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.