Original Vs Compatible Ink Cartridges – Which Is Better?

One of the most common questions about buying ink cartridges is "are compatible ink cartridges as good as original ones?"

Well below is a guide to understanding the main differences and how your needs may effect on whether you should be looking at original or compatible ink.

How much printing do you do?

If you will be printing large numbers of documents and other files then compatibles make good financial sense.

Compatibles are cheaper than originals in nearly all circumstances so you will see price saving immediately and by quite a margin. However you should check that you are getting good quality compatible ink cartridges.

As long as you are printing at least once a week then compatibles will serve you well without problem. To keep your printer in tiptop condition you should every few months or so swap for an original cartridge. This may seem like a foolish idea when you are saving money, but an original cartridge will help clean your print head and keep your machine working optimally.

If you only use your printer sporadically, say every few weeks or months and it can be sat without use for long periods, then you should look at original inks. If left for a long time ink can dry out in the cartridge and on the print head causing damage. Original ink usually has extra chemicals and agents to prevent this from happening. As you are likely to have to buy a new compatible cartridge if this happens any cost saving you achieved is immediately lost.

What will you be printing?

If the majority of your printing is going be text then compatibles should be your cartridge of choice. Compatibles have no problem recreating text unless of the very highest quality and resolution.

If most of your work in done with images then you will find the best results come from original ink. That's not to say you can't get good results with compatibles you are just more likely to achieve the best quality work with originals. This is especially so when combining manufacturer products e.g. HP Photo paper, printed on with HP printer ink. Speaking of paper, this can greatly affect the quality of your printouts. So if your compatible cartridge prints are looking a little rough maybe you could upgrade your paper to achieve the results you are after.

What kind of printer do you have?

Many people think that if they have a slightly older printer then they can't use compatibles or that they won't work very well. However as long as you are using good compatible ink you should be fine. The truth is if your printer is a bit older you will most likely have more compatible inks to choose from. The older a printer is the longer third party companies have had to get to grips with its needs and create an alternative ink for it. When you buy a brand new machine it is much harder to find compatible ink for it.

A quick note on environmental issues

Third part compatible ink is produced in bulk and cheaply to save you money. They are designed for one use and not generally recycled. The factories they are made in will not follow the sane guidelines as the international businesses like the big printer brands, many of whom have strict environmental policies. Original printer ink cartridges can be refilled and resold professionally at the factory and so offer much better green credentials.

Hopefully this has given you a little food for thought... Originals, while certainly more expensive can be relied upon 100% for good quality image printing, plus there is the option of recycling/re-using the emptied cartridges. Compatibles on the other hand are a cheaper alternative and more often than not you won't notice the difference from a quality perspective so long as you print on good quality paper!

Summary

Original ink cartridges offer reliability, quality and better eco credentials but you do pay more for them. Compatible ink cartridges are cheap and if you choose wisely, little different to their original adversaries.

Phil J Driver provides advice and support to customers of The Printer Ink Supermarket, a new website providing printer ink and toner for the office and small business. - [ Don't pay Full Price! Get Inkjet Cartridges HALF OFF here! ]