Epson EcoTank L7160 Review: Features, Specs, Performance & Business

Introduction & Market Positioning

The Epson EcoTank L7160 (also sold as “EcoTank / ITS L7160” in some regions) is a multifunction inkjet printer with an ink tank (tank-style / refillable) design aimed at blending low running cost, photo printing capability, and general office/document features. In Epson’s product line, it straddles the “photo-hybrid / premium home office” niche: providing high resolution and borderless printing, while still offering features like duplex printing, scanning, copying, and network connectivity.

Because it uses the EcoTank model (refillable ink tanks rather than cartridges), its total cost of ownership can be compelling for users who print frequently or produce many photo prints — if the hardware reliability holds up. Let’s explore what it offers in detail.

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Technical Specifications & Features

Below are the core features and specs of the L7160, based on Epson’s official pages, reseller listings, and the user manual.
(Epson Europe specs, etc.)

Print / Output Specifications

• Print technology: Epson Micro Piezo print head (inkjet, drop‐on-demand) 

• Nozzle configuration: 360 nozzles (black), 180 nozzles per color (cyan, magenta, yellow) 

• Minimum droplet size: 1.5 picoliters (variable sized droplet) 

• Printing resolution: Up to 5,760 × 1,440 dpi 

• Ink type: Pigment black ink + dye colour inks (i.e. black is pigment, colours are dye) 

• Print speeds (ISO / IEC 24734):
   • Monochrome: ~13 pages per minute 
   • Colour: ~10 pages per minute 

• Max “plain paper / speed mode” rate: Up to 32 ppm (mono) and 32 ppm (colour) claimed in some marketing blurbs (on plain paper) 

• First page / photo speed: ~20 seconds for 10 × 15 cm photo prints (on Epson Premium Glossy / photo paper) 

• Duplex / two-sided printing: Automatic A4 duplex (for plain paper) 

• Borderless printing: Yes — supports borderless at photo and document sizes depending on media size. 

Scanning & Copying

• Scanner type: Contact Image Sensor (CIS) flatbed scanner 

• Optical resolution: Up to 1,200 × 2,400 dpi (horizontal × vertical) 

• Scan speed (300 dpi):
   • Black: ~0.8 msec/line 
   • Colour: ~2.2 msec/line 

• Copy features: Copying is supported, with functions like reduce/enlarge, red-eye removal, etc. (via the user manual)

Paper / Media Handling

• Paper trays: Dual input trays in many designs, or multi-tray support. 

• Input capacity:
   • Standard: 100 sheets (plain) in main tray; 20 photo sheets capacity for photo media (according to Epson South Africa spec) 

• Output capacity: ~50 sheets 

• Supported media sizes / types:
   A4, A5, A6, B5, envelopes (C6, DL, No. 10), 10×15 cm (4×6"), 13×18 cm, etc. 

• Media weight / paper thickness: 64 g/m² – 300 g/m² (plain to heavier stock) 

• Duplex paper handling weight range: for duplex use on plain paper (within standard weight range) 

• Print margin / borderless margins: 0 mm margins possible (for borderless regions) or minimal margins per media spec. 

Connectivity & Interfaces

• Interfaces: WiFi, Ethernet (wired network), USB, WiFi Direct, and USB host. 

• Wireless / network features:
   Supports Epson Connect suite (iPrint, Email Print, Remote Print, etc.), Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print (in supported regions), Wireless PictBridge, direct photo printing from memory cards / USB. 

• Security / WLAN encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2 etc. capability for wireless encryption. 

Physical / Power / General

• Dimensions: 425 × 359 × 161 mm (W × D × H) 

• Weight: ~8 kg

• Power consumption:
   • Standalone copying / ISO pattern: ~16 W 
   • Ready / idle: ~4.2 W 
   • Sleep mode: ~1 W 
   • Off: ~0.2 W 

• Noise levels: ~5 B (A) or 37 dB in photo / RPM mode (with premium photo paper) 

• Discontinued status: The L7160 is marked as a discontinued model in some Epson sites. 

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Real-World Performance & Experience

With specs in hand, how does the L7160 behave in actual usage?

Print & Photo Quality

For photo printing, this printer is strong. The 5,760 × 1,440 dpi resolution and use of dye inks for color (combined with a pigment black) allow richly saturated, vibrant prints with deep blacks (thanks to the pigment black) and smooth color gradients. Users cite that it is especially suited to printing albums, event photo sets, and borderless photo work. 

Because it supports borderless printing and can handle many photo sizes, it serves well in photo studios or enthusiast workflows. The reviewer on Misha Levin’s blog noted that the L7160 allowed her to bring photo printing in-house, producing high quality 4×6, 5×7 and larger results.

Speed & Throughput

Under ISO standards, 13 ppm in monochrome and 10 ppm in color are modest but reasonable for a photo-hybrid device. For many business document tasks, it can keep pace with casual office demand. For heavier document printing you’d notice slower throughput than a dedicated office laser or business inkjet. 

On plain paper in draft or fast mode, Epson claims up to ~32 ppm speeds (mono or colour) in some marketing materials for non-ISO optimized modes. However, real performance will vary with the complexity of the print, coverage, and media type. 

The first photo print in ~20 seconds is competitive for event photography workflows. That means if a client wants a preview proof, you can deliver quickly.

Duplex printing is supported — though duplex pages in two-sided mode are slower than simplex and may reduce throughput. Still, automatic duplex is a valuable feature in office printing. 

Scanning & Copying

The CIS scanner is adequate for document and photo scanning, providing 1,200 × 2,400 dpi optical resolution. For typical office use (contracts, forms, image scanning) performance is acceptable. The scan speeds reported (0.8 msec/line for black, 2.2 msec/line for color) are moderate — able to handle standard scan jobs without undue delay.

Copying works through the same engine; quality is good for documents and photo reproductions. For multi-page copying heavy workflow, speed may limit throughput relative to business MFPs.

Connectivity & Workflow

One of the strengths of the L7160 is its wireless and network support. You can print over Ethernet, WiFi, or WiFi Direct. Mobile printing via Epson’s ecosystem (iPrint, Cloud Print, Email Print) allows convenient print from smartphones or tablets. The printer also supports direct photo printing from memory cards / USB, which is useful in photo kiosk or event setups. 

For business use, these connectivity options reduce friction in mixed device environments. No need for cables in small offices or photo studios.

Cost & Consumables

Because this is an EcoTank model, ink is delivered via refillable tanks, not cartridges. That means lower cost per page for high-volume users, and less waste. The printer is often marketed as offering very low running costs for documents and photo prints.

However, some caveats: if you print infrequently, inkheads may clog, and cleaning cycles will consume ink. Color ink is dye-based and can fade over time under strong light (versus pigment-based alternatives for archival). Also, since L7160 is discontinued (on some Epson sites), future ink / parts supply may be an issue.

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Business & Professional Use Cases

Given its mix of document features and photo strengths, the L7160 is best suited for certain types of businesses:

Photo studios & event photographers: Its ability to print high-quality, fast borderless photos in various sizes makes it useful for in-house printing of client proofs or event prints. The direct card printing and wireless workflows are big advantages in these settings.

Creative agencies / design shops: For producing internal color proofs, promotional postcards, or visual mockups, the L7160 gives good visual fidelity while handling document tasks too.

Print-on-demand small shops / boutiques: Small local print shops, gift shops or boutiques may use it to produce photo cards, invitations, brochures and similar materials without large press runs. The EcoTank model helps keep costs manageable on moderate print runs.

Home + office hybrid users: If someone needs both good photo printing and document MFP capabilities and prints at a moderate rate, the L7160 is a compelling all-in-one.

But it is less suited for: high-volume document printing (many hundreds/tens of thousands of pages monthly), heavy scanning / document archiving workflows, or environments that demand extreme color stability or archival pigment output.

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Strengths & Weaknesses (Summary)

Strengths

• High-resolution print (5,760 × 1,440 dpi) and borderless photo capability make it strong for photo work.

• Refillable EcoTank ink system reduces the cost per page and waste vs cartridges.

• Duplex printing and full multifunction (print / scan / copy) gives flexibility.

• Good connectivity: Ethernet, WiFi, WiFi Direct, direct printing from cards/USB.

• Decent performance for both office and creative tasks in moderate-use environments.

• Supports multiple sizes including standard documents and photo formats.

Weaknesses

• Relatively heavy and bulky (~8 kg) — not ideal for tight desktop footprint or mobile setups. 

• Being discontinued raises concerns about long-term parts / ink supply.

• Duplex printing and color prints are slower than simplex or monochrome prints.

• Dye inks (for color) are less durable over time (fading) compared to pigment solutions.

• In very high-volume document environments, a office-class color laser or business inkjet will likely outperform on speed and cost.

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Deployment Tips & Best Practices

If you use or plan to deploy the L7160, here are practical suggestions to maximize usefulness and longevity:

1. Use it regularly. Frequent use helps prevent nozzle clogs, especially in dye-based color channels.

2. Keep original ink bottles. Because this model uses refillable tanks, using genuine Epson bottles helps maintain reliability and print quality.

3. Calibrate and profile displays / printer. For creative or color-sensitive tasks, use colorimeter profiling to ensure printed colors match screen expectations.

4. Provide ventilation / avoid overheating. With heavy print jobs, ensure good airflow around the machine (it’s quite large and can get warm).

5. Stock spare parts / maintenance kits. Given its discontinued status, having spare ink tanks, maintenance kits, or parts may guard against future downtime.

6. Use duplex / efficient printing for document work. For everyday office tasks, enable duplex and draft modes where acceptable to reduce ink use.

7. Network & user management: Use networked printing, user quotas or job accounting if multiple users share the device to manage ink usage.

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Integration into Workflows & Business Value

When integrated smartly, the L7160 can bridge photo and document workflows:

• In a studio, pair it with a standard office MFP: use L7160 for proofs, photos and visual materials, while MS Office / bulk document print jobs flow through a more efficient document printer.

• In marketing or design contexts, it can serve as a proofing / mockup device close to designer desks.

• In small businesses that also handle photography (e.g. real estate, event planners, boutiques), it reduces reliance on external print services and speeds delivery to clients.

• For documentation and archival workflows, scans from L7160 may feed into digital systems; however, for large scanning loads you'd still want a dedicated document scanner.

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Conclusion & Recommendation

The Epson EcoTank L7160 is a compelling hybrid: a multifunction device with serious photo credentials and lower long-term ink costs thanks to EcoTank design. Its strengths lie in moderate-volume workflows, photo printing, and creative/office mix usage. The main caveats are its size, the slower speeds for high-volume jobs, and the risk that parts / supplies may become less available over time (given its “discontinued” status in some Epson catalogs).

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For users or small businesses actively printing photos, proofs, invitations or creative output, the L7160 remains a strong option — provided you use it regularly, manage parts, and perhaps pair it with a faster office-oriented printer for volume work.