Investing in a printer but not sure about its cartridges? Well, going with the wrong one could cost you a lot of inconveniences. So, it’s better to do your research beforehand, understand the distinctions and then make your purchase decision.
Generally, printers rely on ink or toner to produce output on paper or other media. However, there are many differences between the two in terms of the type of cartridges, the printing process and more. Keep reading to get into the details.
Ink vs Toner
Printer ink is similar to your conventional ink. It is a tinted liquid that is pigmented to create the desired output. It may comprise a binder, solvent, carbon black pigment, drying and chelating agents. In addition, they may also contain opacifiers that work to make the ink opaque. Extenders are used to control the intensity and vividness of the ink. Furthermore, complementary additives are added to tackle the longevity, ink flow and finish.
On the other hand, a toner comes in a powdered form. This pigment bonds with paper in response to heat. Primarily, the components of toners include organic compounds and polymers. Solid particles come together to form toners and components like fumed silica and other minerals.
Inkjet Printers vs Toner Printers
As it is obvious from the names, inkjet printers rely on ink and laser printers use toners. But the difference doesn’t stop here. All inkjet printers use a liquid base combined with a colouring agent. These truly make home printing an easy breezy task. Secondly, toner printers work due to the projection of a unique electrostatic charge generated against a printing drum.
How do These Work?
Inkjet printers utilise heat and physics to control ink distribution during printing. A built-in software in the printer generally contains nozzles to spray tiny ink droplets across paper sheets. In the case of laser printers, these collect toner powder and distribute it to paper with the help of a charged printing drum. Finally, the heat on the paper melts the particles to ensure good print output quality.
Ink Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Inkjet printers are comparatively lower in cost than laser printers. In addition, many companies offer a wide range of feature-rich inkjet printers.
- Replacement of ink cartridges is also an accessible and affordable process. This tends to be less costly upfront.
- There is less likeliness of smudges on your documents because the ink dries out relatively quickly.
Disadvantages
- If you are not a frequent user, printer ink lying idle can dry out and become unusable. To tackle this, it is best to use your inkjet printers at least once every couple of weeks.
- Clogging of ink cartridges can affect your printer output. Eventually, this reduces the number of pages that can be printed with a single ink cartridge.
- Inkjet printers rank lower on productivity as the per-ounce output will always yield lower than toners.
Toner Pros and Cons
Advantages
- As the name suggests, laser printing is a quick process ensuring lightning-fast results. The same is made possible due to precision.
- Precise printing derived from the laser process showcases high-quality images with sharp text and visuals.
- There is no risk of drying out because toners are already dry (in powder form) by nature. Hence, even if you don’t use the printer for long, there is no risk of dismissal.
- These provide quick and high-quality prints with supreme convenience. Therefore, toners are more advantageous in terms of efficiency and output.
Disadvantages
The initial cost for laser printers is typically higher. Refilling these can also be a little pricey. However, it tends to balance out in the longer run.
HP Ink and Toner Review
When it comes to printers in India, HP is undoubtedly one of the most renowned names. The brand's products are technologically superior and cater to varying printing needs. The company’s portfolio houses an exclusive range of home printers, business printers, A3 printers, colour laser printers, inkjet printers and more.
And that’s not it. HP also offers superior quality replacement solutions with its range of inks and toners. With these, you will never run out of ink again.
The original HP cartridges assure unmatched quality with precision on each page. Furthermore, they are also free and easy to recycle, adding to your sustainability goals. Moreover, these HP products also meet eco-label emission criteria to ensure a healthy quality of indoor air. And lastly, these are designed with ultimate security features to protect your data and printers.
HP 678 Tri-color Original Ink Advantage Cartridge
This original inkjet cartridge works for a page yield of 150 colour pages. It can deliver impressive print results with crisp and vivid text and colour. Furthermore, it is defect-free and formulated to avoid any printhead damage. The customer reviews specify that this HP product assures easy installation and provides excellent print quality and quick drying. In addition, it also gets five stars for affordability. Currently, the tricolour cartridge is priced at Rs 893.
HP 110A Black Original Laser Toner Cartridge
Now for your laser printers, this toner cartridge defines sheer excellence. It provides a page yield of 1500 pages. HP has designed this toner cartridge to offer consistently impressive prints. One can get professional quality printing output with sharp text and graphics. In addition, replacement is also relatively easy.
Customers rate these HP printers well for quality, convenience and efficiency purposes. Although the price looks heavier on the pockets at first glance, it does justice over time because the cartridge tends to last very long. In addition, customers have also spoken about the great assurance and reliability that comes with this product. Finally, the high-speed printing process saves about 21% of energy and ensures a very low carbon footprint.
For pricing, this HP 110A Black Original Laser Toner Cartridge currently sells for Rs 5146. Varying in yield and colours, HP has a wide range to offer with toner cartridges starting from prices as low as Rs 1300.
