Compatible, Remanufactured or Original Ink: What's the Difference?

Compatible, Remanufactured or Original Ink: What's the Difference?

Buying ink should be simple, but three words on the label can make it confusing: original, compatible and remanufactured. They all get your printer printing again, yet they're made differently and priced very differently.

We get asked about this every week, so here's a plain guide to what each one means. We'll also explain why a few printers only work with remanufactured cartridges, and why those cost a bit more.

The three types, explained

Original cartridges

Originals, sometimes called OEM or genuine, are made by your printer's manufacturer, such as HP, Canon, Epson or Brother. They're the ones in the box when you buy the printer. The quality is excellent, but you pay a lot for the brand name.

Compatible cartridges

Compatibles are brand new cartridges made by a specialist manufacturer to fit and work in your printer. They aren't made by the printer brand, but they're built to the same size and shape and carry a chip so your printer recognises them.

Our compatibles are made for us, and they're our main range because they're the best value for most people. You get sharp, reliable prints for a fraction of the cost of originals.

Remanufactured cartridges

Remanufactured cartridges start life as used original cartridges. They're collected, cleaned, inspected and refilled with fresh ink, then tested before they're sold again.

Because they reuse the original shell and chip, they work in printers that won't accept a newly made compatible. Reusing the shell also keeps plastic out of landfill.

Why some printers only take remanufactured

Some printers are designed to reject any cartridge that isn't built around an original chip. Manufacturers can also send firmware updates that stop newly made compatibles working. For those printers, a remanufactured cartridge is the only alternative to buying originals.

That's why a handful of lines on our site cost more than our usual compatibles. Remanufactured cartridges depend on a supply of used originals, and the cleaning, refilling and testing all take time. They cost us more to buy in, so they cost a little more to buy.

They're still good value next to originals, and if we list a remanufactured cartridge for your printer, it's because that's the option we know will work.

At a glance

So which should you choose?

For most printers, compatibles are the smart choice. You'll save a lot compared with originals and still get great results.

If your printer won't accept compatibles, choose remanufactured. And if you'd simply rather stick with us, we sell originals too.

Whichever you pick, every cartridge from us comes with a 12 month guarantee. If anything isn't right, our friendly UK team will sort it out.

Not sure which cartridge fits your printer? Search your printer model on firstcallinks.co.uk, or give us a call on 01323 430060 and we'll happily point you to the right one. Can't find your ink on our site? Just ask, and we'll source it for you.