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Cartridge Comparison Guide

Cartridge Types
Ink & Toner Basics
Number of Pages & Shelf Life

Cartridge Type

	Genuine or OEM (Original) Cartridges	Remanufactured Cartridges	Compatible Cartridges
Description	OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, meaning the cartridge was made by the same company that made your printer. Original brand cartridges are very reliable and sometimes the only option if your printer is new to market or uncommon.	Remanufactured ink is a genuine brand cartridge that has gone through one cycle of use. After use, the cartridge is recycled, acquired by a remanufacturing facility and put through a rigorous professional refurbishing process. During the refurbishing process the cartridge is disassembled, thoroughly cleaned and tested for quality. It's then carefully refilled, tested again and brought back to life. Buying remanufactured prevents one less cartridge from ending up in a landfill.	A compatible cartridge is a brand new ink cartridge built by a manufacturer other than your printer. It's like buying the generic version of the genuine brand. Most are uniquely designed to differentiate from genuine cartridges. Despite any structural difference you may notice, the cartridge will still fit in your machine and print a full yield, just like the original brand.
Price Factors	Many printer manufacturers follow the razor-and-blades business model which may result in higher priced genuine cartridges.	Remanufactured ink is much cheaper than the original brand ink. It's far more cost effective to refurbish a previously used cartridge than create a new OEM from scratch.	Compatible ink is much cheaper than the original brand. Compatible suppliers don't have to worry about the additional costs that hinder OEMs like new printers or firmware, which lets them keep prices low.
Quality	Original cartridges work extremely well and are covered under a warranty by the printer manufacturer	High quality remanufactured ink will match the quality of the original, but not all remanufactured ink is created equal. Make sure you buy from a reputable supplier in order to get the absolute best results.	High quality compatible ink will match the quality of the original, but not all compatible ink is created equal. Make sure you buy from a reputable supplier in order to get the absolute best results.

What's the difference between ink and toner cartridges?

	Ink Cartridges	Toner Cartridges
Printer Type	Work with inkjet printers	Work with laser printers
Material	Liquid ink	Dry powder
How it works	Inkjet printers use a series of nozzles that spray tiny drops of ink directly on the print suface	Laser toner printers use static electricity and heat to bond dry toner powder to a page
Commonly used by	Casual home users, small business and photographers	Large businesses and schools

Number of Pages You Can Print	A cartridge's page yield is the estimated number of pages you can print. Page yield is based on 5% page coverage. This means that the quoted page yield is based upon printed pages where only 5% of the page has been imprinted with ink. For example, a short memo has approximately 5% coverage. If you have a cartridge that has a yield of 500 pages, it can print 500 pages of that short memo. If you are printing letters, photos or graphics, your coverage will vary greatly and your page yield will drop significantly.
Cartridge Warranty and Shelf Life	Most ink and toner cartridges include a warranty or "best by" date on their box. Remanufactured and compatible ink cartridges can last 12-18 months unopened, and toner cartridges can last up to 3 years.
Cartridge Care and Storage	Only open a cartridge when you need it. Opened cartridges will eventually dry out, especially if the protective tape or clip has been removed. If you have an open ink cartridge around and would like to try and prevent it from drying out, place it nozzle side up in a plastic airtight tub. If your cartridge came with protective tape or a clip reapply both before storing. Place a damp cloth or paper towel in the tub, next to the cartridge and keep it stored in a cool, dark place.