HP

Reasons to avoid

1. HP pushed automatic firmware updates to registered printers in 2022 and 2023 that disabled printing when non-HP ink cartridges were installed, while simultaneously raising prices on HP-branded ink. A federal class action lawsuit accused HP of using the update to create a monopoly in the replacement cartridge market.theregister.com2024-04-11
2. HP's All-In Plan subscription charges up to $36 per month and locks customers into contracts with mandatory cancellation fees after a 30-day window — meaning someone who signs up, accepts a printer, and never prints a page still owes money.tomshardware.com2024-03-01
3. HP's HP+ e-series printers required a constant internet connection to HP servers just to print. The program was discontinued in 2024 after consumer backlash and lawsuits, but HP acknowledged existing printers would not be updated to remove the dependency.pcworld.com2024-07-09