For owners of HP Officejet Pro printers like the 6830, 6230, or 6820, the cost of replacement ink can quickly add up. This combo pack from an unnamed third-party manufacturer offers a four-cartridge set—black, cyan, magenta, and cyan again (a curious inclusion, as most printers use a single cyan cartridge)—as a compatible alternative to HP’s 934XL and 935XL cartridges. It’s a proposition that appeals to budget-conscious users, but as with any third-party ink, there are trade-offs to consider.
In real-world use, these cartridges are designed for small offices and home users who print a mix of documents and occasional color graphics. The setup is straightforward: remove the existing cartridges, snap these in, and let the printer recognize them. Some users report that the printer may display a warning about non-HP ink, but this can typically be dismissed. The cartridges are compatible with a range of Officejet Pro models, including the 6800 series, which are popular for their print quality and speed. The inclusion of two cyan cartridges is puzzling—unless you happen to do a lot of printing where cyan depletes faster than magenta, it’s an odd choice that might leave you with a spare.
Functionally, these cartridges are remanufactured or newly built third-party units, not genuine HP products. They are advertised as compatible with the 934XL and 935XL specifications, meaning they should yield similar page counts—though independent testing often shows third-party cartridges may produce slightly fewer pages, especially for photo-heavy prints. The black cartridge is pigment-based for crisp text, while the color cartridges use dye-based ink for vibrant images. Print quality is generally acceptable for everyday tasks like emails, reports, and web pages, but color accuracy may not match OEM ink, particularly for professional photography or marketing materials where precise color reproduction is critical.
One of the main limitations of this combo pack is the lack of transparency regarding the manufacturer. Unlike established third-party brands such as LD Products or InkTeck, this pack doesn’t specify a brand name, which can make it difficult to assess reliability or customer support. Additionally, the extra cyan cartridge might not be useful for all users, effectively raising the cost per usable cartridge. Some printers may also reject these cartridges after firmware updates, a common issue with third-party ink. It’s advisable to check for compatibility with your printer’s current firmware before purchasing.
Compared to genuine HP 934XL/935XL cartridges, this combo pack is significantly cheaper—often half the price or less. However, genuine HP cartridges offer guaranteed compatibility, consistent quality, and sometimes better longevity. For those who print infrequently or need reliable color for important documents, OEM might be worth the premium. Alternatively, refill kits or bulk ink systems are available for heavy users, though they require more hands-on maintenance. This pack sits in the middle: a convenient, low-cost option for moderate printing needs.
Who is this for? It’s suitable for home users or small offices that print everyday documents and don’t require perfect color accuracy. It’s also a good choice for those who want to keep a spare set on hand without spending much. However, it’s not ideal for professional photographers, graphic designers, or anyone who relies on precise color matching. Those who print very frequently might find the yield insufficient and the reliability questionable. Also, if your printer is still under warranty, using third-party ink could potentially void it—check the terms.
In summary, this 934/935 combo pack is a budget-friendly alternative for casual printing, but it comes with the typical caveats of third-party ink: potential compatibility hiccups, variable yield, and the odd inclusion of an extra cyan cartridge. It’s a reasonable stopgap, but not a direct replacement for OEM quality.