A recent article by Digital Camera World has been exploring the pros and cons of buying cheaper third-party cartridges compared to OEM brands.
With ink often referred to as “liquid gold” – and often featuring price tags reflective of this status – a “popular solution” among consumers is the purchase of cheaper third-party cartridges.
This comes with both advantages and disadvantages, however.
Among the pluses of opting for aftermarket cartridges is their compatibility, as while some aftermarket cartridges are designed with specific OEM printers in mind, others can work on a “cross-brand basis.”
Another advantage is “significant cost reductions over time”, which can add to your yearly savings.
However, one of the negative effects of using third-party cartridges can be poor paper compatibility, leading to “poorer colour fidelity and inferior reflective characteristics with otherwise proven papers.”
Another con is loss of extra functionality, as OEM inks “often have dual functions” such as the performance of maintenance tasks, including print head cleaning.
Availability is also an aftermarket issue, as many third-party cartridges can only be purchased online, not in high street shops.
The article concludes by stating that, if consumers can “accept the potential complications of managing non-dedicated pigments, third-party ranges need not trade quality for cost.”
