Compatible Samsung MLT-R116 drum: installation, chip reset and compatibility

The compatible Samsung MLT-R116 drum is the imaging unit (drum) that many users confuse with the toner. In Samsung Xpress M2xxx-series laser printers, the toner (MLT-D116) and the drum (MLT-R116) are separate parts: the toner supplies the print powder and the drum transfers it onto the paper. When the printer warns that the drum has reached the end of its life, or repeated lines and marks appear every few centimetres, it is the MLT-R116 that needs replacing, not the toner.

What it is and which printers it fits

This drum has an approximate yield of 9,000 pages under ISO standards and is manufactured under ISO 9001 quality control. It is suitable for exactly these models:

• Samsung Xpress M2625 and M2625D
• Samsung Xpress M2675F and M2675FN
• Samsung Xpress M2825DW and M2825ND
• Samsung Xpress M2835DW
• Samsung Xpress M2875DW, M2875FD and M2875FW
• Samsung Xpress M2885FW

If your device does not appear in this list, check the code printed on the original drum before ordering the replacement.

How to install it and what to do if it "doesn't recognise the cartridge"

Installation is straightforward: switch off the printer, open the front cover, remove the toner cartridge first and then the used drum. Remove any seal or protective tape from the new MLT-R116, place it in its guide, reinsert the toner and close the cover.

If, on switching on, a "drum not recognised" warning or a drum-depleted message appears, it usually does not indicate a genuine fault with the replacement. In many cases it is enough to switch the device off and on again, or to keep the cover open for a few seconds and close it again, for the counter to reset. Some models let you reset the warning from the maintenance menu on the panel. A compatible drum with a new chip should register its full yield from the first power-up; if the message persists, check that the part is seated correctly and that you have removed all the seals.

Yield and savings compared with the original

The advantage of a compatible drum is financial without sacrificing longevity: it keeps the same nominal yield of 9,000 pages as the branded unit, but at a fraction of the cost. That saving is especially noticeable in offices printing at volume, where spending on consumables outweighs the price of the printer itself. If you want to work out your real cost per page, our article on the real cost of printing will help, and if you have doubts about quality, in original vs compatible printed side by side we compare them with real samples.

Why buy it from Star Toner

At Star Toner we sell the compatible Samsung MLT-R116 drum for €14.98, manufactured under ISO 9001, with a guarantee and shipping from Spain. As a compatible cartridge, it is fully protected by law: see the legal guarantee for compatible cartridges in Spain to be sure that using them does not void your printer's warranty.

Remember that the drum works alongside the toner: if you also need print powder for other Samsung devices, we have the MLT-D205L toner with a 5,000-page yield and the MLT-D203L toner for the ProXpress series. With the right replacement, your Samsung Xpress will keep printing crisply for thousands of pages.

Frequently asked questions