5 Commonly Asked Questions About Ink Cartridges

When it comes to ink cartridges, how much do we really know about them? We often tend to have many unanswered questions about ink cartridges; how they work, what's inside of them, how long they last, with no answers. It can be difficult to find the right information regarding ink cartridges, which is where our team at Toner One can help. 

We have put together a short guide answering 5 of the most commonly asked questions about ink cartridges, so you can feel more equipped when purchasing yours. We are an online printer consumables store; stocking products from leading manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Brother, Lexmark, Samsung and many more to bring our customers the best brands on the market from one place.

Here at Toner One we stock everything that you could possibly need for your printer; whether it be ink cartridges, toner cartridges, drums, developers and much more. Our printer consumables are priced affordably, offering our customers excellent value for money for their high-quality printing essentials. Should you want to learn more about ink cartridges, keep reading or to browse our full range of ink cartridges; check out our website.

How Do Ink Cartridges Work?

An ink cartridge is a small, disposable container of ink that is inserted into a printer, enabling it to print text and images onto paper. Ink cartridges are used in inkjet printers, not to be confused with toner cartridges which are used in laser jet printers. They are made up of lots of ingredients including water, several pigments and dyes. 

Ink cartridges come in 2 different types, black and colour dependant on the printer that you have. They are filled with a series of super powerful jets that spray the liquid ink onto your page; giving you the text or images that you are printing. You can purchase ink cartridges online, as well as in retail stores on the high street.

What is the Difference Between OEM and Compatible Ink Cartridges?

If you have been shopping for your printer ink cartridges then you may have seen the terms ‘OEM’ and ‘Compatible’, and are thinking what do they mean and which option is best for my printer? OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, which means that your printer ink cartridges were produced by the same manufacturer as your printer; such as HP or Canon. 

Compatible cartridges are ink cartridges that were developed by a 3rd party company, and offer a cheaper alternative. Although OEM ink cartridges are more expensive, they provide you with a much higher quality print and better results. 

We always recommend going for OEM ink cartridges for the highest printing quality, and to ensure that your printer doesn’t get damaged from faulty ink cartridges.

How Long Do Ink Cartridges Last?

If unopened and not used, ink cartridges tend to have a shelf life of around 2 years. Once you have opened them and started using them, how often they last will depend on a variety of factors. These include how much you are printing, what you are printing, whether its colour or black, your printing manufacturer, your printer and much more. You will be able to tell if your printer ink cartridges need replacing, as your printer will tell you if they need replacing. If your printer does not tell you, then you will be able to tell by the printing quality and lack of colour or black on your pages.

Are Ink Cartridges Simple to Replace?

Ink cartridges are simple and easy to replace, and you should be able to find all of the instructions for how to replace your ink cartridge in your printer's manual or handbook. Once you have replaced your printers ink cartridges once, it should become quite quick and simple to do next time. If you can’t find the correct instructions in your printers manual or handbook, a quick Google or YouTube search should bring up some instructions on how to replace your printer ink cartridges in the easiest way possible. You can also check your printer manufacturers website and they should have some instructions on how to replace your ink cartridges if all else fails.

How Do You Know Which Ink Cartridge You Need For Your Printer?

When it comes to choosing the ink cartridges for your printer, you need to be sure that you purchase the right cartridges otherwise you could damage your printer. The best way to find which ink cartridges your printer needs is by looking at the model name or number of the cartridge that you need to replace. 

If you don’t have the old cartridge, you should be able to find the correct ink cartridge name printed inside the printer or in the printers manual or handbook. If you still can’t find what cartridges your printer needs, contact your printer manufacturer.

We stock printer ink cartridges from all of the leading printer manufacturers; including HP, Brother, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung, Xerox and Okidata. All of our printer ink cartridges are 100 OEM genuine cartridges, meaning that they were made by the original manufacturer; bringing you the best and highest quality results when it comes to your printing. 

Shop For Ink Cartridges at Toner One

If you’d like to shop for your ink cartridges for your printer, then why not visit our website today and place your order? We have a wide selection of printer ink cartridges to choose from, to suit each and every printer - all OEM 100% genuine manufacturer cartridges at affordable, budget-friendly prices. 

We also offer free, tracked UK delivery for all products and aim to dispatch all items the next working day. If you need any help with your items, placing an order, or your delivery then our customer service team is always happy to help. We offer excellent value for money for ink cartridges and other printing consumables; bringing you prices that are cheaper than what you will find in retail stores. All of our ink cartridges and printing consumables are priced affordably, and will suit every customer's budgets.