Printer Cartridges - Original or Compatible?
As customers, we often think: "How can such a small cartridge be so expensive!?"
And that's exactly the point. Printer manufacturers subsidize the sale of printers and aim to recover the cost through the sale of original cartridges.
Third-party manufacturers of compatible (alternative) ink cartridges don't have to do this and can offer their products at more competitive prices.
We recommend alternative ink cartridges and toner especially when producing documents for internal business use.
For most laser and inkjet printers, in addition to original printer cartridges and toner cartridges, there are also affordable alternatives from third-party manufacturers.
You often read on the internet that compatible cartridges are just as good as the original ones. Most of the time, this information comes from websites of retailers who primarily sell compatible cartridges, as there is more profit in selling these.
In this article, we highlight the key differences.
Original Printer Cartridges
The best printing results, reliable performance, and easiest handling – this is what you can expect from original printer cartridges.
Printer manufacturers know their devices inside out and develop ink and toner cartridges that perfectly match the device in terms of fit and print quality, delivering perfect results throughout the cartridge's lifespan.
Original ink cartridges are expensive, but they are also of very high quality. The only real downside is the high price. The rule here is: "The more expensive the device, the cheaper the cartridges."
More info: Why is original equipment so expensive?
Compatible Printer Cartridges
Compatible cartridges are rebuilt or remanufactured ink cartridges made by third-party manufacturers. Just like the original cartridges, compatible ones undergo strict quality controls during the production process.
However, there are still a number of differences.
Most printer cartridges now include a chip, and these chips cannot be copied 1:1. As a result, the ink or toner level display on compatible cartridges may not function properly.
Printer ink for inkjet printers and toner powder for laser printers consist of a variety of components, the composition of which the printer manufacturers keep secret.
There are now several companies that are very experienced in producing toner and ink. Nonetheless, there are differences in color composition, color accuracy, and, not least, the UV resistance and adhesion of the ink or toner on paper.
More info: Compatible Toner
Pros and Cons
Here is a quick overview of the advantages and disadvantages of original cartridges and alternative cartridges.
Advantages of Original Cartridges:
- Unmatched print quality.
- Optimal handling.
- Generally better UV resistance of prints.
Disadvantages of Original Cartridges:
- Very high price
Advantages of Alternative Cartridges:
- Much lower price
Disadvantages of Alternative Cartridges:
- Handling may be tricky; the printer driver may complain, or depending on the model, the ink level display might not work correctly.
- Print quality is often (depending on the model) not as brilliant as with original cartridges.
Alternative printer cartridges can be a bit trickier to use depending on the model. Sometimes the printer driver will notify you that non-original cartridges are installed (e.g., with some Epson models). In some cases, the ink level display may no longer work correctly. Some manufacturers even release firmware updates that make it impossible to use alternative cartridges.
