Pros and Cons of Cheaper Ink Cartridges

In the UK, original printer ink is just as expensive as abroad. Consumers suspect they are being overcharged, and non-OEM supplies are increasingly popular. The price differences are often staggering. Discover the main pros and cons of cheaper compatible ink below.

These products emulate OEM cartridges. They are designed and developed from scratch but fit the same models of printers. All components are 100% new and technically original. With these products, you get:

Suppose you own a Pixma TR 7550. At Smart Ink, XXL Canon 581 ink 5 pack costs £26.99. Its OEM counterpart costs £64.99. What's more, HP will only provide the standard page yield for this price — 200-259 pages instead of 600-830 in XXL. 

Reputable brands comply with global quality standards, such as ISO, Reach, CE and STMC. Over the past decade, advancements in technologies and testing have enabled these companies to reach excellence. Any differences in print quality are either minor or completely invisible to the naked eye.

Products from well-respected companies are as safe as their OEM counterparts. Consumers should follow the same precautions and instructions to install and remove them. It is still possible to encounter mediocre products, but you can easily weed them out with a bit of research. 

Brands like Smart Ink are focused on maximizing value. Many of their cartridges have an XL or even XXL capacity. You can print twice as many pages in comparison with a standard cartridge, or even more.

To be recognized by printers, cartridges must be equipped with the latest version of the chip. All trusted shops include it by default. If your equipment rejects a non-original cartridge, try turning off firmware updates. Printer manufacturers use them to prevent recognition, but this simple trick usually solves the problem. 

Popular merchants provide free delivery across the United Kingdom. Customers save on transportation costs, and products come in multi-layer packaging to prevent any damage. 

All in all, cheaper products perform as well as their expensive original counterparts. The only difficulty is finding a shop worth trusting. In the UK, compatible products are sold in online marketplaces, but you should still check the official manufacturer's websites. Honest providers have:

As you can see, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. As long as you shop smartly and research suppliers, you will pay significantly less for excellent print quality. Find your ideal brand once, and make savings for years!