Compatibles vs OEM Printer Ink & Toner: What’s Best for Your Needs?

Compatibles vs OEM Ink & Toner: What to Buy (and When)

Printing’s a bit like owning a boat. The purchase price is only the start. Then the running costs quietly pile up… one “low ink” warning at a time.

The biggest ongoing cost is cartridges. When it’s time to replace them, you’ll usually have these choices: OEM (genuine manufacturer cartridges) or third-party cartridges. Most third-party cartridges are compatibles, with remanufactured options available for some models.

So which do you buy?

Most Kiwis don’t want to become cartridge experts. You just want the printer to work. You want the page to look decent. And you don’t want to feel like you’ve accidentally signed up for a subscription to “surprise expenses”.

Here’s the simple way to choose, without overthinking it.

Worth knowing: Good Egg sells OEM (genuine), compatible, and remanufactured cartridges. So we’re not here to push one option over another. We’re here to help you buy what makes sense for how you print.

What Do These Terms Actually Mean?

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

These are the genuine brand cartridges made by your printer manufacturer (for example HP, Brother, Canon, Epson). They’re built specifically for your printer model and usually offer the smoothest “plug and play” experience.

Compatibles

These are brand-new cartridges made by a third-party manufacturer to fit your printer. They’re designed to work like the originals, just without the brand name (and without the brand price tag).

Remanufactured

These start life as genuine cartridges. They’re collected, cleaned, refilled with ink or toner, fitted with replacement parts where needed, and tested. Arguably these are the most eco-friendly option.

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The Main Differences

1) Price

This is the big one. OEM cartridges have research, development, marketing, distribution, and margin wrapped into the price. Compatibles don’t carry the same overheads.

What that means in real life: compatibles are often a lot cheaper for the same page count. Typically the compatibles we sell are around 30% the price of equivalent OEM cartridges. Sometimes even less. It depends on the printer model and the cartridge type.

If you print a lot (or your household treats the printer like a public utility), those savings can add up quickly.

2) Print quality

OEM: The safest bet for consistency. If you’re matching brand colours, printing client-ready photos, or doing colour-critical work, OEM is often the calmer path.

Compatibles / remanufactured: For standard documents (invoices, school work, forms, labels), the difference is often hard to spot. The bigger factor is the supplier’s quality control.

3) Warranty & reliability (the “fear factor”)

Some big printer brands imply that using non-genuine cartridges will void your warranty. In New Zealand, that’s often overstated.

The practical version: If your printer has a factory fault (say, a Wi-Fi module fails), using compatibles doesn’t automatically remove your rights. If a cartridge itself causes damage (rare, but it can happen), that specific damage may not be the printer maker’s problem.

If you want the deeper (plain-English) breakdown, read: Will Using Third-Party Ink Void My Printer Warranty?

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The Real-World Comparison (What Most People Care About)

Feature	OEM (Genuine)	Compatibles	Remanufactured
Price	Highest	Usually much lower	Often low to mid
Everyday documents	Excellent	Very good (supplier dependent)	Very good (supplier dependent)
Colour/photo accuracy	Best match to brand profiles	Can be good, may vary	Can be good, may vary
Printer “handshake” (chips/firmware)	Smoothest	Occasional quirks on some models	Occasional quirks on some models
Sustainability angle	Depends on recycling	Lower (new shell)	Strong (reuses original shell)
Best for	Colour-critical, consistency-first	Everyday home & office printing	Reuse-minded everyday printing

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Why Compatibles Make Sense for Most Everyday Printing

If you’re printing invoices, school worksheets, shipping labels, forms, and the occasional “why is this a PDF?” document… you’re in the sweet spot for compatibles.

1) Better value over time

It’s not just the upfront price. It’s the cost per page over months of printing. If you print regularly, switching to compatibles can add up to hundreds of dollars saved over a year for many households and small offices

2) Great for day-to-day documents

For text, line diagrams, and standard graphics, compatibles are often more than good enough. Most people care more about clean output and reasonable cost than museum-grade colour accuracy.

3) Easier to keep spares on hand

If you’ve ever run out of ink the night before a school project is due, you already know the pain. Compatibles make it easier to keep a spare set without the “gulp” moment at checkout.

4) Remanufactured: the reuse option

If you like the idea of reusing an original cartridge shell rather than starting from scratch, remanufactured is worth a look. It’s not perfect, but it’s a practical step many people prefer.

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When OEM Is Worth Paying For

OEM isn’t “bad value”. It’s just not always needed. These are the cases where it can be the safer pick.

• Colour-critical printing: photographers, designers, brand colour matching, client-ready images.
• High-stakes documents: if you need maximum consistency and longevity, OEM can offer peace of mind.
• Very fussy printers: some models are more sensitive to chips and firmware changes.

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The Trade-Offs to Know Up Front

Quality can vary by supplier

Some compatibles are excellent. Some are… let’s call them “mysterious”. A reputable supplier matters because they filter out the duds and help you if something goes sideways.

• Slight variations in black density (more charcoal than deep black)
• Small differences in yield
• Occasional streaking if a cartridge is faulty

Watch out for firmware updates (but don't ignore security)

Some manufacturers (especially HP) push firmware updates that can block non-genuine cartridge chips. Often you gain nothing, but you lose compatibility. Annoying, but true.

Recommendation: If you plan to use compatibles, consider turning off automatic firmware updates.

Be aware that firmware updates can include security fixes. If your printer is on Wi-Fi, don’t just “never update”. Instead, update on your terms. First, check what the update changes, then manually update when you’re comfortable (and after confirming your cartridge setup is likely to stay compatible).

See our Guide: How to Turn Off Automatic Firmware Updates on HP Printers

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Best Practice: Don’t Mix Cartridge Types in the Same Printer

If you remember one tip from this guide, make it this: stick with one cartridge “system” per printer — either OEM or compatibles.

• Mixing can make print quality harder to keep consistent.
• If something looks off, it’s harder to pinpoint the cause.
• Troubleshooting turns into a guessing game (cartridge, chip, firmware, printhead, settings…).

Different manufacturers can use different formulations. Mixing usually won’t “break” your printer, but it can make colours muddier and results less predictable.

If you want the why (and what to do if you’ve already mixed), read: Is It OK To Mix Genuine and Compatible Cartridges?

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A Simple Decision Guide (No Spreadsheets Required)

Home and school printing

Usually a strong match for compatibles. You’re printing assignments, forms, web pages, and general documents. Value and convenience matter most.

Small office documents (quotes, invoices, admin)

Compatibles are often the sensible pick. They keep costs under control while still producing clean, professional output.

High-volume printing

Think in cost per page and downtime. Compatibles can be great value, but you’ll want consistent supply and clear compatibility guidance. If you can’t afford a printer tantrum mid-run, OEM may be worth it.

Colour-critical work

If colour accuracy matters, OEM is usually the safer pick. When the exact shade is the product, consistency matters more than savings.

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How Good Egg Helps Reduce the Risk

Buying cartridges online should feel straightforward, not like you’re defusing a bomb in the dark.

• Curated options: compatibles made for specific printer models, not “close enough” guesses.
• Clear compatibility guidance: match by printer model and cartridge code with less second-guessing.
• Help when you need it: if something’s not right, we’ll help you sort it.

If you’re unsure, ask before you click “checkout”. It’s faster than ordering the wrong cartridge and having a quiet argument with your printer.

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Next Steps

If you know your printer brand, start here:

Not sure what you need? Send us your printer model and what you’re printing, and we’ll point you in the right direction.

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FAQ

1) Will compatibles damage my printer?

Most of the time, no — when they’re the right match for your model and they come from a reputable supplier. The bigger risk is unknown-quality cartridges from random sources.

2) Why does my printer warn me about non-genuine cartridges?

Some printers show prompts when they detect a non-OEM cartridge. Often it’s just a warning you can click past. If a cartridge isn’t recognised, reseat it and try again. If it still won’t play ball, contact us and we’ll help.

3) Will my printer still show ink/toner levels?

Sometimes. It depends on the printer model and how it reads the cartridge chip. Even when levels aren’t perfect, printing usually works fine.

4) What does “remanufactured” actually mean?

It’s a genuine cartridge shell that’s been cleaned, refilled, fitted with replacement parts if needed, and tested. It’s not the same as a DIY refill job at the kitchen bench.

5) I print photos sometimes. Can I still use compatibles?

For casual photos, you may be perfectly happy with compatibles. For colour-accurate client work, OEM is often the safer choice.

6) Should I turn off printer firmware updates?

If you rely on compatibles, turning off automatic updates can reduce the risk of a surprise compatibility change. But printers also get security fixes through firmware updates, so a better approach is usually: turn off auto-updates, then update manually after checking what’s changing (and after confirming your cartridge setup is likely to stay compatible).