The first thought of getting a new printer is exciting. But, we often tend to disregard other things, such as it’s type or how it works. We do want the print quality to be useful, but it is essential to have an idea of how it works inside. Or, more precisely, how the cartridges work inside. The problem is, if you are unaware of how ink cartridges work or how it’s made, it will be difficult for you to choose the right printer for your company.
On the contrary, it might even cost you a fortune or a visit to printer repair services for repairing if you order a set of printers that do not work in your preferred requirements. To begin with, there are two cartridges that work in a printer, ink, and toner. Now, both of these share benefits and disadvantages as well. They have their mechanism and roles to play. If you are interested in getting to know how they differ from each other and which one is safer for use, then read more below.
Ink & Toner: What is the difference?
Before we begin to make a comparison among generic ink and a toner cartridge, it is useful to first get an idea about them and their uses.
Ink cartridge
Ink cartridges contain liquid ink to print the data onto the paper. These ink cartridges are useful for Inkjet printers. Now, ink can be either pigment-based or dye-based. But, mostly the ink is dye-based since they can produce vibrance through the colors. And, at the same time, they are economically suitable. However, a dye-based ink can last up to 20 to 25 years and the fade-out. Over these years, it can also smudge or produce color patches and spots when in contact with liquid. Pigment-based inks, on the other hand, create the super-dominant quality of print which can last up to 200 years.
Toner cartridge
Toner comes in the form of a powder that is used in laser printers. The procedure of printing through toner is unlike ink cartridges. Thus, if you mishandle the prints, it can become quite messy. In addition to that, a drum unit located with the toner cartridge is an integral part of the parking process. It is what is responsible for fusing the powder, be it black or all three colors (Cyan, Magenta & Yellow), onto the paper. Toner cartridges come with an inbuilt drum unit. But, for requirement, drum units can be bought separately, which may be cheaper than having a built-in drum unit. And, if you face any subsequent problems then printer repair services can sort it.
What is safer? Generic ink or generic toner?
When it comes to inkjet printers or laser printers, both contain toner and ink cartridges that are removable and reusable. Now, these replacements can be done through the name brand, which is the original manufacturer of the printers. Or, you can also go for generic ones which are consumer products without a brand name. The majority of people often vote for generic cartridges because original manufacturing cartridges can be a bit more expensive. Even twice the amount which took you to buy the printer.
But, the main question is whether generic cartridges for both ink and toner are ideal and safe or not. Or, whether generic ink or generic toner is safe for use or not. You may come across cartridges that are sold at a low price that almost make you second guess it’s quality. Or, some bad reviews posted on e-commerce platforms make you rethink your decision. If you have recently bought a generic printer, reach out to printer repair services for additional help in setup.
Pros & cons of using generic ink
One of the most troublesome experiences a printer user can face is buying an ink cartridge every time it runs out. And, the problematic factor is its cost, almost equal to the original price of the entire printer itself. Meanwhile, choosing a generic ink cartridge can save your financial cost up to 15%. Additionally, it may cost 50% to 70% more if you decide to buy it online. If you did so, contact Printer repair services for assistance.
But, another factor why people get doubts about choosing generic ink cartridges is the quality of it. Most generic printer products work in such a way that it fits the need in one approach. The majority of these products often produce a poor quality of prints, such as ink overspray, faded color prints, blurred lines, etc. Well, one good factor is that your printer will still remain under warranty. The use of generic ink cartridges will not void your warranty.
Pros & cons of using generic toner
Similar to generic ink cartridges, generic toners do share the same value. Toner cartridges are also expensive, like ink cartridges. In fact, a little more, in comparison, because printer printers are most costly than inkjet printers. Either way, the original manufacturer products can cost a fortune to keep changing the refills. A generic toner solves the financial budget problem by up to 70%. But, just like generic ink cartridges, this too has a flaw that many users worry about.
Most genetic toner cartridges work haphazardly. This means that your printer may have a compatibility issue with the toner cartridge owing to how it works and this might damage it further. Original manufacturers make cartridges with precision and details bearing in mind the model number and size. Additionally, the quality of the printer images also gives us an idea about the printing quality.
Mostly original manufacturing products show the best results in quality and durability. Printer repair services also provide replacements with genuine cartridges from the original manufacturing company. But, the times are now changing as generic toners start to provide better results. Many generic manufacturing companies are now branding their products, assuring peak quality with reliability, within a reasonable price.
Final verdict
It’s needless to say that original manufacturing companies get the upper hand when it comes to printer durability and print quality. But, if a limited budget bounds you, then it can solve your problem. However, it is essential to test them out before final use as that can save the printer from any further damage. In the end, it comes down to quality and cost, which can differ for each printer user. In any case, if you find any unusual or unsolvable difficulty within the printer, then get in touch with printer repair services.
