Compatibles and remanufactured cartridges may seem very similar on the surface, but they are very distinct products. Both are made by third party, non-OEM manufacturers, but they do have differences. In this short guide, we explore what makes each cartridge distinctive.
What Are Compatible Ink Cartridges?
Compatible inks are cartridges with a new shell, that are made by a third party manufacturer. In other words, instead of Epson themselves making an Epson 603 cartridge, it is made by another company (such as Internet Ink!) However, the product is designed to still work in the same printers as the original cartridges are.
What Are Remanufactured Ink Cartridges?
If you see that a cartridge is ‘remanufacturer’, it means that the cartridge is a recycled original cartridge. Remanufactured cartridges are quite literally empty OEM cartridges that have been cleaned, refilled with new ink and then tested. The exact same outer shell is left intact.
Which is Better for the Environment?
Remanufactured inks can be a great option if you are looking to be eco-friendly. This is because they don’t require new plastic for the outer case; the case is re-used from an old OEM cartridge.
Which Cartridge Option is Better Overall?
Neither compatibles nor remanufactured cartridges are inherently better. It depends on the quality of the manufacturer. When buying cartridges online, it’s very important to find a brand that delivers high-quality compatible cartridges. Whilst there are many options available, it’s very hard to know what you are actually getting with cheap compatibles.
Internet Ink has been making high-spec compatible cartridges for over 20 years, and our products come with a 1-year guarantee.
It is also important to note that both types of cartridges can be affected by an OEM’s firmware updates, as these changes affect the cartridge’s chip. Just because a re-manufactured cartridge uses the original casing, that doesn’t mean that it works automatically after a printer update.
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