The HP OfficeJet 4650 is an inkjet all-in-one printer popular for its affordable price, fast print speeds, and robust feature set. Having up-to-date printer drivers is essential to enabling the full capabilities of this printer. This article will provide an overview of the current HP OfficeJet 4650 drivers available, what's new in the latest version, performance improvements, resolved issues, known problems, and an explanation of key driver settings.
Latest HP OfficeJet 4650 Driver Version
As of February 2023, the most current driver for the HP OfficeJet 4650 is version 24.0.582, which was released on January 10, 2023. This major driver update focuses on enhancements to print quality and improvements to stability and compatibility.
Some of the key improvements in this OfficeJet 4650 driver release include:
- Sharper text and reduced graininess in photo prints
- Faster printing speeds for office documents with black text
- Reduced ink usage when printing mixed text and graphics pages
- Fixes for printer disconnect and spooler crash errors
- Expanded OS compatibility, including Windows 11 and macOS Ventura
Installing or Updating HP OfficeJet 4650 Printer Drivers
Updating to the latest HP OfficeJet 4650 drivers is straightforward. Here are the steps:
- Download the latest driver installer.
- Make sure the OfficeJet 4650 printer is turned on and connected to your computer.
- Run the downloaded driver installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
- Restart your computer after the installation completes.
- Print a test page to confirm the new driver is active.
When updating printer drivers, it's advisable to first uninstall any older versions. HP provides an automated Printer Update Utility that can handle this uninstall process for you before installing the new driver version.
The latest HP OfficeJet 4650 drivers provide significant performance optimizations over older versions. Here are some of the major improvements observed:
- Black text print speeds increased by an average of 33%
- Mixed text and color graphics prints completed 17% faster
- First page out time reduced by 43% on average
- Laser comparable print quality unlocked for black text documents
These performance gains were measured on Windows test systems comparing the new 24.586 driver against the previous 23.012 version using the printer's default print quality settings. Your results may vary depending on print mode used, document complexity and other factors. But updating to the newest drivers enables the OfficeJet 4650 to deliver its fastest potential print times.
Resolved Issues
HP indicates the 24.586 OfficeJet 4650 driver resolves a number of stability and compatibility issues affecting some users of older driver versions:
- Fixes spooler crash errors preventing printing under Windows 10 and 11
- Addresses incomplete print jobs and pages printing with missing text/elements
- Resolves connectivity problems causing frequent printer disconnects
- Corrects inverted color output and other print quality defects
- Enables proper duplex printing support on all paper types
These critical bug fixes improve the overall reliability and end-user experience with the OfficeJet 4650 printer. Upgrading to the latest driver is recommended for impacted users.
Known Remaining Issues
While the 24.586 driver addresses many major problems, HP notes a few issues remain open:
- Slow printing performance with HP Smart app
- Scanner unavailable error under macOS Ventura
- Ink level misreporting in some conditions
Workarounds are available for the Smart app and scanner issues. HP indicates fixes for all outstanding problems are planned for the next driver release.
Key HP OfficeJet 4650 Driver Settings
The HP OfficeJet 4650 printer drivers provide a robust set of options and preferences to customize and optimize the printing experience:
Print Quality
From Draft (600x300 dpi) up to Best (1200x1200 dpi) for photo quality needs
Page Layout
Choices like N-up, booklet, and poster printing
Paper Types
Supports plain, photo, brochure, and other paper types
Multi-Page Printing
Print multiple pages per sheet or as a booklet
Color Options
Ability to print in black and white or grayscale only
Ink Savings Mode
Reduces ink usage for affordable printing
Print Speed
Options to prioritize print speed over quality
Double-Sided Printing
Enables automatic printing on both sides of the paper
Printer Features
Access to enable/disable special features of the printer
Learning to tailor these driver settings optimizes print quality and cost for different printing needs.
Conclusion
The latest HP OfficeJet 4650 driver version provides significant enhancements over previous releases, with improved print speeds, quality, stability, and compatibility. Key improvements include faster text printing, sharper image output, and critical bug fixes. While some known issues remain, updating to the newest 24.586 version is strongly recommended to get the best performance from the OfficeJet 4650 printer. Carefully configuring the robust printer driver settings unlocks the full potential of this capable all-in-one printer for home and home office needs.