When you are going to choose your new printer, it is especially important to consider the price of ink cartridges. Before deciding between toner or inkjet and setting your sights on the brand that best meets your needs.
So you can start with our guideline. It will allow you to better understand the wide choice of devices available to you as well as the many technical terms used to describe them. First of all you have to do some questions to yourself. Such as:
- What Kinds of Printers and Cartridges Perform the Best?
- Which cartridges are the cheapest?
- Should I buy a toner or inkjet printer?
- What quality can we expect from compatible ink cartridges?
If you’ve been asking yourself all of these questions, hope so, you’ll find the answers here along with a helpful ink cartridge review.
What are the differences between toner and ink cartridges
The main difference between them are inkjet printers use liquid ink cartridges while laser printers use toner i.e. powder ink. The goal is the same, but the method is different.
What is an ink cartridge
An airtight ink tank pierced with small nozzles from which the print heads draw the drops of ink needed to print a document is called a cartridge. The ink-saturated printheads then move across the paper to create the required characters or images.
What yield for an ink cartridge
In addition to the price of a printer ink cartridge you have to see information about its yield. In other words, the number of pages you can expect to print before having to buy a new ink cartridge or ink cartridge refill like the ones offered. For example, buy the HP brand. This information is verified by the ISO ( International Organization for Standardization ).
As you would expect, the cheaper ink cartridges very often provide the lowest yield.
What is printer toner
The substance that laser printers use to trace characters or images using mini electric shocks before heating and melting them by using thermal rollers to fix the print. The toner takes on the appearance of a fine dry powder contained in a larger cartridge.
What is the yield of a toner cartridge
The yield indicated by the manufacturer is a way to put the price of a color or black and white laser printer cartridge into perspective as with ink cartridges. All toner cartridges are subject to ISO 19752 conformance testing and higher yield will indicate better profitability in the long run.
Toner or ink cartridge: what to choose
Now that you have understood the main difference between ink and toner cartridges, you are probably wondering which printer to choose based on the price of the cartridges.
Remember to take into account other information provided by manufacturers:
- print speed
- image quality
- additional features such as double-sided printing.
We have established a comparison of the two types of printers which takes into account the price of ink cartridges as well as other advantages and disadvantages. As you can see,
- The price of printing varies a lot depending on how you use your printer. If you print more than 2,000 pages per year, it is better that a laser printer which using toner cartridges will be more economical, faster, in short more suitable for your business needs.
- On the other hand, if you prefer to print in color and appreciate image quality, an inkjet cartridge printer will be more likely to satisfy you.
- If you are really looking for a cheap solution, maybe you should consider a device that has cartridges and also that can be refilled. For example, with Epson EcoTank printers, whose cartridges can be refilled by the user. In addition to being less expensive in the long run, this solution provides obvious ecological advantages.
Ink or toner: Which is the cheapest option
The yield and cost of cartridges remains the main consideration while purchasing of a printer. However, there is another way to further reduce the cost of printing.
Where can I find the cheapest printer cartridges
In according to answer this question, we give our opinion on,
compatible, generic ink cartridges and compare them to the manufacturer’s cartridges here.
- Manufacturer’s cartridges
The highest-priced ink cartridge branded by your printer’s manufacturer. According to HP, Canon, Lexmark, Epson and many others, this is the only type of cartridge that guarantees good print quality and can good takes care of your device.
Best option depending on the price.
Advantages – quality guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Disadvantage – more expensive than generic, remanufactured or refill cartridges.
- Compatible cartridge
An ink cartridge similar to the one mentioned above. But which is not made by the manufacturer of your printer. The best compatible cartridges are certified to ISO 9001 standards and therefore remember to check the label.
Advantage – The price of a compatible ink cartridge can be significantly lower than the price of the manufacturer’s cartridges.
Disadvantage – Opinions are divided on the print quality obtained with compatible cartridges.
- Refurbished cartridge
This more ecological solution is also more economical. Emptied, cleaned, repaired if necessary, then refilled and put back into circulation, reconditioned ink cartridges receive generally favorable opinions.
Advantages – Less expensive than new cartridges.
Disadvantage – The quality of the ink may vary depending on the supplier. The best method is to test for compatible or remanufactured ink.
How do I determine which printer uses the cheapest cartridges
Fortunately, the price of printers has come down a lot in recent years. Unfortunately, it’s the price of cartridges that drives the bill up.
- If you work from home or print mostly pictures or photos, consider an inkjet printer.
- For larger print runs, faster printing and an economical system, choose a laser printer.
- You can make big savings by buying ink cartridges for HP, Canon, Epson or other printers in multi packs (black or color) or in large format.
- Finally, See the JPG catalog for more information. If you have already purchased your printer, simply type in the make and model of your device and the site will suggest the correct cartridges for you.
How long can my cartridges last
Cartridge yields vary depending on the device, how you use it and the type of documents you print.
It is known that toner cartridges last much longer than ink cartridges.
There is also a difference between the yield of manufacturers’ cartridges and remanufactured or generic cartridges.
Finally, handle your cartridges with care. Avoid exposing them to light or heat and they will likely last longer.
How long can I keep a cartridge in its unopened packaging
The fresher the ink, the more quality printing will be obtained.
It is the exposure to air and heat that dries up the ink.
However, a cartridge can be stored in its packaging for up to 5 years (less for refurbished cartridges).
Toner keeps forever as long as it is protected from moisture.
Which ink for my printer
It depends on your printer model and how you use it.
- Are you looking for quality, quantity or speed of printing?
- What is your budget ?
Check out the comparison above to decide what type of printer you need before you start looking for the best models.
What is your opinion on remanufactured ink cartridges
Although these are already in use, they go through the same rigorous quality tests as other ink cartridges. They are also more ecological and on average between 10 and 20% less expensive than new cartridges.
What is your opinion on compatible cartridges and toner
Maybe the print quality is not the same. However, one can expect quite decent results from compatible ink and toner cartridges. As these are not manufactured and sold by the big brands, they are especially much cheaper and often more environment friendly than the cartridges of the manufacturer.
Hope so, you will understand, there are many factors you will need to consider in trying to reduce your printing costs without compromising on quality or performance. Carefully consider the pros and cons of each system, view the prices on the JPG catalog, and invest in the device that will best suit your needs and your budget.