Ink cartridges can be a big budget. When buying a printer, it is, therefore, legitimate to take into account the cost of consumables when making your choice.
However, it is very difficult to answer precisely the question “Which printer has the cheapest ink cartridges?” Because it will essentially depend on your printing needs and habits.
In fact, to find the printer that will have the cheapest cartridges, you must first identify your needs, your printing habits, or even your wishes in terms of ink cartridges (original, remanufactured or compatible).
We will see in this article what are the good questions to ask yourself as well as the tips to know before proceeding to the purchase of a printer. This is what will allow you to print in the most profitable way possible.
Note however that in reality, there is no major difference between the brands in terms of cost per page. Your savings will therefore not only be based on the brand and model of printer chosen but also on your choice of cartridges.
Identify the expense items
Table of Contents
First of all, it is important to identify the different expense items for your prints.
1 – The price of the printer:
Please note: you should not rely solely on the price of the printers to make your choice. A printer that is cheap to buy does not mean that the cartridges assigned to it are also inexpensive.
On the contrary, printers more expensive to buy sometimes offer cheaper cartridges and vice versa! That is why it is very important to find out about the price of ink cartridges before purchasing your printer.
By opting for a more expensive printer you will in some cases be able to make your purchase more profitable, thanks to cartridges which are conferred on it, less expensive.
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2 – The price of the cartridges:
Many products are offered on the market, with variable prices, and of varying quality :
- Original cartridges: These are cartridges manufactured by the manufacturer of the printer. The quality and safety of these consumables are recognized and guaranteed. These cartridges are put on the market in new condition.
- Remanufactured cartridges: Sold cheaper, these cartridges are made from branded (original) cartridges that have been restored to working order after their first use in order to be reused. It is therefore an economical and ecological alternative!
- New compatible cartridges: This is a copy of an original cartridge produced by a manufacturer other than the manufacturer of the printer. They are sold cheaper but their quality is often poor. Find out why we don’t recommend them.
Depending on what you want to buy, find out beforehand to find out what type of cartridge is available for your printer model.
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3 – The cost per page:
Also, watch the cost per page of these cartridges. Indeed, to be interested only in the price of the cartridge only makes little sense!
The sellers usually indicate the number of pages that the cartridge is capable of printing as well as its capacity (in ml). A simple calculation, therefore, makes it possible to obtain the cost per page.
You will find different formats on the market for sale: for example XL cartridges, necessarily more expensive to buy but less expensive in terms of cost per page.
As we can see from this example, the XL cartridge offers to print 1.6 times more than the standard cartridge with a price only 1.1 times higher. The cost per page is reduced from $ 0.15 to $ 0.09.
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How to limit your ink cartridge budget?
To find the printer that costs the least in cartridges, a simple price comparison is not enough.
Indeed, choosing your printer according to the price of the cartridges can be a mistake: it is advisable to take into account your printing habits.
When purchasing your new printer, here is a non-exhaustive list of questions to ask yourself :
1 – What features do I really need on my printer?
Digitization? Photo prints? Automatic two-sided printing? Printer equipped with Wi-Fi? This is what will define the price range of the printer: basic or higher end.
The more the printer proposes features, the more it will be expensive. You will therefore have to adapt your budget to your needs.
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2 – What are the cost and the printing capacity of the cartridges of this printer?
The cost per page is easily obtained by dividing the estimated number of prints by the price of the cartridge.
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3 – Do I print regularly?
If the answer is yes and you feel you print a lot on a regular basis, you can use XL cartridges. This will allow you to enjoy a lower cost per page without the risk of cartridges drying out as long as they are used regularly.
Check then if the cartridges working with your future printer are offered for sale in XL format.
4 – Are the cartridges available in a pack?
By definition, the pack offers to buy its cartridges in a single lot and is less expensive than buying each cartridge individually.
Also Read: How to keep printer ink from drying out
5 – Are the printheads integrated into the printer or directly on the cartridges?
Cartridges without printheads are generally less expensive to buy because they are less technical to manufacture. In addition, the colors are separated, which allows to buy back only the exhausted color while continuing to use the other cartridges.
The downside is that the printheads are not replaced with each change of consumable. In addition, these cartridges are less likely to be able to be remanufactured.
6 – Are remanufactured cartridges that work with this printer available for sale?
The remanufactured ink cartridges are designed from original brand cartridges that have been rehabilitated and operating refilled with ink after their first use.
These cartridges are therefore less expensive to purchase. In addition, these cartridges are again met often contain a higher level of ink.
They, therefore, make it possible to print at a lower cost and represent a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative than new compatible cartridges.
Which Printer has the Cheapest ink Cartridges
So here is the list of printers having cheap/inexpensive ink cartridges;
- Canon PIXMA G7020 Best Casual Photo Printer With Cheap Ink
- Canon PIXMA MG3620 best all-in-one printer for home use with cheap ink
- Epson EcoTank ET-4760
- Epson EcoTank ET-3760
- Brother MFC-J995DW
Conclusion:
Well, this was all about the “Which Printer has the Cheapest ink Cartridges” Even if you start running out of ink or run out of ink at all, you may feel a nasty surprise when refilling a cartridge or bottle.
Some ink packs may cost up to the original price of the printer and maybe expensive to refill. The printer itself may also have a low yield per page, so if you want to continue printing, you will need to constantly replace the ink cartridges, which can increase over time.
Finding printers that use cheap ink is not only a question of the cost of new cartridges but also how profitable those cartridges are over time.