Ink Cartridge Terms Explained

There are three commonly used terms when referring to inkjet and laser printer cartridges:

• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) – This type of cartridge has been manufactured by the original maker of the printer such as Hewlett-Packard or Lexmark.  Usually, this type of cartridge is quite expensive but also contains a measure of security as the cartridge and the printer are manufactured by the same company.
• Compatible – When referring to a laser cartridge, this type of cartridge is usually one that has been refilled.  Inkjet cartridges sold as “compatible” are newly-manufactured printer cartridges.  Most of the time, a compatible inkjet cartridge is designed to be used in an Epson printer.
• Remanufactured/Recycled – Remanufactured cartridges can refer to both inkjet and laser printer cartridges.  Inkjet cartridges sold as “remanufactured” or “recycled” are cartridges that have been used at least once by a consumer and then refilled by a third party.  The terms “remanufactured” and “compatible” should be considered synonyms.