XL ink

[Edcb8]

I bought an xl black ink yesterday and have printed about 70 pages of writing and it has run out already. My canon used to last so much further and I am wondering if I had a dodgy ink or is that normal? Ive now joined the instant ink sub but it won’t get here on time and wondering if I should take the cartridge back to Argos? Not happy!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Edcb8,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I can understand why you’d be unhappy, 70 pages from an XL black cartridge feels far lower than expected, especially if your previous printer lasted much longer. Let’s break this down clearly so you can decide whether this is normal usage or something worth returning.

Before we continue, please confirm:

What exact printer model are you using?

Were those 70 pages mostly solid text, bold headings, or heavy/dark printing?

Meanwhile, you can check the following:

1. Understand How XL Page Yield Is Measured

• XL cartridge yields are based on:
• ISO test standards
• About 5% page coverage
• Standard font size
• Normal print quality
• If your pages had:
• Large bold text
• Heavy black paragraphs
• Small margins
• High print quality selected
• The real-world yield can drop significantly.

2. Check Print Quality Setting

• Open Print Settings.
• Go to Printer Preferences.
• Check Print Quality.
• If set to “Best” or “High Quality,” ink usage increases sharply.
• Switch to “Normal” for text documents.
• Printing in “Best” mode can cut yield dramatically.

3. Check Ink Level Immediately After Installation

• Sometimes:
• A cartridge may not have been fully recognized.
• A cleaning cycle runs automatically after installation.
• Multiple cleanings consume a large amount of ink.
• If you ran several cleaning cycles, that alone can use significant ink.

4. Could It Be a Faulty Cartridge?

• It’s uncommon, but possible. Consider returning it if:
• Ink level dropped to empty very quickly (not gradually).
• No heavy printing was done.
• No repeated cleaning cycles were run.
• The cartridge shows “Empty” unusually fast.

Argos generally allows returns for suspected defective cartridges, especially within a short timeframe.

5. About Instant Ink

• Once enrolled:
• Store-bought cartridges will stop working after Instant Ink cartridges are activated.
• Instant Ink cartridges are tied to your subscription.
• Printing is based on pages printed, not ink volume.

If your Instant Ink cartridges won’t arrive in time and you urgently need to print, returning the XL cartridge may be reasonable.

70 pages is low for an XL if it was standard text at normal quality.
If it was dense, bold, or printed at high quality, it may be within realistic heavy-usage range.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,