There’s a universal moment of dread every home office worker, student, or parent knows intimately. You’re up against a deadline. The signed contract needs to be scanned and sent, the term paper is due in an hour, or the concert tickets for tonight need to be printed. You hit “Print,” and your HP OfficeJet whirs to life, only to grind to a halt and flash the one message you can’t afford to see: “Ink Cartridge Low.” The panic sets in. A frantic search through desk drawers yields nothing. This is the precise problem the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) is designed to solve—a convenient, all-in-one package that promises reliability and quality, ensuring you’re always prepared. But as we discovered in our in-depth testing, the journey from clicking “buy” to printing a perfect page is fraught with unexpected and costly pitfalls that every HP printer owner needs to understand.
- Original HP Ink is engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- These cartridges work with: HP OfficeJet 6954, 6958, 6962; HP OfficeJet Pro 6968, 6975, 6978
What to Consider Before Buying Printer Ink Cartridges
Printer ink cartridges are more than just plastic containers of colored liquid; they are the lifeblood of your printer and the critical component that transforms a digital file into a tangible reality. The primary benefit of investing in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges like the HP 902 series is the assurance of perfect compatibility, optimal print quality, and the protection of your printer’s warranty. This system is engineered to work flawlessly, preventing the clogged printheads, software rejection errors, and poor color matching that can often plague third-party alternatives. Solving the “out of ink” problem with a reliable, high-quality solution means uninterrupted workflow, professional-looking documents, and vibrant photos without the headache of troubleshooting.
The ideal customer for an OEM multipack like this is someone who relies on their HP OfficeJet or OfficeJet Pro for consistent, high-quality output. This includes small business owners printing invoices and marketing materials, students who need crisp, readable reports, and families printing everything from photos to homework. They value reliability over rock-bottom prices. However, this product might not be suitable for those who print very infrequently, as water-based ink cartridges can risk drying out over extended periods of non-use. It’s also a challenging proposition for users on a strict budget, though the risks of cheaper, non-genuine cartridges—from poor quality to outright printer damage—often make them a false economy.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Compatibility & Authenticity: This is the single most important factor. Always double-check that the cartridge number (e.g., 902/902XL) matches your exact printer model. Furthermore, understand the difference between OEM (made by the printer manufacturer), remanufactured (refilled OEM cartridges), and compatible (third-party clones). While OEM offers the highest guarantee of success, our findings show that even genuine products can have authenticity and quality issues depending on the seller’s supply chain.
- Page Yield & Performance: Page yield, measured by ISO standards, tells you approximately how many pages a cartridge can print. This pack cleverly includes a high-yield (XL) black cartridge for text-heavy documents (approx. 750 pages) and standard color cartridges (approx. 315 pages each), which aligns with typical home office usage. Always consider the cost-per-page to determine the true value of a cartridge.
- Ink Quality & Expiration: The quality of the ink determines the sharpness of text and the vibrancy of colors. Equally important is the expiration date printed on the box. Expired ink can change in chemical composition, leading to poor print quality, color shifts, and, most critically, clogged printheads that can permanently damage your printer.
- Ease of Use & Installation: OEM cartridges are designed for a foolproof, snap-in installation process. The printer should immediately recognize the chip on the cartridge and display accurate ink levels. A messy or difficult installation, or cartridges that leak, are immediate red flags that can lead to significant damage inside your printer.
Choosing the right ink is a critical decision for maintaining the health and performance of your printer. While the promise of OEM quality is compelling, it’s vital to be an informed consumer.
While the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) is engineered to be the perfect match for its compatible printers, it’s always wise to see how the entire printing ecosystem stacks up. For a broader look at all the top printer models and what makes them tick, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: The Promise in the Box
Unboxing the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) should be a straightforward and reassuring experience. The package we received came in the official HP cardboard multipack, clearly labeled with the model number, security seal, and an expiration date set well into the future. Inside, the four cartridges—one 902XL Black, and standard 902 Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow—were individually sealed in vacuum-packed plastic, a crucial barrier against drying out. The cartridges themselves feel solid, bearing the distinct HP branding and chip connectors that promise seamless communication with the printer. HP also highlights that the cartridges are constructed using 82% recycled plastic, a commendable eco-friendly touch. The initial look and feel project the quality and reliability you expect when paying a premium for an OEM product. This ideal first impression, however, stands in stark contrast to a deluge of user reports describing a very different and deeply troubling unboxing reality.
What We Like
- OEM Compatibility: When functional, these cartridges are guaranteed to be recognized by compatible HP OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro printers without firmware errors.
- High-Yield Black: The included 902XL black cartridge offers a solid page yield (approx. 750 pages), making it economical for frequent text-based printing.
- Excellent Print Quality: A genuine, fresh set of cartridges produces sharp, laser-quality black text and vibrant, accurate colors for graphics and photos.
- Eco-Friendly Construction: Made with 82% recycled plastic, contributing to a more sustainable printing cycle.
Potential Drawbacks
- Severe Quality Control Issues: An alarmingly high number of users report receiving defective, damaged, or expired cartridges right out of the box.
- High Risk of DOA Cartridges: The Cyan cartridge, in particular, appears to have a disproportionately high failure rate, rendering the entire printer unusable.
- Premium Price for a Risky Bet: The high cost associated with OEM ink is difficult to justify given the significant chance of receiving a non-functional product.
A Deep Dive into the HP 902XL Ink Cartridge Experience
An ink cartridge review is a tale of two parts: the promise and the reality. The promise of the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) is one of effortless performance and stellar quality. The reality, as we discovered through hands-on testing and a thorough analysis of extensive user feedback, is a high-stakes gamble that can leave you with a broken printer and an empty wallet.
The Promise: Flawless Integration and OEM Print Quality
In a perfect world, using this ink pack is exactly what you’d expect from HP. We began our test by installing the full set into our HP OfficeJet Pro 6978. The process was simple: open the access door, wait for the carriage to center, unclip the old cartridges, and snap the new ones into their color-coded slots. It’s a clean, two-minute job. Immediately upon closing the door, the printer’s touchscreen recognized the new cartridges as genuine HP supplies, and the ink level indicators on both the printer and the HP Smart software on our computer jumped to 100%. This seamless handshake between cartridge and printer is the primary reason people pay the premium for OEM products.
The subsequent print quality from this functional set was excellent. We ran a series of test documents, from dense, text-heavy reports to full-color business graphics and borderless photos. The pigment-based 902XL black ink produced incredibly sharp, dark text that didn’t smudge, rivaling the output of a laser printer. The water-based color inks were vibrant and well-balanced, creating accurate color representation in charts and lively, true-to-life tones in photographs printed on HP glossy paper. The performance lived up to HP’s claims, delivering consistent, reliable, and high-quality prints page after page. When you receive a good batch, the product performs exactly as it should, validating the higher cost. The convenience and quality in this scenario are undeniable, and it’s this ideal experience that keeps customers loyal to the brand, a performance standard you can see in the product’s full feature set.
The Alarming Reality: A Game of Cartridge Roulette
Unfortunately, the ideal experience appears to be far from guaranteed. Our analysis quickly revealed a disturbing pattern of failure that turns buying this ink into a game of roulette. The most common complaint, which we were able to replicate with a second set of cartridges sourced for this review, is the dreaded error message: “One or more cartridges appear to be damaged or missing.” This message completely halts all printer functions—you can’t print, scan, or even copy until the issue is resolved. As one frustrated user noted, “Not one of the cartridges worked… I went through every single one individually… apparently it’s all of them. You can’t over-ride it, your printer will not print.”
In our case, and in countless user reports, the primary culprit was the cyan cartridge. Upon installing the second set, the printer immediately flagged the cyan cartridge as defective. No amount of re-seating the cartridge, cleaning the electrical contacts with a lint-free cloth, or power-cycling the printer would resolve the error. This single faulty cartridge rendered the entire, brand-new, expensive multipack useless. This issue is compounded by the problem of expired ink. We saw numerous reports of users receiving cartridges that were months or even over a year past their warranty date. One user received a box in 2022 with a date of August 2021. Expired ink is not just an inconvenience; its altered viscosity can lead to clogged nozzles, banding in prints, and permanent damage to the printer’s printhead—a costly repair that often exceeds the value of the printer itself. This makes it crucial to check the latest price and recent user feedback before committing to a purchase.
When ‘New’ Isn’t New: The Catastrophe of Used and Leaking Cartridges
Perhaps the most shocking finding is the prevalence of cartridges that arrive in a state that is clearly not new. Several users reported receiving individual cartridges instead of the advertised sealed multipack, with some noting that the “HP label and others had labels that were already worn.” Another user stated their purchase was “obviously used and refilled.” This points to a significant problem in the supply chain of some online sellers, where returned, used, or expired stock may be re-entering the market and being sold as new. This is not only deceptive but also incredibly risky for the consumer.
The absolute worst-case scenario we encountered in user feedback was that of leaking cartridges. One harrowing account details the outcome: “The three color cartridges leaked immediately while I was trying to get test pages printed… I looked into the cartridge area and noticed the leaking ink inside the printer. Now, the printer no longer works.” A leaking ink cartridge can be a death sentence for a printer. The ink can seep onto the mainboard, short out electrical components, and saturate the internal cleaning pads, creating an irreparable mess. What began as a routine ink replacement can easily spiral into the need for a brand new printer, transforming a sub-$100 purchase into a several-hundred-dollar disaster. This potential for catastrophic failure makes the decision to purchase the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) online a serious consideration of risk versus reward.
What Other Users Are Saying
While a few users express satisfaction with the convenience of ordering ink online, the overwhelming sentiment surrounding the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) is one of frustration and disappointment. The feedback is dominated by stories of product failure that align perfectly with the issues we encountered. The central theme is a sense of betrayal; customers who intentionally paid a premium for the “authentic HP” product to avoid issues ended up with more problems than they would have with third-party alternatives.
Specific, recurring complaints paint a clear picture. One user summed up the most common failure: “When I plugged the cartridges in and closed the printer, it told me the cyan one was defective. Since the cartridge had expired over a year ago, I could not get help from HP.” Another user highlights the financial loss, stating, “This was a big waste of money, that I’m now not eligible to get back. All of the colored ink was dried up… Really really disappointed because I chose to buy brand name ink and was essentially punished for it.” The most severe cases involve actual printer damage, with one buyer warning, “The three color cartridges leaked… Now, the printer no longer works. Buyer beware.” These are not isolated incidents but a consistent pattern of failure that suggests a deep-rooted problem with quality control or supply chain integrity for this specific product when sourced from certain online vendors.
Alternatives to the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack)
Given the significant risks associated with purchasing the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack), it’s prudent to consider other options. Depending on your needs, an alternative might be a different type of cartridge, a different brand altogether, or even a new printer.
1. HP 65XL Black High-yield Ink Cartridge
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- This cartridge works with: HP AMP 100, 105, 120, 125, 130; HP DeskJet 2622, 2624, 2625, 2628, 2635, 2636, 2640, 2652, 2655, 2680, 3720, 3722, 3752, 3755,...
If you own a different series of HP printer, such as a DeskJet 2600/3700 or ENVY 5000, the HP 65XL is your OEM equivalent. This is not a direct alternative for a 902-compatible printer, but it represents what a reliable OEM cartridge should be. It’s an excellent choice for users of those printer models who do a lot of black-and-white printing and want the peace of mind and high page yield of a genuine XL cartridge. For those who find their printing needs are primarily text-based, sticking with a high-yield black cartridge like this and replacing colors less frequently can be a cost-effective strategy.
2. Brother LC4063PK 3 Pack Cyan Magenta Yellow Ink Cartridges
- Item Package Dimension: 5.70L x 5.34W x 2.27H inches
- Item Package Weight - 0.50 Pounds
For users completely fed up with the HP ecosystem and its cartridge issues, switching brands is a powerful alternative. Brother printers and their corresponding ink, like the LC406 series, have a strong reputation for reliability and often a more consumer-friendly approach to ink. Brother printers are less known for firmware updates that block third-party cartridges, giving users more flexibility. This three-pack of color ink is a direct competitor in terms of function and is ideal for someone looking to invest in a new printer ecosystem that is often praised for lower long-term running costs and fewer cartridge recognition headaches.
3. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer with ADF
- Wireless 4-in-1 (print | copy | scan | fax)..Power Consumption: 7W (0.8W Standby / 0.3W Off)
- 8.8 / 4.4 ipm print speed.
This represents the ultimate alternative: replacing the printer entirely. If your HP printer was damaged by a leaking 902 cartridge or you’ve simply lost all faith in the system, investing in a new machine like the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is a logical next step. This all-in-one offers robust functionality, including an auto document feeder (ADF) for scanning multipage documents, wireless connectivity, and mobile printing. It’s a great option for a home office that needs versatile performance. Moving to a new printer from a competitor like Canon means starting fresh with a new ink system that may prove more reliable and cost-effective in the long run.
Final Verdict: A High-Stakes Gamble Not Worth Taking
In principle, the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) should be the go-to, no-questions-asked choice for anyone owning a compatible HP OfficeJet printer. It promises perfect compatibility, excellent print quality, and the peace of mind that comes with using genuine manufacturer supplies. When you receive a fresh, functional, and legitimate set, it delivers on every one of those promises. However, the overwhelming evidence from our testing and the chorus of user complaints reveals a staggering quality control problem that makes purchasing this product online an unacceptable risk.
The chances of receiving expired, dried-up, defective, or even used cartridges are alarmingly high. A single faulty cartridge, most often the cyan, can render the entire expensive pack useless and halt your workflow completely. In the worst-case scenario, a leaking cartridge can destroy your printer. Because of these severe and widespread issues, we cannot recommend this product. The potential for frustration, financial loss, and property damage far outweighs the convenience. Our advice is to seek out a trusted physical retail store where you can verify the expiration date before purchase, or to seriously consider switching to a more reliable printer brand. If you absolutely must purchase online and are willing to accept the risk, you can find the HP 902XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack) here, but be prepared to inspect it thoroughly upon arrival and test it immediately to stay within any return windows.
Last update on 2025-10-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API