Today, printers are used everywhere and daily, from printing documents, faxes, coupons, t-shirts, projects, and more. Alongside printers, are cartridges that allow printers to do their job and produce color. Shopping for toner or printer ink can be very overwhelming because of the various available cartridge options. Moreover, their price differences can confuse even more since some are quite costly, and others are suspiciously cheap. The most common ones are the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), remanufactured, and compatible cartridges. This article clears out all the misunderstandings concerning the common printer cartridges.
OEM Printer Cartridges (Name Brand)
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cartridges are also known as name brand cartridges. These cartridges are those made by printer manufacturers. Ideally, the manufacturers spend lots of money on the research and development of their printers and cartridges, contributing to the high cost of their cartridges. OEM cartridges are relatively more costly than other cartridges, but they are very reliable, and if your printer is uncommon or new to the market, they are the only option.
While these kinds of cartridges are generally costly than the others, they have the least probability of leaking ink into your printer. OEM ink cartridges offer benefits such as better quality prints, minimized downtime, higher yields, and assured compatibility with their models. The fact that printer manufacturers make OEM cartridges means that you are likely to face any risks with your printer. They are also well designed to deliver consistency, including smudge-proof qualities. It is no doubt that they are a great investment.
Remanufactured Cartridges
A remanufactured cartridge is an OEM cartridge that has passed through a cycle of use. Ideally, after a cartridge is used, it is recycled, and taken by a manufacturing company that is then professionally remanufactured. Such cartridges use the same shell as the OEM cartridge, so they look the same as OEM products. During the remanufacturing process, the cartridges are disassembled, properly cleaned, tested for quality, damaged, and worn out internal components are replaced. These cartridges are then well reassembled, filled with toner or ink to the same quantity as the OEM cartridge, tested once again, and finally brought back to life.
Remanufactured cartridges are generally less costly than OEM ones since they do not require new components to create a working product. They use the original shell and most of the original parts, manufacturing costs remain low, which in turn benefits the consumer. If you are using a printer that is new to the market, it will take some time for remanufactured cartridges to be available since manufacturers have to wait for enough OEM to penetrate the market.
If you’re big on saving the environment, this is a great option as remanufactured cartridges recycle OEM cartridges. Moreover, if you’re looking to cut costs and still have high-quality prints, this is your ideal product. If you’re looking for an affordable remanufactured Cartridge, consider checking out Yoyoink.
Compatible Cartridges
A compatible cartridge is a new ink cartridge made by a manufacturer other than your printer’s manufacturer. Most of these cartridges are well designed to look different from their OEM counterpart but still fit in your printer and do the job well too. Unlike OEM cartridges, compatible ones do not have any additional development and research costs or regular firmware technology updates, making their prices relatively low.
Unlike OEM cartridges that use oil-based colors, compatible ones use water-based components. This allows printed documents to dry up faster than other ink cartridges. The quality is also equally high, and most times, it is impossible to tell the difference between OEM and Compatible ink printed documents. Such cartridges are best if you are looking for high-quality prints but don’t want to spend a lot. However, it is risky to purchase compatible cartridges from suppliers who aren’t verified as their quality or durability is not guaranteed.
With this comprehensive analysis of each ink cartridge, you will surely not be confused the next time you go shopping for a new ink cartridge. Also, consider choosing products that have a warranty or a return policy as this might save you if your cartridge is damaged during delivery.