Printer ink attracts more than its fair share of myths and misunderstandings. Some are understandable — ink can feel expensive, the market is confusing, and there's a lot of conflicting advice online. But acting on the wrong information can end up costing you more money, damaging your printer, or leaving you with disappointing results.
Here are five of the most common myths about printer ink, and what's actually true.
Myth 1: "All Printer Ink Is Basically the Same"
This is probably the most widespread misconception. It's easy to assume that ink is ink — a liquid that goes in a cartridge and comes out on paper. But genuine ink cartridges from manufacturers like HP, Canon, Epson and Brother are formulated specifically for their own printers.
The ink chemistry, the size of the droplets, the way it dries, and how it bonds with different paper types are all engineered to work together with the precise mechanics of that printer model. A compatible cartridge made by a third party uses a different formulation — sometimes similar, sometimes not — and the results can vary significantly.
If consistent quality matters to you, the cartridge brand does too.
Myth 2: "Genuine Ink Is Overpriced — You're Just Paying for the Brand"
The upfront cost of genuine cartridges is often higher than compatible alternatives, and that's a fair observation. But the comparison doesn't stop there.
Genuine cartridges are independently tested to confirm how many pages they'll print before running out — this is called the page yield. Compatible cartridges often claim similar yields but frequently fall short in practice. A cartridge that costs less per unit but prints significantly fewer pages can easily work out more expensive over time.
There's also the cost of printer maintenance to consider. Clogged nozzles, ink residue, and cleaning cycles all waste ink and time. Genuine ink is less likely to cause these problems because it's designed for the printer it goes into.
Myth 3: "Compatible or Refilled Cartridges Work Just as Well"
For some tasks, some of the time, they can. But reliability is the issue. Compatible cartridges are produced to fit a wide range of printers, not to perform identically to genuine ones. Print quality can be inconsistent — fine for draft documents, but often noticeably different for photos, presentations, or anything colour-critical.
Refilled cartridges — original cartridges that have been emptied and topped up with third-party ink — carry additional risks. The cartridge itself may be worn, the refill ink may not match the original formulation, and the chip that communicates with your printer may not reset correctly, causing error messages or recognition problems.
Most printer manufacturers also state clearly that using non-genuine ink can void your warranty. If something goes wrong and you need a repair, that's worth knowing in advance.
Myth 4: "The Chip in a Genuine Cartridge Is Just There to Stop You Using Cheaper Ink"
It's a common suspicion, but it's not the whole story. The chip in a genuine cartridge does several things. It tells your printer how much ink is remaining, so you get an accurate low-ink warning rather than a sudden blank page. It also helps the printer adjust its settings for the specific cartridge installed.
For HP and Canon printers connected to a home or office network, the chip also carries firmware that can be updated to address security vulnerabilities. Modern printers are network-connected devices, and the cartridge chip is part of how the manufacturer maintains the security of those devices over time.
None of that means the situation is perfect — ink pricing is a legitimate consumer frustration — but the chip is doing more than simply locking you into one brand.
Myth 5: "Using Third-Party Ink Won't Affect My Printer"
It might not — especially in the short term. But the risks are real and worth understanding before making a decision.
Ink that isn't formulated for your specific printhead can be the wrong viscosity (too thick or too thin), dry at the wrong rate, or react badly with the rubber seals and metal components inside the printer. Over time, this can cause blockages, corrosion, or permanent damage to the printhead — which is often the most expensive component to replace.
Many printer warranties explicitly exclude damage caused by non-genuine ink. So if a compatible cartridge causes a problem, the repair cost falls entirely on you.
The safest approach — particularly for a printer you rely on regularly — is to stick with genuine HP, Canon, Epson or Brother cartridges. They cost what they cost — but they do what they say on the box.
The Bottom Line
Genuine ink cartridges exist because printer manufacturers have spent years engineering their printers and their ink to work together. The myths around printer ink often stem from a reasonable frustration with cost — but the alternatives carry risks that aren't always obvious until something goes wrong.
If you're buying genuine ink and want to make sure you're getting a good price, take a look at our full range at Crazy Kangaroo. Free UK delivery on every order, and a free recycling bag included with every HP or Canon ink purchase.
