There are 3 basic types
of toner : OEM, Compatible and Remanufactured.
OEM - Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges are brand new toner cartridges built by the manufacturer
that built the related hardware item. These cartridges are usually the only
ones available for any new hardware pieces unless a compatible cartridge is
already on the market. Examples include HP, Lemark, Canon, Brother, Apple, etc.
Compatible - Compatible cartridges are basically
generic cartridges. These cartridges are sometimes compatible to multiple models
of printers and are an exact replacement of the OEM cartridges. Compatible cartridges
are manufactured with all NEW parts and meet or exceed OEM
specifications. These cartridges are a great cost-effective replacement for
OEM cartridges.
Remanufactured - Also known as refilled, recharged,
or drill & fill. These cartridges are recycled and filled with toner and
reused. These are often the cheapest cartridges on the market but also known
to be the most problematic. Parts in remanufactured cartridges are often used
multiple times and hence deteriorate over time
