A fast and functional printer or copy machine is an
important addition to any home, office, or educational setting. Laser printers
are some of the best models for any environment, because they’re fast, the
prints dry immediately, and printed documents hold up well over time.
Toner vs Ink Cartridges
When it’s time to refill your printer or copier for the
first time, it’s easy to be confused about the differences between toner
cartridges and ink cartridges.
Ink cartridges contain liquid ink tanks and nozzles, and
they’re used in inkjet printers. The ink is liquid, so inkjet printouts can
take a few minutes to fully dry. As a result, you have to be careful not to
smudge them.
Toner cartridges, also called drums, contain heat-activated
powder. Laser printers heat the powder, which fuses it to the paper in a much
more durable and long-lasting way.
Toner Cartridges By Color
Most laser printers only print in black, but some do feature
full-color printing. These color printers can create any color using magenta,
cyan, and yellow toner cartridges. If your laser printer prints in color, a
toner set with all three colors is a smart investment.
Pages Per Cartridge
The capacity of a toner cartridge is measured by the number
of pages per cartridge. Smaller cartridges for home printers can print up to
1,500 or 2,000 pages, while high-capacity toner cartridges can print 35,000 or
more pages before they run out. These larger cartridges are usually more
economical in the long run.
Cartridge Toner Multipacks
Running out of toner never happens at a convenient time.
Make sure you’re always ready to keep printing by storing one or two backup
cartridges for each color you’ll need. Multipacks contain anywhere from two to
eight cartridges and generally cost less per cartridge.
Toner Cartridge Compatibility
Compatibility is the most important factor when choosing a
toner cartridge. Each manufacturer uses its own unique formula for toner to
accommodate specific printer temperatures. Double check your toner cartridge model
number against your printer specifications before ordering.
Industry-Leading Toner Cartridges
Brands like Brother,
Canon,
Ricoh,
Xerox,
and Lexmark
are some of the top names in printing and copying. These companies produce
high-quality, reliable toner cartridges for their laser printers and copy
machines. While you may feel tempted to save some money up front by selecting
third-party toners, it’s always best to choose name brand toner for name brand
machines.
