The cheapest printer on the shelf can be the most expensive to run — especially if it locks you into a subscription or blocks third-party ink. If you want the freedom to use compatible cartridges in the UK, choose the supplies story before you fall for the hardware discount.
This 2026 guide is about buying criteria and example model groups (not a “we tested every printer” league table). Always verify the exact cartridge or toner codes on the product listing before you buy.
Buying Criteria That Matter
- Open supplies — prefer printers that still accept third-party ink/toner without a permanent OEM-only lock
- Avoid HP+ / forced Instant Ink lock-in — many “e” models require original HP ink for life once HP+ is activated; see Instant Ink / HP+ and Dynamic Security
- Laser vs inkjet for your usage — occasional text jobs often favour mono laser; photo-heavy homes may still want inkjet
- Cost per page — price the toner/ink multipack, not just the printer: cost per page guide
- Separate drum on Brother lasers — TN toner + DR drum keeps running costs clearer: toner vs drum
- Search supplies before you buy the printer — if INKredible (or any specialist) doesn’t list cartridges for a brand-new SKU yet, wait or pick a known family
Example Model Groups (Verify on the Listing)
These are indicative popular UK examples that commonly have compatible supplies listed — not endorsements that every firmware revision forever accepts every third-party chip. Confirm your exact model on the cartridge page.
Brother mono lasers (TN + DR)
- HL-L2350DW / MFC-L2710DW class — widely used; TN-2410 / TN-2420 style yields
- HL-1212W — compact mono with TN-1050 / DR-1050 style supplies
- Newer compact lines such as HL-L1240W / HL-L1242W — check TN-1150 / DR-1150 availability before purchase
Brother colour lasers
- DCP-L3520CDW class — colour toner families (e.g. TN-248 / TN-248XL style); still verify listing
Canon PIXMA inkjets
- PGI-550 / CLI-551 and PGI-570 / CLI-571 families were extremely popular but are now discontinued (2nd hand may be possible) — long-running home favourites with wide compatible coverage
- Newer PIXMA such as TS8750 (PGI-530 / CLI-531 style) — confirm compatible availability for your exact TS model
Epson cartridge inkjets
- WorkForce WF-2930DWF class using 604 / 604XL — example of a current cartridge Epson still commonly supplied third-party
HP buyers — read the small print
Plenty of HP printers still run third-party ink until a Dynamic Security update — but HP+ locks and Instant Ink enrolment are a different risk. If freedom to choose compatible cartridges is your priority, treat HP+ as a hard no unless you are happy with OEM-only supplies forever.
Laser vs Inkjet for Occasional Use
Inkjet cartridges can dry out if you print rarely. A mono Brother laser sitting idle is usually happier — toner doesn’t dry the same way, and there’s no colour multipack to babysit for black-only letters.
Choose inkjet when you need photos, colour school projects or borderless prints. Choose laser when the job is mostly documents and you care about cost per page, speed and compatible toner availability.
Before You Click “Buy” on a Printer
- Write down the exact model string from the retailer page
- Search that model on INKredible
- Check whether listed supplies are compatible, remanufactured or genuine — and the price of a multipack / high yield toner, compared to individuals / standard yield
- Confirm how to match cartridges later: find the right ink cartridge
- If nothing is listed yet, assume ranging lag — don’t gamble on “compatibles will appear soon”. It can takes several months for Compatibles to be available after a printer range is released
Use the INKredible website search with the printer model you’re considering. If we already list ink or toner for it, you’ll know the running-cost story before the hardware arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
There isn’t one answer — it depends on mono vs colour and how often you print. Start with open supplies and cost per page, then pick a Brother laser or a Canon/Epson inkjet family with listed compatibles.
Feel free to contact our Support Team if you have any queries on buying a new printer!
They can be if you want a subscription and accept OEM cartridges. They are a poor fit if your goal is third-party cartridges. Read our Instant Ink / HP+ guide first.
Not automatically in the UK. See compatible ink safety & UK warranty.
Bottle systems cut ink cost but are a different ecosystem (bottles, waste pads, different failure modes). This guide focuses on cartridge/toner printers that take aftermarket supplies.