Epson ET-2810 vs ET-2850: Which Is Better for Sublimation?
If you're looking to get started with sublimation printing, chances are you've already narrowed your search down to two printers: the Epson EcoTank ET-2810 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2850. They look almost identical, they share the same ink tank system, and they sit close together in price. So what actually separates them, and does it matter when you're using them for sublimation?
These are two of the most popular printers for sublimation conversion in the UK, and for good reason. They're affordable, reliable, and use a refillable ink tank system that makes switching to sublimation ink straightforward. But the differences between them, while relatively small on paper, can make a real difference depending on how you plan to use your printer. Let's break it all down so you can make the right choice.
What the ET-2810 and ET-2850 Have in Common
Before getting into what separates these two models, it helps to understand just how much they share. At their core, they are built on the same platform. Both use Epson's piezoelectric print head technology, which is the reason they work so well for sublimation in the first place. Unlike thermal print heads found in some other brands, piezoelectric heads use electrical pulses rather than heat to push ink through the nozzles, which means they handle sublimation ink without the clogging issues you might encounter elsewhere.
Both printers are 4-colour CMYK systems with a maximum print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi. That resolution is more than sufficient for vibrant, sharp sublimation transfers, whether you're printing onto mugs, phone cases, t-shirts, or any other polyester-coated substrate. They both max out at A4 paper size, which covers the vast majority of hobbyist and small business sublimation work. And they both feature the EcoTank refillable ink system with a front-loading 100-sheet paper tray.
The print quality you get from either printer, when loaded with the same sublimation ink, is identical. This is the single most important point in this entire comparison. The ET-2850 does not produce better prints than the ET-2810. The resolution is the same, the print head is the same, and the colour output is the same. If print quality is your primary concern, you can stop worrying, because both deliver excellent results.
Where the ET-2810 and ET-2850 Differ
The differences between these two printers come down to convenience features rather than print performance. Here is a straightforward look at what sets them apart.
Display Screen
The ET-2810 has a small 1.44-inch monochrome LCD screen. It does the job, but it's basic. You can see enough to scroll through simple menus, but reading error messages or checking settings can feel a bit fiddly. The ET-2850, on the other hand, has a 3.7cm colour LCD screen that makes everything considerably easier to read. You can check ink levels at a glance, see Wi-Fi connection status clearly, and read error messages without having to cross-reference blinking light patterns with the user manual.
For sublimation specifically, the colour screen is genuinely useful during initial setup and whenever you need to run a nozzle check or head cleaning cycle. It removes a layer of guesswork that can be frustrating when you're new to the process.
Connectivity
Both printers offer USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can print from a computer either way. The ET-2850 adds Wi-Fi Direct to the mix, which lets you connect a device directly to the printer without needing a wireless router in between. This is a handy feature if you're working in a workshop, craft room, or market stall where you might not have a traditional Wi-Fi network set up. You can send a print straight from your phone or tablet without any extra infrastructure.
The ET-2810 lacks Wi-Fi Direct, so you'll always need either a USB cable connection or an existing Wi-Fi network to print. For most home users working from a desk with a laptop, this is perfectly fine. But if you like the flexibility of printing from a mobile device without faffing about with routers, the ET-2850 has the edge.
Auto-Duplex Printing
The ET-2850 supports automatic duplex printing, which means it can print on both sides of a sheet of paper without you having to manually flip it over. The ET-2810 does not have this feature.
Now, here is the honest truth: auto-duplex is completely irrelevant for sublimation. When you print a sublimation transfer, you only ever print on one side of the sublimation paper. There is no scenario where you would need or want to print on both sides. So if sublimation is your sole reason for buying this printer, do not let auto-duplex influence your decision. It simply does not apply.
That said, if you plan to use the printer for regular document printing as well, perhaps invoices, shipping labels, or general household printing, auto-duplex is a genuinely useful feature that saves paper and time.
Borderless Printing
The ET-2850 supports borderless printing up to A4, while the ET-2810 does not. This one is actually worth paying attention to if you do sublimation work. Borderless printing means the ink coverage extends right to the very edge of the paper, leaving no white margins.
For sublimation, this can be useful when you want to maximise the printable area on a sheet of A4 sublimation paper. If you're printing a design that needs to cover an entire A4 area, say for a large mouse mat, a cushion cover panel, or a full-coverage garment print, borderless printing lets you use every millimetre of that sheet. With the ET-2810, you will always have a small margin around the edges, which means either slightly smaller prints or a bit of wasted paper if you trim the margins off.
For smaller items like mugs, coasters, and phone cases, borderless printing is less of an issue because your design will sit well within the printable area anyway. But for anyone regularly doing larger format sublimation work at A4 size, it is a nice feature to have.
Print Speed
Both printers are rated at 10.5 pages per minute for mono printing and 5.0 pages per minute for colour. In practical terms, there is no meaningful speed difference between them. Sublimation prints tend to be slow regardless, because you typically print at the highest quality setting to get the best colour density and sharpness. At those settings, both printers take roughly the same time per page. Speed should not be a factor in your decision.
Price
The ET-2810 typically retails at around £180 to £200, while the ET-2850 sits at roughly £220 to £250. The price gap between them is usually somewhere in the range of £30 to £50, depending on where you buy and whether any promotions are running. It is not a massive difference, but it is enough to matter if you are watching your budget carefully.
Who Should Buy the Epson ET-2810?
The ET-2810 is the right choice for anyone who wants to get into sublimation without spending more than they need to. If you are a complete beginner who wants to try sublimation printing and see whether it is something you enjoy before committing a larger sum, the ET-2810 gives you everything you need at a lower entry price. The print quality is identical to the ET-2850, and that is what matters most.
It is also a solid pick for home hobbyists who plan to do occasional projects rather than high-volume work. If you're making personalised mugs for friends and family, printing the odd t-shirt transfer, or creating custom gifts for birthdays and Christmas, the ET-2810 will serve you well. You do not need a colour screen or Wi-Fi Direct for that kind of use.
If you always print from a laptop or desktop computer, the basic screen and standard Wi-Fi or USB connectivity will be perfectly adequate. Many sublimation users print exclusively from a computer using design software like Canva, Photoshop, or CorelDRAW, and in that workflow the printer screen barely gets used after the initial setup.
The ET-2810 is proof that you do not need to spend a fortune to get started with sublimation. It produces professional-quality transfers at a price that makes the hobby accessible to almost anyone.
Who Should Buy the Epson ET-2850?
The ET-2850 is the better option if you are setting up for regular sublimation work, particularly if you are running a small business or planning to. The colour LCD screen makes day-to-day operation smoother, and when you are printing multiple orders per day, those small quality-of-life improvements add up. Being able to see at a glance that your ink levels are fine and your Wi-Fi is connected, without squinting at a tiny mono screen, just makes the whole experience more pleasant.
Workshop and craft room setups benefit from Wi-Fi Direct. If your printing station is in a shed, garage, or spare room that does not have great Wi-Fi coverage, being able to connect your phone or tablet directly to the printer removes a common headache. You can design something on your iPad, send it straight to the printer, and get on with pressing it, all without needing your home router involved.
If you plan to use the printer for both sublimation and regular document printing, the ET-2850 makes even more sense. Auto-duplex saves paper when printing invoices, packing slips, or anything else that benefits from double-sided output. And borderless printing gives you more flexibility with your sublimation work, especially at A4 size.
For anyone who sees sublimation as more than a passing hobby, the ET-2850 represents a modest upgrade that pays for itself in convenience over time.
So Which One Should You Choose?
The honest answer is that both of these printers are excellent choices for sublimation, and neither is a wrong decision. The print quality is identical. The ink system is identical. The fundamental technology that makes them good sublimation printers is identical. You are choosing between convenience features, not print performance.
If sublimation is your only intended use and you want to keep costs down, go with the Epson ET-2810 Starter Bundle. You will get the same beautiful, vibrant prints as the ET-2850, and you will have a bit more money left over for sublimation paper, blanks, and other supplies. The savings might seem small, but when you are building up a starter kit with ink, paper, heat tape, and blanks, every pound counts.
If you want the extra convenience features and you plan to use the printer regularly, especially for a small business, the Epson ET-2850 Starter Bundle is worth the additional investment. The colour screen, Wi-Fi Direct, and borderless printing are genuine upgrades that make your workflow a little smoother. And if you also do any regular document printing, auto-duplex is a welcome bonus.
Do not overthink this decision. Both printers will produce stunning sublimation transfers that look professional and hold up brilliantly after washing. The ET-2810 is the budget-smart choice. The ET-2850 is the convenience choice. Neither will let you down.
Getting Started with a Pre-Converted Printer
One thing worth knowing is that both of these printers need to be converted before they can be used for sublimation. Out of the box, they come loaded with standard Epson ink, which is not sublimation ink and will not work for heat transfer printing. The conversion process involves flushing the standard ink out of the system and replacing it with sublimation ink, which can be time-consuming and a bit daunting if you have never done it before.
Sublishop sells both the ET-2810 and ET-2850 as pre-converted starter bundles with sublimation ink already installed. That means you can take it out of the box, load your sublimation paper, and start printing straight away. There is no flushing, no priming, no waiting for ink to cycle through the lines. Everything is ready to go. For beginners especially, this takes a lot of the stress and uncertainty out of getting started.
Whether you choose the ET-2810 or the ET-2850, the most important thing is to get printing. Sublimation is one of those crafts where hands-on experience teaches you far more than any amount of research. Pick the printer that fits your budget and your plans, and start creating.