Samsung M2020/M2070 toner: the compatible MLT-D111S

If you have a Samsung Xpress M2020 or M2070 at home or in the office, you've probably already noticed something odd: the original toner keeps getting more expensive and harder to find. It's not you. Samsung stopped making laser printers years ago, and the official consumable is going the way of the dodo. The good news is that you're not trapped: the compatible MLT-D111S toner does exactly the same job for a fraction of the price, and here we'll explain everything so you can buy with good judgment.

Key takeaways
- The D111S yields ~1,000 pages and the D111L (also called D111XL in Spain) ~1,800 pages, both under the ISO/IEC 19752 standard (Ink Technologies, 2026).
- The original costs ~€71-90 per cartridge; the compatible, ~€6-12. We're talking about savings of between 6 and 10 times.
- HP bought Samsung's printer division for ~$1.05 billion (2016-2017), so the compatible is the honest route, not a trap.
- Using a compatible does not void the warranty on your printer (EU protection).
- Toner powder doesn't expire: you can buy spares (shelf life 24-36 months if kept dry).

What's the difference between the MLT-D111S and the MLT-D111L?

The difference is only the capacity, and it's in the final letter. The MLT-D111S ("S" for Small, standard) yields ~1,000 pages at 5% coverage; the MLT-D111L ("L" for Large, high capacity) yields ~1,800 pages, almost double, measured under the same ISO/IEC 19752 standard (QueCartucho, 2026). Same cartridge on the outside, more powder inside.

The MLT-D111S is the standard-capacity toner cartridge of the Samsung Xpress M202x/M207x series. It's physically identical to the D111L; what changes is how much toner it holds and, therefore, how many pages it prints before running out.

A detail that confuses a lot of people in Spain: the D111L is also sold under the trade name "D111XL". It's the same high-capacity product, not a third variant. If you see "D111XL — 1,800 copies," that's a D111L.

At Star Toner we print and test our own compatible cartridges before selling them. With the D111S we consistently see around 1,000 real pages with normal office documents (text, the odd graphic), and when someone prints a lot, we always recommend the D111L: it works out better per page and you change the cartridge half as often.

Reference	Letter	Yield (ISO/IEC 19752)	OEM codes it replaces	Who it's for
MLT-D111S	S = Small	~1,000 pages	MLT-D111S, MLT-D111S/ELS, SU810A, SU814A	Home use / low volume
MLT-D111L (D111XL)	L = Large	~1,800 pages	MLT-D111L, MLT-D111L/ELS, SU799A	Office / student / high volume

Quick rule: if you print less than a pack of sheets a month, the D111S is more than enough. If you print more, or if changing cartridges annoys you, go straight for the D111L/D111XL: you pay a bit more but the cost per page drops. If you're unsure which one your machine takes, check how to find out which toner your printer needs.

Which Samsung printers use the D111S toner?

The D111S and D111L are compatible with the whole Samsung Xpress desktop series launched around 2014: the SL-M2020, M2021, M2022, M2024, M2026, M2070, M2071 and M2078 models, in their standard and connectivity variants (W for Wi-Fi, F for fax/multifunction) (QueCartucho, 2026). If your printer starts with "SL-M20" or "SL-M207," it almost certainly uses this cartridge.

Here's the confirmed list so you can verify your exact machine:

• M202x series: SL-M2020, M2020W, M2021, M2021W, M2022, M2022W, M2024, M2024W, M2026, M2026W
• M207x series: SL-M2070, M2070W, M2070F, M2070FW, M2071 (and +FH/FW/HW/W variants), M2078 (and +F/FW/W variants)

The ones with "W" have Wi-Fi; the "F" or "FW" ones are multifunction (they print, scan and sometimes send faxes). All share the same D111S/D111L cartridge, so you don't have to memorize the letter: what matters is the model number.

Citable capsule: A single cartridge, the MLT-D111S, covers at least 10 models in the Samsung Xpress series (M2020 to M2078). This means that if you have several of these printers in an office, you can standardize on a single spare consumable. The Star-Toner compatible declares compatibility with 10 models and a cost of €0.042/page (Star-Toner, 2026).

Why is original Samsung toner so hard to find?

Because Samsung no longer makes printers. In September 2016 it announced the sale of its printing division to HP for about $1.05 billion, a deal that closed in 2017 (Xataka, 2017). Since then the official consumable for the Xpress series has been scarce, rising in price and leaving the user "orphaned" of brand support.

This isn't a theory: it's a fact documented by the business press. HP folded Samsung's laser technology into its own catalog, and the Xpress series was left with no successor. The practical upshot for you is twofold: the original gets more expensive (that's why it runs around €71-90 per cartridge) and the compatible goes from being "an alternative" to simply being the sensible route.

And here's the honest angle that matters to us: buying a compatible for a discontinued brand isn't a trap or a low-quality workaround. It's the logical, sustainable way to keep a perfectly working printer alive. Throwing it out because the manufacturer left the business would be absurd. If you want the full context of the original vs. compatible debate, we have it compared side by side, printing with both.

How much do you save with the compatible D111S?

A lot. The original MLT-D111S toner usually costs between ~€71 and ~€90 per 1,000-page cartridge in Spanish shops (HP official RRP: €82.99, VAT incl., retrieved 18-07-2026) while the compatible sells from ~€6 up to ~€12 depending on the shop and capacity (a4toner, 2026). It's between 6 and 10 times less.

Let's get to the numbers, which is what really matters. Star-Toner's compatible D111S has a cost of €0.042/page (Star-Toner, 2026). An original cartridge at €82.99 for 1,000 pages works out to ~€0.083/page. Almost double.

Real-world example (student / small office):

Scenario	Pages/year	With original (~€0.08/pg)	With compatible (~€0.042/pg)	Savings/year
Student	2,000	~€160	~€84	~€76
Small office	6,000	~€480	~€252	~€228

And this is just from changing the consumable, without touching the printer. If you want to dig deeper into how this is calculated properly, we have guides on the real cost of printing and on how many pages each cartridge really gives you.

Citable capsule: The original toner for the Samsung Xpress M2020/M2070 runs around €71-90 per 1,000-page cartridge, versus the ~€6-12 of an equivalent compatible. For an office that prints 6,000 pages a year, the switch to compatible means an estimated annual saving of more than €200 without replacing the equipment (HP official RRP: €82.99, VAT incl., retrieved 18-07-2026).

Does the compatible cause problems with the chip or the warranty?

No, and those are the two objections you ask us about most. The compatible cartridge carries a new chip that reports toner levels to the printer, so the machine recognizes it instantly and shows you the percentage just as it does with the original. And using third-party consumables does not void the warranty on your printer: it's protected in the EU (and in the US by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) (LD Products, 2026).

The chip is a small circuit in the cartridge that reports the estimated toner level to the printer. On a well-made compatible it comes new and updated, not recycled from the old cartridge.

And if your Samsung says it "doesn't recognize the cartridge"? It's almost always a dirty contact, not a fault in the cartridge:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Take out the cartridge.
3. Gently clean the chip (that gold plate) with a dry cloth.
4. Reinsert it until you hear a "click."
5. Turn it on.

If the message persists, we cover it thoroughly in what to do when the printer doesn't recognize the compatible toner. On the warranty issue, which scares a lot of people, you have the legal detail in our guide to the legal warranty on compatible cartridges in Spain. The law is on your side: no manufacturer can deny you the warranty just for using another brand's ink or toner.

How do you install the D111S toner step by step?

It installs in under a minute and without tools. You open the front cover, take out the old cartridge, remove the orange protective seals from the new one, gently shake the cartridge side to side to distribute the powder and insert it until it "clicks." Samsung itself recommends not exposing the drum to direct light for more than a few minutes during the swap.

Step by step:

1. Turn off and open the printer's front cover.
2. Remove the used cartridge by pulling gently on the handle.
3. Unbox the new one and remove all the orange seals (the sealing tape and the drum protectors). It's error #1: leaving a seal on makes it come out blank.
4. Shake it gently horizontally, 5-6 times, to distribute the toner.
5. Insert it into its rail until you hear the "click" confirming it has seated.
6. Close the cover and turn it on. Print a test page.

If you want the generic procedure for any laser printer, with photos, it's in how to install a toner. From our own experience testing these cartridges: 90% of the "blank prints" people report when fitting a compatible are an orange seal that wasn't removed. Check that first.

Is it worth buying spare toner for a discontinued brand?

Yes, and it's one of the few times we recommend buying extra. Toner powder doesn't expire like liquid ink: its storage shelf life is 24-36 months kept somewhere dry, cool and out of direct light (LD Products, 2026). Since Samsung no longer makes this series, having one or two spare cartridges gives you peace of mind.

Think of it this way: the printer works, the consumable is dirt cheap and doesn't spoil in storage. Buying two or three D111L/D111XL and leaving them in a drawer shields you against stock shortages and against the original disappearing entirely one day. It's not hoarding for the sake of it: it's common sense with a machine whose manufacturer has moved on.

To keep that stock in good shape and make your printer last, take a look at our tips for extending the life of your cartridges: storing them horizontally, at a stable temperature and away from the sun does more than it seems.

Samsung Xpress toner, no smoke: choose your compatible D111S

Let's sum up plainly. You have a Samsung printer that works, the original is expensive and on its way out, and the compatible D111S/D111L does the same job for a fraction of the price, with a chip that's recognized on its own and without touching your warranty. You're not trapped because Samsung left the business; you simply buy the right consumable in the right place.

At Star-Toner we have the compatible D111S (1,000 pages, ISO/IEC 19752, €0.042/page) tested by us before we sell it. It's honest laser toner, with no extra marketing.

Ready to stop overpaying? Take a look at our compatible laser toner collection and find your D111S or D111L at the price it should always have been. Same result, a fraction of the cost.

Frequently asked questions

Are the MLT-D111S and MLT-D111L interchangeable in my printer?

Yes. Both fit and work in the whole Samsung Xpress M202x/M207x series. The only difference is the capacity: the D111S yields ~1,000 pages and the D111L (D111XL) ~1,800, under ISO/IEC 19752 (QueCartucho, 2026). Choose the S for low volume and the L if you print a lot.

Does using a compatible toner void my Samsung's warranty?

No. In the European Union the manufacturer cannot void your printer's warranty for using third-party consumables; the same protection exists in the US with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (LD Products, 2026). It's a commercial myth worth dismantling.

My printer doesn't recognize the compatible cartridge, what do I do?

It's usually the chip contact. Turn off the printer, take out the cartridge, gently clean the chip's gold plate with a dry cloth and reinsert it until the "click." The compatible carries a new chip that reports levels, so in most cases it's recognized right away after cleaning the contact.

How much do I save versus original Samsung toner?

Quite a bit. The original runs around €71-90 per cartridge (HP official RRP: €82.99, VAT incl., retrieved 18-07-2026) and the compatible costs ~€6-12. At ~€0.042/page, an office printing 6,000 pages/year can save more than €200 a year just by changing the consumable, without touching the equipment.

Can I buy spare toner even if it takes me months to use it?

Yes. Toner powder doesn't expire like ink; it holds up for 24-36 months stored dry, cool and out of direct light (LD Products, 2026). Since it's a series discontinued by Samsung, buying one or two spares is a sensible decision.

Sources

• QueCartucho.es — Samsung D111S / D111L compatible toner: S vs L difference and compatibility — https://quecartucho.es/1502-samsung-d111s-d111l-toner-compatible.html
• Ink Technologies — Samsung 111S Black Toner Cartridge (MLT-D111S) Compatible: yield and OEM references — https://www.inktechnologies.com/samsung-111s-black-toner-cartridge-mlt-d111s-compatible
• LD Products — Compatible Samsung 111S (MLT-D111S) Black Toner: chip, warranty and shelf life — https://www.ldproducts.com/compatible-samsung-mltd111s-black-toner-cartridge
• Xataka — Samsung sells its printer division to HP — https://www.xataka.com/accesorios/samsung-le-vende-su-division-de-impresoras-a-hp-no-quieren-distracciones
• El País — HP acquires Samsung's printer business for $1.05 billion — https://elpais.com/economia/2016/09/12/actualidad/1473679738_009373.html
• HP (official store) — Samsung MLT-D111S Black toner cartridge, official RRP €82.99 (VAT incl., retrieved 18-07-2026) — https://www.hp.com/es-es/shop/products/supplies/cartucho-de-t-ner-samsung-mlt-d111s-negro-su810a
• a4toner — D111S toner compatible with the original Samsung MLT-D111S/ELS — https://www.a4toner.com/toner-d111s-compatible-con-el-toner-original-samsung-mlt-d111s-els.html
• Star-Toner — Samsung MLT-D111S compatible toner · 1,000 pgs · €0.042/pg · ISO/IEC 19752 — /products/toner-compatible-samsung-mlt-d111s-111s-premium