Smart Tank printers with removeable printheads

[MacNerd2]

Does HP make any Smart Tank printers with user-removable printheads? Does HP make any Smart Tank printers with user-removable waste ink containers?

I've never had an HP printer. I've had a Xerox printer, a Lexmark printer, a couple of Canon printers & a couple of Brother printers. My current printer is a Brother Inkvestment printer. Lately, it's been giving me a headache. It takes forever just to print 1 page. I hear a sound from inside the printer that just started. It reminds me of the Doppler Effect. You know, when a police car passes you, the siren has a high frequency that goes down as the car recedes. It does the automatic head cleaning but a few days later the printheads are clogged again. Since the printheads are a permanent part of the printer, they can't be removed & I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars getting it repaired even though there 2 local Brother-authorized repair store in my home town. I'd rather apply that money towards the purchase of a new printer. In other words, I bought a disposable printer.

So, does HP make any Smart Tank printers with user-removable printheads & user-replaceable waste ink containers?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @MacNerd2 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand how frustrating it can be when a printer has a non-removable printhead, especially if it means replacing the entire device when something goes wrong. However, to answer your question—yes, HP does offer printers with removable printheads!
 

Our HP Smart Tank series features removable printheads, making maintenance and replacements much easier. If you're interested in purchasing one, I’d be happy to help. Let me know your requirements and budget, and I’ll check for the best options available for you!

Keep me posted

Take care and have a good day.

VikramTheGreat

HP Support 

[MacNerd2]

COOL! I'll have to go to the HP website & check out the Smart Tank printers!

Do the printers that have removable printheads also have waste-ink cartridges?

[VikramTheGreat · Accepted solution]

Hi @MacNerd2,

Thank you for reaching out! 😊 You can purchase the printer directly from the website, or if you'd like to buy it through us, let me know which model you're interested in, and I’d be happy to check for the best price we can offer.
 

Regarding the HP Smart Tank printer, it does not use traditional ink cartridges. Instead, it features a built-in ink tank system, allowing you to refill the ink as needed, which makes it more cost-effective in the long run.
 

Let me know how you'd like to proceed—I’m here to help! 😊

 Keep me posted

Take care and have a good day.

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[MacNerd2]

I currently have a Brother Inkvestment printer that I got at Best Buy in January 2023. It now takes 10 minutes to print out 1 page! I don't use it very often. I don't hear it do the automatic head-cleaning very often. That's probably why the printheads are clogged. I frequently have to do a manual head-cleaning. It has permanent printheads. There are 2 Brother-authorized repair stores in my home town. It would cost me a fortune, literally, to get the printer fixed. I'd rather apply that repair money towards a new printer.

I can't decide between getting another inkjet or a monochrome laser printer. If I choose another inkjet, it won't be a Brother. The printer must have removable printheads. That means either HP or Canon.  If I choose HP, I choose the 7301. Does the 7301 have a removable waste ink cartridge that can be removed & replaced by the user?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @MacNerd2, 

I completely understand your concern about printhead maintenance and replacement. The HP Smart Tank 7301 does have replaceable printheads, meaning you won’t have to worry about permanent clogs like with some other models. If needed, you can replace both the black and tri-color printheads easily.
 

Additionally, while the printer does have a waste ink absorption system, it is not a user-replaceable cartridge. However, HP designs the system to last a long time under normal use.
 

If you're interested in purchasing the HP Smart Tank 7301, we’d be happy to assist you with recommendations and purchasing options. Let us know how we can help!

 Keep me posted

Take care and have a good day.

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[MacNerd2]

Thank you for the reply.

I have a Brother Inkvestment printer. I don't use it very often so the printheads are probably clogged.

I don't want to buy the "old timey" inkjet printers (they're still made!) whose cartridges print only a few pages & then run out of ink. It probably wasn't wise of me to buy a supertank printer because I don't print very often.

So, I'm leaning towards getting a monochrome laser printer. Laser printers don't have printheads that can clog! I can't decide what brand of printer to get!

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @MacNerd2,

It's understandable that you're considering a monochrome laser printer due to clogged printheads and infrequent printing. However, before you make the switch, let me highlight why HP offers the best printing solutions for your needs—whether laser or inkjet.
 

1. HP Laser Printers: Reliable, Cost-Effective, and Low Maintenance

Since you're leaning towards a monochrome laser printer, HP offers some of the most efficient, reliable, and cost-effective options in the market:
✔ HP LaserJet Pro Series: Perfect for occasional printing—no dried ink issues.
✔ Fast Printing: Unlike inkjet printers, laser printers produce crisp, smudge-free prints in seconds.
✔ High-Yield Toner: HP's laser toner cartridges last much longer, saving you money in the long run.
✔ Eco-Friendly Options: HP’s toner cartridges are designed for recycling, reducing waste.

Since you don’t print often, an HP LaserJet printer is a smart, long-term investment—no drying ink, no printhead clogs, just fast and hassle-free printing. But if you still want the flexibility of color printing, HP Smart Tank printers offer the best functions.

Let me know what you would like, we are here to get all the help

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[MacNerd2]

I can't decide which type of printer to get! One moment I'm thinking, I'll get Brand X inkjet. Then the next moment I'll think , no, I want to get Brand Y laser printer.

I don't want to get the "old timey" inkjet with 2 cartridges, 1 black & 1 tri-color. Remember those? They're still made! Each cartridge has a few drops of ink in it. Just enough ink to print literally a few pages & then it runs out of ink. One ink color runs out & you have to toss the cartridge & buy another color cartridge.

Then came the 4-color cartridges. Still just a few drops of ink in each cartridge.

Then came the super tank printers.

I've had 2 supertank printers, both Brother. The 995 probably got clogged printheads so I got the 4535. Same problem, clogged printheads.

I think that I've finally made up my mind. No inkjet of any kind. I'm 99 & 44/100 % sure that my next printer will be a laser printer.

Do the HP monochrome laser printers have a user-replaceable waste toner cartridge? Is the photo drum integrated into the toner cartridge or are the photo drum & toner cartridge individual items, that is, one can buy the toner cartridge separate from the photo drum?

I'll research the HP monochrome laser printers.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @MacNerd2,

It sounds like you've had quite the journey with different printer types! Since you're leaning toward a laser printer, let's break down the key details about HP monochrome laser printers so you can make an informed decision.

Waste Toner Cartridge

• Most HP monochrome laser printers do not have a user-replaceable waste toner cartridge.
• Instead, the waste toner is collected inside the toner cartridge itself, which is replaced when the toner runs out.
• Some higher-end enterprise models may have a separate waste toner container, but for most home and small-office HP laser printers, this isn’t a concern.
   

Toner Cartridge vs. Photoconductor Drum
 

HP monochrome laser printers use two different designs:
 

1. Integrated Drum & Toner Cartridge
   • The toner and drum are combined into a single unit.
   • Every time you replace the toner cartridge, you also get a new drum.
   • This is common in models like the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw (uses HP 148A/148X cartridges).
   • Pros: Easier maintenance, no separate drum to worry about.
   • Cons: Slightly higher cost per cartridge since you’re replacing both parts.
      
2. Separate Drum & Toner Cartridge
   • The toner and drum are separate components, meaning you replace the drum only when necessary (usually after tens of thousands of pages).
   • Example: HP LaserJet Pro MFP M130 series uses HP 17A toner and HP 19A drum unit.
   • Pros: Lower toner cost, since you don’t replace the drum every time.
   • Cons: Slightly more maintenance, as the drum will need replacement eventually.
      

Which Type Is Better?

• If you want low maintenance, go for a model with an integrated drum & toner (most standard HP monochrome lasers).
• If you print in very high volume and want to reduce costs over time, consider a model with separate toner & drum units.
   

Final Thoughts

Since you've struggled with clogged inkjet printheads, a laser printer is a great choice.

• No dried-up ink
• Lower cost per page over time
• Reliable performance

If you need recommendations, let me know your printing volume and budget, and I can suggest some good HP LaserJet models!

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

VikramTheGreat

HP Support