There’s been an unending debate on which is superior between Compatible and OEM toner. We review this topic in today’s piece. We cover the difference between the two products and respond to some common concerns. The article will help you decide on the one to consider for your printing business.
Let’s dive right in:
What is Toner?
Toner refers to that printer powder used in printing. It is the most common supply needed in laser printing. Toner is available in four colors: Black, Magenta, Yellow, and Cyan. Those printers that print in black and white use black toner. Those that offer full-color prints use all four different color toners.
Toner is made of plastic which is finely ground. Silica is sprinkled into the toner to keep it from sticking together. It also got some control agents that help keep the electrical charge. Laser printing makes use of charges at some stages of printing. That is why issues relating to electrical charges should be taken care of. These control agents are zinc, chromium, and iron.
Not all toner is the same, though. Laser printing relies on melting the toner into a sheet of paper. Different printers will need specific toner optimized to meet varying fusing temperatures.
What is Toner Cartridge?
The container that keeps toner inside the printer is called a toner cartridge. Toner is often sold in these cartridges, ready for use in your printer. Toner cartridges come in different sizes and shapes. This is to match the various printer makes.
You will also find that cartridges of the same model may contain varying volumes of toner. The amount of toner inside dictates the number of pages a cartridge can produce. You can choose between standard, high, or extra-high page yield.
Super high-yield variations are also available for some printers. All these types attract different pricing. Super-high is the most expensive but will produce more pages. You will even realize that the cost per page for super-high yield is cheaper than the rest. The price per page is estimated by dividing the page yield by the cartridge cost.
What is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Toner?
Printer manufacturers make toner cartridges for their products. These toner cartridges will be referred to as OEM products. It’s is short for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Let’s take the example of an HP printer. You will find that many different cartridges in the market can be used with HP printers. Those manufactured by HP are OEM toner cartridges.
OEM toner cartridges are pretty expensive. You might find some that cost even half of the printer cost. Their costs are seemingly exaggerated. It’s argued that printer manufacturers incur extra costs in printer development. They will have to compensate for the production cost by hiking the cartridge costs.
Furthermore, manufacturers do not want the cost of the printers to be high. They know that few will afford them. So they lower the costs to attract more sales. Many people will certainly need the toner cartridge when they buy the printer.
More printer sales will thus lead to an increase in toner cartridge demand. Manufacturers will then hike the cartridge costs to compensate for the low-priced printer. ; ; ;
What is Compatible Toner Cartridge?
OEMs are not the only cartridges in the market. We have third-party products as well. One of them is the compatible toner cartridges.
Some manufacturers will study the product when a new printer model is manufactured. They will then start the manufacturing process to replicate the toner and cartridge. These manufacturers aspire to produce a replica of the OEM cartridge. They ensure that the cartridge will work well with the printer. These third-party products are referred to as compatible toner cartridges.
Compatible toner cartridges resemble the original. Its manufacturers still do not break the product patent. It is entirely legal, as the printing industry is open. There are instances, though, where OEMs warn users against third-party products. They argue that using these products would potentially damage the printer. Some manufacturers even threaten to pull their covers. These are ways manufacturers use in their efforts to monopolize the printing industry. They know that the toner cartridge industry is lucrative. It could even be worth more than printer manufacturing.
Which One Should I Consider: Compatible or OEM Toner?
OEM toner cartridges work perfectly well with your printer. The only issue is with their pricing. Sometimes it gets scary when the cost of the OEM toner is close to the printer cost.
No worries if you can afford it, as it will serve you well. But there is no point in buying an expensive product when there is a substitute. Compatible toner cartridges cost way less than their original counterparts. And the good thing is they get the job done. Only be sure to buy from reputable manufacturers. You might face challenges if you entrust inexperienced toner cartridge manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Print Quality Different between Compatible Toner and OEM Toner?
Original printer manufacturers may warn against the use of Compatible Toner. They might argue that these products will compromise your quality. That is not exactly true. Compatible toner that has passed through the correct manufacturing process will work well. They work the same way as OEM Toner. All you need to do is source these products from reputable suppliers.
I’m Having Trouble Using Compatible Toner Cartridge. What Could Be the Issue?
Printer manufacturers are tech-savvy. They might customize the printer to recognize OEM toner cartridges only. The good thing is there are strategies to navigate through this challenge.
Issues may also arise through the way you handle your toner cartridge.
Here is what you can do:
1. ;Disable the Cartridge Protection Setting
Go to the printer setting, and find the cartridge protection section. Click to uncheck it and save the selection. Cartridge protection locks the cartridge to the printer when you first insert it. If you insert a cartridge into one printer, you will not be able to use it in another one. Deactivating this setting allows you to use any cartridge between the same models.
2. ;Check if the Cartridge is Properly Inserted
Your printer may not be working because the cartridge is not inserted correctly. Switch off your printer and gently pull out the toner cartridge. Check for any obstruction and reinsert the cartridge back. Your printer should start working if that was the issue.
3. ;Reset Your Printer Internal Memory
Did your insert your compatible toner cartridge when the printer was on? There is a chance the printer did not reset its internal memory. Your printer may warn of low toner even after loading a new cartridge. Memory resets would make your printer reassess the toner remaining in the cartridge.
Resetting the printer memory does not need any complex skills. Delete the printing queue, unplug it from the socket, and shut it down. You can then switch it on after a while. Its memory will be refreshed.
Are Compatible Same as Remanufactured Toner Cartridges?
Compatible toner cartridges are different from remanufactured ones. Remanufactured are those that are reused. Some manufacturers source used cartridges, revamp, and refill them. They could be original or compatible products. Compatible cartridges are new products belonging to third-party manufacturers.
Remanufactured cartridges also do a good job. You can use them as long as you can trust the manufacturer. Compatible and Remanufactured Toner Cartridges are priced almost the same.
Concluzie
There is no significant difference between OEM and quality compatible cartridges. Yet OEM cartridges will more than double the cost of compatible cartridges. Switching to quality compatible toner cartridges will transform your business. You will significantly cut your expenses and make more money. The only challenge is picking the proper manufacturer. In this world of fierce competition, every manufacturer will position themselves as trustworthy.
We play our cards differently at Ikalor.com. We not only speak who we are, but we also walk the talk. When potential customers are unsure, we deliver them a sample. Are you looking for compatible toner cartridges? You go ahead and talk to us!