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Artículo · Printing Blog | Startoner

Printing in 2026: why it's still a rip-off

Actualizado 19 julio 2026

Printing in 2026 should be cheap, simple and predictable. It's the opposite. You buy a compatible cartridge and the printer says "not original". The manufacturer's cartridge costs more than the printer that houses it. The subscription they sold you as a saving locks you out if you cancel. It's not bad luck: it's a system designed to make you pay more.

In this article we explain how the rip-off works, where the trap is in each home and office printer model, and what concrete steps you can take today to stop paying it — without losing the three-year legal guarantee or print quality.

At Star Toner we print and test our own compatible consumables before selling them. What this article tells you doesn't come from a brochure: it comes from putting cartridges in real printers and seeing what happens when the firmware "decides" for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Printer ink is among the most expensive liquids you buy: up to nearly $10,000 per litre in some HP cartridges (Consumer Reports, 2023).
  • Firmware (HP Dynamic Security and equivalents) can block third-party cartridges with an automatic update.
  • In 2025 HP settled a class action and agreed to make those updates optional on 21 models (The Register, 2025).
  • An ISO 9001-quality compatible yields the same and saves between 38% and 89% per page.
  • In Spain you have 3 years' legal guarantee on compatibles too.

Why is printer ink so expensive?

Because you're not paying for liquid: you're paying for a business model. Inkjet ink can cost between $3,000 and $12,000 per litre by volume, and some HP cartridges approach $10,000 per litre (Consumer Reports, 2023). It works out dearer than Chanel No. 5. The printer is sold at almost cost; the consumables pay for the party.

HP's own chief executive, Enrique Lores, put it bluntly in Davos: "We lose money on the hardware, we make money on the supplies" (The Register, 2025). It's not a forum conspiracy theory: it's the declared strategy. They've called it razor-and-blade since the 1980s, but the gap between cost and price has never been so wide.

The razor-and-blade model consists of selling the device cheaply (or at a loss) to tie you to an expensive, recurring consumable. The printer is the bait; the cartridge is the hook.

In its lab tests, Consumer Reports found that in intermittent use many printers deliver half or less of their ink to the paper —and some barely 20-30%—; the rest is spent cleaning heads, which can cost you more than $100 a year in ink you never see (Consumer Reports, 2023).

If you want the full breakdown of what each page costs, you'll find it in the real cost of printing.

Can your printer block a compatible cartridge?

Yes, and it does so by design. You buy a compatible, put it in, it works for ten minutes and suddenly up it comes: "Non-original cartridge. Limited functionality." It's not a fault. It's HP Dynamic Security, a feature HP introduced in 2016 and has toughened in later updates. Brother and Canon have their own systems.

HP Dynamic Security is firmware that checks whether the cartridge's chip is on HP's "authorised" list and blocks the rest. The mechanics are always the same: the printer downloads an update, that update adds unauthorised chips to a blacklist, and overnight cartridges that had been printing for months stop working.

The trap works because almost everyone has automatic updates switched on. In January 2024 an antitrust class action was filed in Illinois accusing HP of monopolising the replacements market precisely with these updates (The Register, 2025). If this has happened to you, it's not paranoia.

In March 2025 a U.S. federal judge approved the settlement of a class action against HP: the company undertook to let the owners of 21 models refuse the Dynamic Security firmware updates and even reverse blocks already applied. HP admitted no wrongdoing (The Register, 2025).

Practical tip: disable Dynamic Security before changing cartridge

Go into the printer's web panel (type its IP into the browser), go to Settings → Cartridge Policy and untick "Update Cartridge Authentication". Keep the security updates, but disable the Dynamic Security ones. If your printer has already blocked a cartridge, compatibles with a pre-flashed chip skip the blacklist until the next update. The model-by-model detail is in how HP firmware blocks cartridges, and if your machine has already rejected one, see what to do when it doesn't recognise the compatible toner.

How much does an original cartridge really cost versus a compatible?

The difference is brutal. An original HP toner cartridge is around €75-95 in Spanish shops and yields about 1,000 pages under the ISO/IEC 19752 standard: between 7.5 and 9.5 cents per page in toner alone. A certified compatible with the same yield costs between €18 and €26: 1.8 to 2.6 cents per page.

Price analyses of OEM versus compatibles put the saving at between 38% and 89% depending on the reference (CompAndSave, 2024). Don't look at the cartridge price: look at the cost per page. It's the only honest metric.

When we print the same run with an original and with our compatible at 5% coverage, the number of pages comes out the same within the ISO margin. You have it documented side by side in original vs compatible toner, printed side by side.

An SME that prints 5,000 pages a month pays about €425 a month in original toner. With certified compatibles it drops to about €110. The annual difference is almost €3,800 — half a person's day rate. You can compare real prices and yields in the laser toner catalogue.

Does an ink subscription save you money or tie you down?

It ties you down. HP Instant Ink and its Canon, Brother and Epson equivalents promise a monthly fee and "worry-free" printing. The small print is another matter: if you cancel, the cartridges inside the printer stop printing that same day, even if they're full and you've already paid for them. The firmware declares them "unauthorised" when HP's server sees you're no longer a customer.

HP Instant Ink is a pages-based subscription service: you pay a monthly plan and the printer orders cartridges by itself. The real cost depends on your printing pattern, and that's where the problem lies.

The model turns perverse for the seasonal user. A month without printing? You pay anyway. A month of 500 pages on a 100 plan? You pay overages at a premium price. Want to switch to third-party ink? The printer rejects it because it's married to the service. Lores himself has admitted that the long-term goal is to "turn printing into a subscription" (The Register, 2025).

If your business depends on printing, get out before the next billing cycle. A printer that accepts standard cartridges plus an ISO 9001 toner supplier costs you 30-40% of the annual subscription cost. We analyse the plans in detail in HP Instant Ink in Spain: when it's worth it and when it isn't.

Do the chips "empty" the cartridge before its time?

Frequently, yes. Every modern cartridge carries a chip with three legitimate functions: identify the model, count pages and warn when it's running low. The problem starts with a fourth function: declaring the cartridge "empty" before it is. Add to that the ink spent on maintenance —up to half or more in intermittent use, according to Consumer Reports— and it's a lot of paid-for consumable that never reaches the paper.

The official argument is "to guarantee consistent quality". The real argument is to sell more cartridges sooner. In certified compatibles, the chip is programmed to use the cartridge until it really empties: you print the pages you paid for, not the ones the manufacturer decides you've paid for. If you want to stretch every unit to the maximum, there are tips in how to extend the life of your cartridges.

And the drum-toner block scam?

It's the split that makes you pay for two consumables where you used to pay for one. Twenty years ago the toner and the drum went in a single piece. At some point in the 2000s, Brother and Lexmark separated them and sold them separately. The justification was environmental (a drum lasts 12,000-25,000 pages; a toner, 2,000-3,000), and it's true. But the combined price of the two pieces has always been higher than the equivalent integrated cartridge.

The real trick: the drum costs €80-180 depending on the model, and its chip also includes a counter that declares it exhausted long before its real yield. If you have a Brother or Lexmark with a separate drum, look for ISO 9001-quality compatible toner + drum packs: the combined saving exceeds 60% versus the two original pieces. We explain the difference between the two consumables in toner vs drum: what each one is, and you'll find them in compatible drums.

When a plastic cartridge costs more than the printer that houses it, you're not buying ink: you're paying a tax to the manufacturer.

"Compatibles damage your printer": is it true?

No, not if they're certified. FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) is the tactic manufacturers have used for three decades: if you can't compete on price, sow doubt about quality. The three usual arguments are "worse quality", "they wreck the head" and "they leave you stranded".

Here it's worth being honest: the cheap compatible without certification —the five-euro generic with no process audit— does cause leaks and low yield. We've seen it. That's why we only sell ISO 9001-quality compatibles, which is another league. The distinction matters and we develop it in counterfeit vs compatible cartridges: the difference.

The psychological trick is more subtle: when a printer fails after installing a compatible, the cartridge gets blamed; when it fails after an OEM, it's called "normal product failure". Same fault, different cause depending on the brand. If a technician claims a compatible damaged your machine, ask for documented evidence: lab, batch number, residue analysis. There rarely is any. And to choose well from the start, read cheap toner: how to buy without getting fleeced.

Is it legal to use compatibles and what guarantee do they have in Spain?

It's completely legal, and with three years' guarantee. Since 1 January 2022, the minimum legal guarantee in Spain went from two to three years under Royal Decree-Law 7/2021, which transposes EU Directives 2019/771 and 2019/770 (European Consumer Centre, 2022). That includes compatible cartridges.

Under Royal Decree-Law 7/2021, any consumer good sold in Spain from 1 January 2022 has 3 years of legal guarantee, and the period for the reversal of the burden of proof rises to one or two years: during that time the defect is presumed to have come from the factory (European Consumer Centre, 2022).

The legal guarantee isn't a favour from the seller: it's the minimum obligation. If someone offers you "1 year's guarantee on cartridges", they're breaching the rules. Anything below three years, demand it in writing. You'll find the practical detail in the legal guarantee on compatible cartridges in Spain.

The European Right to Repair tightens the net

Directive (EU) 2024/1799 ("right to repair") came into force on 30 July 2024 and Member States must apply it from 31 July 2026 (EUR-Lex, 2024). It prohibits manufacturers from preventing independent repairers using compatible spare parts, provided they meet safety and IP rules — for now in its Annex II categories (washing machines, phones, displays…), which do not include printers. The net is real, but for your cartridges the protection in force remains the three-year legal guarantee.

What actually works in 2026: how to stop paying the rip-off

The conclusion isn't to throw the printer out of the window. Printing is still necessary; you just have to sidestep the traps. In practical order:

  • Buy a "dumb" printer. No mandatory Wi-Fi, no automatic updates, no subscription. Basic mono lasers from Kyocera or Brother are still excellent and accept compatibles without a fight.
  • Use ISO 9001-quality compatibles, with yield under ISO/IEC 19752 (mono) or 19798 (colour). Same powder, same process, same yield. Only the price changes. Installing one is straightforward: see how to install a toner.
  • Demand your 3 years' legal guarantee. It's the minimum under RDL 7/2021, not a promotion.
  • Disable the firmware updates that bring Dynamic Security before changing cartridge.
  • Count the cost per page, not the cartridge price. A €25 cartridge at 1,000 pages costs 2.5 c/page; a €75 one, 7.5 c/page.

At Star Toner we publish the ISO yield of each reference precisely so the comparison is direct, whether in compatible laser toner or in ink cartridges. Printing in 2026 still has its traps, but they're visible if you know where to look. The difference between paying the rip-off and stopping paying it is five minutes of honest comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to use compatible cartridges in my HP, Brother or Canon printer?

Yes, it's completely legal. EU Directives 2019/771 and 2019/770, transposed by Royal Decree-Law 7/2021, protect your right to use third-party consumables. EU Directive 2024/1799 on the right to repair pushes in the same direction, though its obligations are limited for now to its Annex II categories, which do not include printers (EUR-Lex, 2024). Buying and using ISO 9001-quality compatibles is protected by law.

Can my printer block a compatible cartridge via firmware?

Yes. Some HP, Brother and Canon models use systems like HP Dynamic Security that block unauthorised cartridges after an update. In 2025 HP agreed, by court settlement, that on 21 models you can refuse those updates (The Register, 2025). To avoid it: disable automatic updates or use cartridges with a pre-flashed chip.

How many pages does a compatible print versus the original?

The same, when the compatible is certified under ISO/IEC 19752 (mono) or 19798 (colour), which standardise yield at 5% coverage. A certified compatible yields the same (±5%) for a fraction of the price: the saving per page runs from 38% to 89% (CompAndSave, 2024). Uncertified ones can yield 20-40% less.

What guarantee do compatible cartridges have in Spain?

Three years' legal guarantee. Royal Decree-Law 7/2021 establishes that any consumer good sold from 1 January 2022 has a minimum guarantee of 3 years (European Consumer Centre, 2022). If a cartridge fails through a defect, leak or far lower yield, the seller must replace it or refund your money.

Why is original ink so expensive?

Because you're not paying for liquid, you're paying for the razor-and-blade model: the printer is sold at a loss and the consumables make up for it. Some HP cartridges reach nearly $10,000 per litre (Consumer Reports, 2023), dearer than many luxury perfumes. HP's own CEO admits they lose money on the hardware and make it on the supplies.

Sources

  • Consumer Reports — Why Is Printer Ink So Expensive? — https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/printers/why-is-printer-ink-so-expensive-a2101590645/
  • Consumer Reports — The High Cost of Wasted Printer Ink — https://www.consumerreports.org/printers/the-high-cost-of-wasted-printer-ink/
  • The Register — HP Inc settles printer toner lockout lawsuit — https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/19/hp_printer_lawsuit_settled/
  • EUR-Lex — Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on the repair of goods — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1799/oj/eng
  • European Consumer Centre in Spain (Ministry of Consumer Affairs) — Spain extends the minimum legal guarantee from two to three years — https://portal-cec.consumo.gob.es/en/comunicacion/noticias/2022/espana-amplia-la-garantia-legal-minima-de-dos-tres-anos
  • CompAndSave — Compare Ink Cartridge Prices: OEM vs Compatible — https://www.compandsave.com/blog/posts/compare-ink-cartridge-prices-for-printers-oem-vs-compatible.html
  • ISO — ISO/IEC 19752 (yield of toner cartridges) — https://www.iso.org/standard/63137.html

Keep reading at Star Toner

Last updated: July 2026. Star Toner — certified compatible consumables, tested before they're sold.

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