They're a good way to get to know what to expect of your printer before you commit to maintaining it in the long term, but you shouldn't expect them to yield many pages in most cases. These typically have much lower page yields compared to standard replacement cartridges. It's also important to keep in mind that the cartridges included with the printer are typically 'starter cartridges'. The type of cartridge system a printer uses to print is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a printer. It directly influences whether the printer is best used for photos or documents, how much maintenance you have to worry about, how many prints you can typically expect, and whether the printer will ultimately be cost-effective in the long run, among other things. In addition to listing the model of the cartridges and how many prints you can expect to get before needing to replace them, we also test whether the printer uses photo ink cartridges, how many color cartridges it uses, whether it supports third-party cartridges, if you can buy high-yield cartridges, and what type of ink it uses. We test various aspects of a printer's cartridges to help you know what type of printer you're getting, what it's best used for, and what to expect.

Eventually, these cartridges will run out and have to be replaced, so it's good to know what to expect from your purchase before you commit to maintaining it. Inkjet and laser printers use different materials and technologies to create a printed page, but the function of the cartridge is ultimately the same: supply the ink or toner required for printing. Efforts to ditch the print cartridge for good are stronger than ever, as evidenced by the rise in popularity of refillable, cartridge-free supertank printers however, traditional ink and toner cartridge printers remain in widespread use by businesses and families to this day. Printer cartridges, however, haven't gone anywhere.

These days, it feels like many consumable technologies, like single-use batteries and rolls of film, have become a thing of the past.

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