Epson EP-879AW — A 1,500-Word Deep Dive: Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use
The Epson EP-879AW (sold under Epson’s Colorio / カラリオ family) is a compact, photo-capable, networked inkjet multifunction printer introduced in 2016. It’s targeted at home offices, creative hobbyists and small businesses that want high-quality colour prints and flexible media handling in a single unit: print, scan and copy with automatic duplex, wired and wireless networking, and six-colour dye inks for improved photo output. Below I examine the EP-879AW’s design, technical specifications, real-world performance, total cost considerations and where it does — and doesn’t — make sense in a business environment.
Where the EP-879AW sits in Epson’s line-up
Epson marketed the EP-879 series as a mid-range all-in-one in its Colorio consumer line, emphasizing photo printing quality and flexible connectivity rather than pure office throughput. Unlike Epson’s large WorkForce or business laser ranges, the EP-879AW is optimized for mixed use: good colour/photographic output plus useful office features such as automatic two-sided printing and Ethernet/Wi-Fi support. It is not a high-volume production device — that’s by design. If your priority is lab-grade photo output in a compact MFP that still handles documents decently, this model was built for that niche.
Key specifications — the most important numbers
Here are the load-bearing technical specs you should keep front of mind:
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Printing technology / max resolution: Epson’s MACH micro-piezo inkjet with up to 5,760 × 1,440 dpi.
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Ink system: 6-colour dye inks (independent cartridges — Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan, Light Magenta) for improved photo gradation and colour accuracy.
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Paper handling: Front tray holds up to 100 sheets A4 (75 g/m²); rear manual feed accepts one thick/special sheet (up to 0.6 mm). The unit supports a wide range of media sizes (A6–A4, photo sizes and envelopes) and borderless printing.
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Automatic duplex (two-sided) printing: Built in and standard.
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Scanner: Flatbed scanner — optical resolution up to 1,200 × 2,400 dpi.
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Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Ethernet (10/100), USB; supports Wi-Fi Direct and mobile/remote printing features.
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Control & user interface: 2.7-inch colour LCD, intuitive menus and direct print functions.
Those figures highlight the EP-879AW’s focus: high-quality colour output and flexible connectivity rather than raw document throughput.
Design, ergonomics and media flexibility
Physically the EP-879AW is a medium-sized countertop MFP. It’s heavier and slightly larger than small single-function home printers but remains compact for its capability set. The front paper cassette loads easily, the rear feed is handy for thick stock, and the small colour LCD gives quick access to copying, quality presets and network status.
A practical point for photo or craft work: the EP-879AW supports borderless printing on a variety of photo sizes and a rear manual feed that accepts thicker media (up to 0.6 mm) — useful for card stock, special greeting cards, CD/DVD labels and other short-run specialty jobs. For small marketing shops or boutiques that produce occasional signage, labels or cards in-house, that flexibility is helpful.
Print quality — photos and documents
This is where the EP-879AW earns its reputation. The six-colour dye set (with light cyan and light magenta in addition to standard CMYK) allows much smoother gradations and more faithful mid-tone reproduction than four-colour consumer inkjets. When paired with high-quality photo paper, the printer produces vibrant, glossy photo prints with natural skin tones and smooth gradients — performance that appeals to hobby photographers and small creative shops. The high 5,760 × 1,440 dpi dot rendering supports sharp detail and smoother edges in photos and graphics.
For text documents the EP-879AW is serviceable but not laser-class. Expect crisp, readable black text for letters, memos and client handouts, but very small font sizes or high-density documents will look better on a monochrome laser. Where the EP-879AW shines is production of colour proposals, flyers and photos that need to impress visually.
Speed & real-world throughput
Epson designed the EP-879AW for quality over raw speed. Photo prints — especially at high quality or borderless modes — take time (the higher dpi modes and dye inks require multiple passes and drying time). Daily document throughput is fine for small teams, but if your office prints hundreds of pages daily, you’ll quickly notice the limits compared with business inkjets or lasers.
Because it supports automatic duplex, two-sided documents are straightforward, but duplexing slows per-page throughput relative to simplex prints. In short: the EP-879AW’s speed is adequate for moderate workloads and ad-hoc professional printing, but it’s not optimized as a high-volume office engine.
Scanning & copying: flatbed performance
The flatbed scanner reaches up to 1,200 × 2,400 dpi optical resolution — good for archiving photos, scanning artwork, and producing high-quality scans for colour correction in creative workflows. The EP-879AW lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF) on many Colorio consumer models, so bulk multi-page scanning is manual; if your business digitizes reams of paperwork daily, choose a model with ADF or a dedicated document scanner. For occasional high-quality scans (photos, originals, contracts) the flatbed is fine.
Network features & mobile printing
The EP-879AW is a well-connected device for its class. It supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi simultaneously, Wi-Fi Direct (for direct mobile printing without a network) and Epson’s mobile printing apps and standards (AirPrint / Mopria compatibility is typical for Colorio models). That means staff can print from laptops, phones and tablets with minimal setup — a real productivity plus for small businesses with mobile workstyles. The colour LCD and on-device menus also let users print from USB or SD cards without a PC, useful for event photographers or retailers printing images on demand.
Running costs, consumables and support
A key commercial consideration is consumable cost and after-sales support. The EP-879AW uses six independent dye cartridges — each user-replaceable — which helps avoid throwing away unused colour when one runs out. However, dye inks generally cost more per page than high-yield pigment cartridges used in business-class printers, and dye inks can dry out if the device is idle for long periods. If your printing pattern is intermittent, budget for occasional nozzle cleans (which use ink) and consider keeping spare cartridges on hand.
On the support front, Epson’s Japanese pages show that the EP-879 series had repair/parts support timetables (the model was introduced in October 2016 and had defined repair support windows). If you are purchasing used or refurb units, check local parts/support availability and whether Epson still provides consumables and firmware updates in your region.
Business use cases — who should consider an EP-879AW
The EP-879AW works best in organisations with mixed needs: visual quality plus occasional document workflows. Typical fits include:
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Small creative studios and print-on-demand boutiques: Produce proofs, small runs of photo prints, invitations, cards and retail signage without outsourcing. The six-colour ink and borderless printing let these shops punch above their weight.
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Photography freelancers / event photographers: Good for on-site proof printing and quick client prints where mobility is not critical. The printer’s network features also allow quick printing from laptops or SD cards.
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Small offices that value presentation: Marketing teams or small businesses needing crisp, colourful brochures, proposals and one-off posters can use the EP-879AW for internal production and rapid iteration.
Where it is not ideal:
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High-volume transactional printing (invoicing, internal reports at scale). For that, monochrome or color laser printers with lower per-page cost are better.
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Large-scale digitization projects that require an ADF and high-speed duplex scanning. Choose a document scanner or a business MFP for that workload.
Pros & cons — a practical summary
Pros
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Excellent photo quality from a six-colour dye inkset; great for borderless photo printing and small creative jobs.
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Flexible connectivity: Ethernet + Wi-Fi + Wi-Fi Direct + mobile printing support.
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Automatic duplex printing and broad media support (thick stock via rear feed).
Cons
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Dye inks have a higher running cost per page than many business pigments; risk of nozzle care cycles if used intermittently.
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Not optimized for high print volumes or heavy multi-page scanning (no built-in ADF on many SKUs).
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Model is several years old — check regional support and parts availability if buying used/refurbished.
Deployment tips for businesses
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Match the device to the workload. Use EP-879AW where photo/marketing quality matters and volumes are modest. For heavy office printing, centralize a laser or business inkjet instead.
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Keep it active. Regular use (even a few pages a week) keeps nozzles healthy and avoids ink-wasting cleaning cycles.
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Stock spare cartridges. With six independent colours, keeping spares avoids downtime.
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Use the appropriate paper. For photo work, use Epson-recommended photo papers for longevity and colour fidelity.
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Plan for support. If you buy used, verify local repair shops and consumable availability — Epson’s support windows vary by region.
Final verdict
The Epson EP-879AW remains a capable mixed-use MFP for small businesses that need strong photographic output and flexible media handling, combined with modern connectivity. It’s not the right choice for heavy transactional printing or high-volume scanning, but for photographers, creative micro-studios and marketing teams that need professional-looking prints without outsourcing, it offers strong value — provided you plan for ink costs and verify support in your market. For buyers who prize print quality and media versatility in a single consumer-class MFP, the EP-879AW was (and in many places still is) a thoughtful choice.
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