time.