I'm out of toner. What now?

If your laser printer reports that it has run out of toner, there is nothing left to do but look for a new cartridge. Replacing toner is a relatively simple matter, but the same cannot be said about choosing a toner, because there is a wide range of toner cartridges on the market. In the following lines, we will look at how to make sense of them and what consumable material you may ultimately still need to replace.

If you own a Samsung, Brother, OKI, or HP LED or laser printer model, your printer may indicate not only an empty toner but also the need to replace the drum unit.

The imaging drum does not contain any toner, but it is still an important part of the printer, as it enables the electrostatic application of toner to the paper, where it is subsequently fixed by the printer using pressure and high temperature. However, its service life is longer than the toner’s lifespan.The print roller can usually apply toner to up to 30,000 printed pages.

However, you should replace this consumable material even if your printer does not yet indicate that this is necessary. A clear sign of print roller wear is reduced print quality, which can already be observed at a glance on the printed document. It is generally recommended to replace it when installing every third toner. Sometimes, however, it may happen that the print drum wears out and the toner cartridge becomes empty at the same time; in that case, you will have to replace both components.

If the printed documents have the required quality and the drum unit shows no signs of wear, replace only the toner cartridge. When choosing, you basically have two options. You can choose an original toner or an alternative one.

Original toner

Choosing an original toner is a safe bet.Original toner is made directly by the printer manufacturer, and its composition is tailored specifically for your printer. Always choose an original toner when you need high print quality, which is always guaranteed with this type of cartridge.

Using original toner is also an essential condition when making a warranty claim.The disadvantage of original toners is the higher price, because in addition to quality you are paying for the brand and related marketing. The original toner is marked with the manufacturer's logo, which is placed not only on the product packaging, but also directly on the toner itself.

Alternative toner

The price of non-original toner cartridges is considerably more affordable, which is why such toner is a good choice for printer users who mainly want to save money. This is by no means an insignificant item.By using such toners, you can reduce your printing costs by up to 50% or 75%.

The alternative toner is not manufactured by the manufacturer of your printer. You may therefore encounter various warnings from printer manufacturers, who point out the possibility of printer damage and loss of warranty when using alternative cartridges. However, this does not change the fact that purchasing high-quality alternative toners or drum units from a reputable seller will ensure full-fledged, high-quality printing and minimize the risk of printer damage.  

Take enough time and pay close attention to your selection

Not only when choosing an alternative toner, but also when selecting any cartridges in general, buy from companies that specialize in selling consumables and have been dedicated to it for a long time.

Beware of companies that sell toners alongside a completely different assortment; they usually cannot provide expert advice, offer a wide selection, fast delivery, or even reasonable quality.