Comparison Between Ink Cartridge and Toner Cartridge
The word “Ink and Toner” may pop up in your mind about printers. But how do ink and toner cartridges work?
Understanding what ink and toner cartridges is will help you choose which ink or toner works for your printer and which is better. In this guide, you will learn the functions, advantages, and disadvantages of these two.
Both ink and toner cartridges are made to use in printing papers and photos, although they function in different ways, and they have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
And when it comes to purchasing a printer cartridge, the first thing that comes to your mind is how much the ink or toner will cost to use regularly.
The ink cartridges prices may appear cheaper and affordable when comparing to toner cartridge prices. Ink cartridges are small and easy to replace, making them easier to refill. They are, however, not as long-lasting. On the other hand, the toner cartridge is more expensive than the ink cartridge, and on a per-page basis, the answer usually is “yes”. Toner is way expensive but generates more pages giving it a better overall value.
What is Ink Cartridge?
Ink cartridge is commonly used in Inkjet printers and contains liquid ink. An ink cartridge’s ink can be either dye-based or pigment-based. It has a shelf life of around two years if it is not opened and stored correctly and is usually available in two-yield versions, meaning there’s a standard yield and high-yield ink that can print way more pages. Also, some cartridges have yields like jumbo, super high yield, and extra high yield cartridges. A standard ink cartridge can print around 220 pages with 11 ml of ink. A high yield cartridge with 16 ml ink produces 350 pages on average.
Small home offices and photographers who print a small volume of pages prefer to use inkjet printers that use ink cartridges.
Most printers use ink cartridges, which typically come in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. However, certain printers may require extra cartridges such as photo black or light magenta, and some printers only require two ink cartridges, one black, and one tri-color.
Canon Pixma MX512 printer, for example, uses the high yield Canon PG-240XL black and Canon CL-241XL tri-color, and standard yield Canon PG-240 black and CL-241 tri-color ink cartridges. The printer that requires four cartridges is HP DeskJet 3522, and it takes HP 564XL black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges. Also, a printer that uses five cartridges is HP PhotoSmart 5524, which uses HP 564XL black, photo black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges.
PROS
- Ink cartridge is way cheaper
- It has smaller storage
- Easy to replace
- It does not smear easily
- A solid choice for a small volume of prints but high-quality photos
CONS
- The ink cartridge has smaller storage and can probably prints fewer in the long run
- If the cartridge remains unused, it can clog easier
- Short shelf life
- Ink cartridges expire
- Slower when it comes to speed of printing compared to laser one.
- Run out more quickly
What is Toner Cartridge?
A Toner cartridge is commonly used in laser printers containing toner materials in forms such as dry particles, carbon, and fine powders use to imprint images on the printing paper. It has a shelf life of around two years if it is not opened and stored correctly. As toner cartridges are in powder form, they do not dry up even if the printer sits idle for a long time. On average, the toner cartridges can print 2,500–4,000 pages for standard cartridges, and high-capacity toner cartridges provide a page yield of 10,000–12,000. HP LaserJet Pro M404dw printer, for example, uses the standard HP 58A toner cartridge with an approximate page yield of 3,000 and high yield HP 58X toner cartridge with an approximate page yield of 10,000.
Large offices, schools, and business that requires high volume printing prefer to use laser printers that use toner cartridges.
PROS
- Last longer
- It has a bigger size and bigger storage
- Can print way more pages
- Fast printing experience
- Toner cartridges don’t expire
- Due to frequent use, toner does not dry out.
CONS
- Pricier/Higher start-up cost
- Expensive to replace
FAQ
What Is Better Ink Cartridge or Toner Cartridge?
The toner cartridge is way better than the ink cartridge in terms of quality and holds more supplies for your printing needs. Printing with toner is substantially less expensive per page, and the prints come out faster. On the other hand, the ink cartridge is smaller and cheaper, but if you are printing more often, you’ll find toner cartridges more cost-effective.
What Is The Difference Between Original And Compatible Toner Cartridges?
Original Equipment Manufactured cartridges are toner cartridges that are made by the same company that manufactured the printer. Compatible toner cartridges, on the other hand, are produced and filled by third-party companies. Parts used are brand new and are not recycled from OEM toner cartridges. The same procedure applies to compatible ink cartridges. Both provide the same quality of printouts, but the compatibles may surpass the OEM and are sold at a much lower price.
Choosing between ink and toner depends on your printer and how often do you print. One thing you should bear in mind, that toner cartridges are designed for high volume printing while ink cartridges are for low volume. If you are using ink cartridges for high-volume printing, you might spend a lot of money buying a lot of inks with a maximum of 500-page yield only.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any questions. Looking to save money on your printing projects? Check out www.compandsave.com for some great deals on printer ink and accessories! Remember to follow our blog for more interesting printing related tips and guides.
About the Author
Jewel Cortez is a Search Engine Optimization specialist with 3 years of Customer Service Experience in CompAndSave. CompAndSave is a retailer and wholesaler of printing materials based in Union City, California.
Jewel has years of expertise in the ink industry and has extensive knowledge of printers, ink, toner cartridges, and photo papers which may help people gain a better understanding of printers and cartridges.
