How to Select the Best Toner Cartridge for Your Laser Printer

00Since the introduction of laser printers in the 1970s, many organizations, businesses, and individuals switched to this form of technology because it delivers higher quality and better page yield than inkjets. While it is true that most of the work depends on the printer you use, mrdepot.ca advises that buying the right toner cartridge can greatly affect the print quality.

While it may appear like an easy task, the large number of online vendors can make it very difficult to identify the right toner cartridge. The process can be particularly tough if you are unsure about the things to look for when selecting a toner cartridge. To help you identify the best toner cartridge for your printer, here are some expert tips to consider.

Find the Right Toner Cartridge Number

Although most printers are designed to use a specific ink cartridge, there are others that can use up to several models. So, how do you identify the model that works with your printer? Here are three common methods that you can use:

• First, you can snap out the old toner cartridge and check the number which is printed on its side or back.
• Do you still have the manual that came together with the printer when you bought it? If you do, it contains all the details about the printer, including the right toner cartridge number that you should use.
• If you check most printers, they have the toner cartridge number clearly written on their surface. So, check carefully, especially on the flip that covers the cartridges.

Regardless of whether you shop for your toner cartridge downtown or online, having the right number gives you the assurance of picking the right thing.

Get the Toner Cartridge Number from the Model of Your Printer

If you do not have the printer manual or getting the right toner cartridge number is becoming tricky, it is still possible to get it using the printer model. In most of the cases, the model is printed on the bottom, back, or side of your printer.

Once you have noted the model of your printer, visit a reliable online vendor, and provide the number. The vendor will be able to tell you the right toner cartridge that will work with your printer. You might also want to visit the printer manufacturer’s website to enquire about the right toner cartridge number for your printer model. The manufacturer might also provide you with a new manual that you can use to get more information about your printer.

Determine if You Want to Buy Standard or High-Yield Ink Cartridges

Armed with the right toner cartridge number, it is time to place your order, but there is one more thing to decide; going for a standard or high-yield model. These two classifications are determined by the quality and number of pages that the toner cartridge makes.

If you only use your printer for occasional printing, a standard toner cartridge should be okay. We recommend this for light-duty printing at home. However, a busy office or institution should go for high-yield toner cartridges, which allow them to print more pages at a lower cost.

As you check the expected toner cartridge yield, it is important to note that manufacturers factor a 5% print coverage area for the page yield. This implies that if you are printing documents in over 5% of the total area, the page yield will be lower.

Make a Decision on Whether to Buy Original or Compatible Toner Cartridges

If you want to get the high-quality toner cartridges, you should go for the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) models. They are designed to work with specific printers or copiers. However, OEM toner cartridges come at a very high price, which is used to cover research & development (R&D) and marketing-related costs. Indeed, most of the revenues for companies that design printers come from the sale of toner cartridges.

If you are buying toner cartridges on a budget, a good alternative is looking for the compatible toner cartridges, which are made by third-party manufacturers. People prefer to call them generic toner cartridges.

Should You Go for Remanufactured Cartridges?

Another way of cutting the cost of toner cartridges is by buying remanufactured models. So, what exactly are remanufactured cartridges? These are previously used toner cartridges, which are repaired and refilled by third party companies. If any part of such toner cartridges is noted, they are replaced. When you go for remanufactured cartridges, they come with the following benefits.

• The cost is pretty lower compared to OEM cartridges.
• It is a great method of recycling toner cartridges.
• You increase the utility of materials used to make the toner cartridges.
• You lower the amount of e-waste that ends up in different landfills.

Look for the Toner Cartridges that Come with a Warranty

One of the best methods of determining that the manufacturer of a toner cartridge spared no effort in designing the device is checking the warranty. A good toner cartridge should come with a warranty, which gives you quality performance assurance for a specific period. If the toner cartridge does not deliver the expected results and it has a warranty, you are entitled to a refund or a new shipment. Note that the length of warranties differs depending on the company under consideration. Some have short warranties of 14 days, while others have longer ones of up to one year.

Single or Bulk Buying?

The last thing you need to factor when buying a toner cartridge is whether to buy a single piece or in bulk. Buying in bulk is a great idea because it helps to push down the cost, but it is only effective when you have a lot of printing to do.

Bulk toner cartridges are recommended for busy offices, institutions, organizations, and homes that handle a lot of printing. Buying in bulk can help you cut the cost of production by up to 10% compared to buying individual units.

If you are planning to buy a toner cartridge, it is prudent to ensure you go for the right model. From identifying the right toner cartridge number to deciding whether to acquire an OEM or compatible toner, make sure to get it right. So, you better start gathering these details early enough as opposed to the last minute.