This article first appeared in Print in the Channel magazine issue #36.
HP held its annual Imagine event recently, which focused on an AI-powered future for the work of work and included the unveiling of a raft of innovations designed to shape the future of work, including for printers.
At HP Imagine 2026, held in the bright lights of Las Vegas recently, the focus was on the future of work. That future, according to HP, will increasingly be powered by AI across the spectrum.
But HP were careful to point out that the increasing use of AI is not about making things more complex, but simpler, with a focus on AI helping employees to be more efficient and spend more time on value added tasks, rather than monotonous input tasks.
A key part of this will be printers. As HP noted, with 78% of SMBs struggling with printer management and 54% of organisations push for faster digitisation, more must be done to help businesses to remove these barriers and achieve their potential.
To this end, HP announced the launch of the new HP LaserJet Pro 4000/4100 Series and HP LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 Series, which are designed to help businesses bridge paper and digital workflows, strengthen security, simplify printer management and support hybrid teams. They offer 50% faster document processing, enhanced security and AI-powered tools designed for hybrid work.
“Organisations are under pressure to digitise how work gets done while keeping their environments secure,” says Anneliese Olson, president of imaging, printing and solutions at HP Inc. “With our new LaserJet portfolio, we’re advancing secure, AI-powered printing to better connect the physical and digital sides of work, make document management easier, and give teams the reliable tools they need to stay productive.”
Performance with savings
As mentioned, SMBs face rising pressure to update printing and document management. HP’s report highlights the urgency: 78% of SMBs struggle to manage hardware and supplies, 80% plan to adopt or expand print-related software to streamline operations, and 70% expect to shift IT budgets toward AI by 2027, which shows that there is strong demand for more automated solutions.
The HP LaserJet Pro 4000/4100 Series has been designed to cater for this need. It delivers professional-quality monochrome printing in a compact design built for small teams. Designed for SMBs with limited IT support, it is simple to set up, cost-efficient to run, easy to manage, and built with security features to help protect against evolving threats, whether teams are working in the office or remotely.
The HP LaserJet Pro 4000/4100 Series is HP’s most productive monochrome printer in the SMB Laser portfolio. It offers the fastest automatic two-sided printing in its class, smooth setup and Wi Fi 6 with self reset for reliable connectivity. SMBs also benefit from up to 25% lower ongoing print costs than the previous generation through HP’s most efficient TerraJet Toner technology ever and backed by a three-year warranty.
Security and sustainability
For many businesses security and sustainability are two of their biggest priorities, which again HP has catered to.
HP claims that the HP LaserJet Pro 4000/4100 Series is the world’s first SMB printer with quantum-resistant protection, plus tamper resistant toner chips, firmware and packaging. HP also offers streamlined security compliance and device management across the entire printer fleet with optional HP Security Manager.
Meanwhile the Next-generation TerraJet Toner is engineered for low-energy printing and enables 11% more pages using less toner in a smaller cartridge. Likewise, it has an energy efficient design with EPEAT Gold, ENERGY STAR® and Blue Angel certification, which go towards helping organisations meet their sustainability goals.
Smart workflow solutions
HP’s new printers also have a smart print hub that simplifies setup and printer management, reducing the number of steps and making ongoing management easier without a dedicated IT team.
In addition, HP AI helps to optimise document formatting, enhance quality and automate naming and sharing – eliminating manual rework and therefore accelerating workflows – something that can make an appreciable difference in a small business.
HP LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000
At HP Imagine, HP also launched the HP LaserJet Enterprie 5000/6000 series, which is aimed at managed SMBs, self managed enterprises and public sector organisations.
Again, HP pointed to its research, which found that 47% of organisations are increasing investment in modernising print infrastructure to support evolving IT strategies and hybrid work. At the same time, digitisation is accelerating, with 54% reporting faster plans to move toward digital workflows.
Meanwhile, complex and distributed print environments are introducing new security risks, with experts predicting a 34% likelihood of quantum computer attacks by 2034.
The new HP LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 Series is built for large teams that rely on fast printing and dependable document digitisation. With the advanced HP AI capabilities, world class security, and high speed performance, HP bills it as the ultimate A4 enterprise monochrome printer for busy office environments.
The HP LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 offers high-performance productivity, with automatic two-sided scanning up to 200ipm and print speeds up to 57ppm. HP FutureSmart firmware helps keep printer fleets up to date and optional HP Smart Device Services can monitor devices and help resolve issues before they disrupt work. Additionally, 90% of the printer’s serviceable parts can be replaced in under eight minutes.
Again, security is to the fore and the LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 Series is Quantum-resistant and powered by HP Wolf Enterprise Security with up to 80% lower risk in cyberattack exposure.
Sustainability has also been a priority, as seen in the energy efficient design with EPEAT Gold, ENERGY STAR® and Blue Angel certifications.
Next-generation Monochrome TerraJet Toner is designed for energy efficiency and contains 30% recycled plastic content supporting circular design and reducing reliance on new materials.
Increased speed with AI
Meanwhile, teams can achieve faster document processing with HP Scan AI Enhanced and Editable OCR, which means large stacks of paperwork can be turned into searchable, editable files in seconds – cutting manual processing time by up to 50%.
In addition, Automated Guided Redaction detects and removes sensitive information, such as personal data or financial details, helping organisations support compliance requirements without adding extra review steps for IT.
Access to HP for Microsoft 365 Copilot through an HP Workpath app subscription installs Copilot’s AI tools directly on HP MFP control panels, helping employees summarise, name, translate and organise document files in cloud drives.
Pricing and availability
The HP LaserJet Pro 4000/4100 Series is expected to be available in May, while the HP LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 Series is available for contract-based sales now, with broader purchase availability in June. Pricing details will be available closer to availability.
