We’ve all been there. It’s 10 PM, the big project is due tomorrow, and you’ve just hit “Print.” The printer whirs to life, a familiar and comforting sound, but then it stops. A small, blinking light of doom appears on the control panel, accompanied by a soul-crushing message on your computer screen: “Black Ink Cartridge Very Low.” It’s a moment of pure panic. The stores are closed, the document is critical, and your high-tech printer has just been reduced to a useless plastic box. This scenario, a modern-day tragedy for students, remote workers, and small business owners alike, is precisely why having a reliable ink supply on hand is not a luxury—it’s an absolute necessity. The quality and longevity of that supply can mean the difference between a seamless workflow and a night spent in frantic desperation. This is the world where the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack lives, promising a simple, reliable solution to keep that dreaded warning at bay.
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- This cartridge works with: HP DeskJet 1112, 2130, 2132, 3630, 3631, 3632, 3633, 3634, 3636, 3637, 3639; HP ENVY 4511, 4512, 4513, 4516, 4520, 4522, 4524;...
What to Consider Before Buying Ink Cartridges
An ink cartridge is more than just a plastic container of colored liquid; it’s the lifeblood of your inkjet printer and the key solution for turning digital ideas into tangible reality. For everything from a child’s school report and cherished family photos to professional invoices and vibrant marketing materials, the right ink ensures clarity, longevity, and accuracy. The primary benefit of choosing a manufacturer-certified cartridge is the peace of mind that comes with it—guaranteed compatibility, consistent performance, and protection for your printer’s sensitive print heads, which can be easily damaged by poorly formulated third-party inks.
The ideal customer for a product like the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack is a home user, student, or small office manager with a compatible HP DeskJet, ENVY, or OfficeJet printer who engages in light to moderate printing. They prioritize quality and reliability for everyday tasks over sheer volume. This pack might not be suitable for those who print hundreds of pages per week, such as a busy office or a professional photographer. For high-volume users, alternatives like HP’s own high-yield “XL” cartridges or even a transition to a tank-based printer system might offer a more economical long-term solution.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Compatibility & Authenticity: This is non-negotiable. Always triple-check that the cartridge number (in this case, “63”) matches your printer model exactly. Using genuine, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cartridges like these from HP is the surest way to avoid communication errors, leaks, and potential damage to your printer that can void its warranty.
- Page Yield & Cost-Per-Page: The page yield—approximately 170 pages for black and 150 for tri-color with this pack—is a manufacturer estimate based on standardized 5% page coverage. Your actual results will vary significantly based on what you print. Calculating the cost-per-page (cartridge price / page yield) is essential for understanding the true long-term cost and comparing value between standard and high-yield options.
- Ink Type & Longevity: The HP 63 uses a water-based ink formula designed for sharp text and vibrant colors on plain paper. It’s engineered to be fade-resistant, ensuring your documents and photos last for years without significant degradation. Consider if your printing needs require the specific permanence of pigment-based inks (more common in professional photo printers) or if this versatile dye-based formula is sufficient.
- Ease of Use & Installation: A good cartridge should be a simple “click-out, click-in” process. HP cartridges are designed for foolproof installation, with clear instructions and protective seals to prevent messes. Consider the entire user experience, from unboxing to the printer’s successful recognition of the new cartridge.
Choosing the right ink is a critical decision for maintaining the health of your printer and the quality of your output. It’s about finding the right balance of price, performance, and peace of mind for your specific needs.
While the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack is an excellent choice for a vast range of users, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition and understand the broader printer landscape. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: Unboxing the HP 63 Combo Pack
The HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack arrives in HP’s signature blue and white cardboard box, which is surprisingly compact and easy to store. Upon opening, we found the two cartridges nestled securely, each sealed in its own airtight plastic pouch. This individual packaging is crucial for preserving the ink’s integrity and preventing it from drying out before use—a detail confirmed by users who were glad they had purchased extras for storage. The cartridges themselves feel solid and well-constructed. A small, bright orange plastic tab protects the delicate electronic contacts and print nozzles, which must be removed just before installation. We appreciated the clear labeling on each cartridge, making it impossible to mix up the black and tri-color slots in the printer. HP also prominently notes that its cartridges are made with recycled plastic, an eco-conscious touch that adds value. Overall, the initial impression is one of quality and reliability, exactly what you expect from an OEM product designed to work seamlessly with its corresponding hardware. You can see its full specifications and compatibility list to ensure it’s the right fit for your printer.
Key Benefits
- Guaranteed seamless compatibility with a wide range of HP printers
- Produces consistently sharp, clear black text and vibrant, accurate colors
- Extremely simple and clean installation process
- Genuine OEM quality provides reliability and protects printer hardware
Potential Drawbacks
- Standard page yield is relatively low for heavy printing needs
- Reports from some users of receiving damaged or previously used products
A Deep Dive into the HP 63 Ink’s Real-World Performance
A cartridge’s true worth is only revealed when the ink meets the paper. We put the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack through a comprehensive series of tests in our HP OfficeJet 4650, evaluating everything from installation to the final printed page. We analyzed text documents, mixed-media reports, and full-color photos to get a complete picture of its capabilities and limitations.
Installation and Printer Communication: The OEM Advantage
From the moment we opened the printer access door, the process was flawless. The old, depleted cartridges unclipped with a gentle press, and the new ones slid into their color-coded slots with a satisfying click. After removing the orange protective tape, we closed the lid, and the printer immediately recognized the new cartridges as “Genuine HP Ink,” displaying full ink levels on its screen. The entire process took less than a minute. This seamless handshake between cartridge and printer is the single greatest argument for sticking with OEM supplies. We’ve seen firsthand how third-party or refilled cartridges can trigger persistent error messages, fail to register ink levels correctly, or, in worst-case scenarios, be rejected by the printer’s firmware entirely.
Our experience aligns perfectly with what most satisfied users report: it just works. One reviewer noted, “This ink is specifically designed for a range of HP printers, and it fits seamlessly into my HP DeskJet 2130.” However, we must address the troubling feedback from a minority of users who received “Cartridge Problem” errors. In our analysis, these issues often stem from two potential causes: either a rare defective chip on the cartridge, which should be covered by HP’s warranty, or, more troublingly, receiving a cartridge that was refilled or tampered with. This reinforces the importance of purchasing from a trusted source to ensure you receive a genuine, factory-sealed product.
Print Quality: Sharp Text and Vibrant Colors
This is where the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack truly shines. We started with several pages of standard black text on regular copy paper. The results were excellent. Text was crisp and dark with sharp edges, free of any smudging or bleeding, even on smaller font sizes. It’s the kind of professional quality you need for resumes, reports, and official correspondence. This mirrors the findings of one user who praised the ink for consistently delivering “sharp, vibrant prints with every page,” allowing them to “rely on it to produce professional-looking results.”
Next, we moved to color performance. The tri-color cartridge (which combines cyan, magenta, and yellow ink in a single unit) produced bright, well-saturated colors in our test charts and graphics. When printing a 4×6 photo on HP glossy photo paper, the colors were vivid and the detail was impressive for a general-purpose ink. While it won’t compete with the nuanced color palettes of dedicated six- or eight-ink photo printers, it is more than capable of producing beautiful photos for family albums and school projects. The water-based formula dries quickly, and we found the prints were resistant to smudging almost immediately. For the everyday printing needs of a household or small office, the print quality is consistently reliable and impressive. The confidence that each print will look as good as the last is a major selling point, and you can check the latest price and availability for your printer.
Page Yield vs. Reality: Managing Expectations
This is arguably the most contentious aspect of the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack. HP rates the standard black cartridge at approximately 170 pages and the tri-color at 150 pages. It’s crucial to understand this is based on an industry standard (ISO/IEC 24711) that equates to about 5% coverage per page—think a short letter or email. If you’re printing full-page photos, dense text documents, or graphics-heavy presentations, your actual yield will be significantly lower.
This discrepancy is the source of the most common user frustration. We saw numerous reports from users who were shocked at how quickly the ink depleted. One user lamented, “I ordered this to print my son some work to do at home, didn’t even finish the first document completely… I only got to print 85 pages of black and white worksheets.” Another stated, “I printed maybe 50 sheets then I get a message, ‘Cartridge Problem’.” Our own testing showed that when printing more demanding, mixed-content pages, the ink level indicator dropped noticeably faster than it would with simple text. For a user printing 10-20 pages per month, these cartridges could last for several months. For someone printing 10 pages a day, they might not last a full month. Therefore, this 2-pack should be viewed as a solution for infrequent or light-duty printing. If you print regularly, investing in the HP 63XL high-yield cartridges, which offer more than double the page count, is a far more economical choice in the long run.
The HP Instant Ink Question: Clearing Up the Confusion
The product description clearly states the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack is “Eligible for Instant Ink.” This has led to significant confusion, as highlighted by one detailed user review. Let’s clarify: “Eligible” means that the printers that use the HP 63 cartridge are compatible with HP’s Instant Ink subscription service. However, the retail cartridges you buy in a store or online are *not* Instant Ink cartridges themselves. When you subscribe to Instant Ink, HP sends you special, higher-capacity cartridges that monitor your usage and automatically trigger a new shipment before you run out. You cannot use a retail cartridge to activate or continue the service.
A user accurately noted this, stating, “You won’t notice that these are not Instant Ink cartridges until AFTER you take them out of the packaging.” This is a critical distinction. If you are an Instant Ink subscriber, you should wait for HP to send you replacement cartridges. If you are *not* a subscriber, this retail 2-pack is exactly what you need for manual replacement. This cartridge pack is the traditional way of buying ink, while Instant Ink is an alternative subscription model. They are two separate paths to getting ink for the same printer.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing feedback from dozens of users reveals a clear pattern. On the positive side, a significant number of customers echo our findings on quality and convenience. Phrases like “great ink,” “works as expected,” and “consistent print quality” are common. One user summarized this sentiment perfectly: “The HP 63 Black/Tri-color Ink (2-pack) has been a staple in my home office for quite some time, and it continues to impress with its reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.” These users value the product for doing its job without fuss.
However, there’s a notable and concerning trend in negative feedback that goes beyond the expected complaints about low page yield. A disturbing number of buyers report receiving products in compromised condition. We saw multiple accounts of “box was taped shut,” “packages the ink came in were cut open,” and cartridges arriving with the protective strips already removed. One livid customer wrote, “These were clearly previously used and I am livid that I paid so much money for someone else’s trash.” These issues point less to a defect in the product itself and more to problems within the supply chain of certain sellers. This underscores the critical importance of ensuring you are purchasing a genuine, new product from a reputable vendor to avoid such frustrating experiences.
How Does the HP 63 Compare to the Alternatives?
No product exists in a vacuum. To understand the true value of the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against other options in the market. We’ve selected three key alternatives that cater to different user needs and priorities.
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,...
For users who are happy with their HP printer’s quality but find themselves running to the store for ink too often, the HP 65XL is the most logical upgrade (for compatible printers). The “XL” designation means it’s a high-yield cartridge, containing significantly more ink than the standard version. While the upfront cost is higher, the cost-per-page is substantially lower, offering much better long-term value for anyone who prints more than 50-60 pages a month. This is the ideal choice for a busy home office or a family with multiple students, providing the same genuine HP quality and reliability as the HP 63 but with greater endurance.
2. Brother Genuine LC401BK Standard Yield Black Ink Cartridge
- DELIVERS SUPERIOR INKJET QUALITY: Brother Genuine LC401BK Standard Yield Black Ink Cartridges deliver superior inkjet print quality with sharp prints you...
- INTELLIGENT ENGINEERING: Intelligently engineered to work seamlessly with your Brother color inkjet all-in-one printer to deliver outstanding results and...
This cartridge represents a shift to a different printer ecosystem. Brother printers are often lauded for their focus on cost-effective printing. The LC401BK cartridge is designed for Brother’s INKvestment Tank printers, which, while still using cartridges, feature a design that prioritizes a lower cost-per-page. If your primary frustration with the HP 63 is the high recurring cost and low yield, considering a switch to a Brother printer for your next upgrade could be a wise financial decision. This alternative is for the consumer who is rethinking their entire printing strategy with an eye on long-term expenses.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless All-in-One Printer
- Keep your office running smoothly with the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 All-in-One Supertank Color Printer. Expect vivid, detailed prints and documents thanks to...
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing . No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 isn’t just an alternative cartridge; it’s an alternative philosophy. This printer does away with cartridges entirely, instead using large, refillable ink tanks that you fill from inexpensive bottles. The initial purchase price of the printer is much higher, but the running costs are astonishingly low—one set of ink bottles can last for up to two years for an average user. This is the ultimate solution for anyone who is completely fed up with the traditional cartridge model. If you print frequently and want to virtually eliminate the “low ink” anxiety from your life, the EcoTank system is a game-changing investment.
Our Final Verdict: Reliable Quality for the Right User
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the HP 63 Black Tri-Color Ink Cartridge 2-pack is clear: it is an excellent product that performs its intended job with remarkable consistency and quality. For the light-duty user—the student printing occasional essays, the family printing photos and homework, or the home office printing a few invoices a week—it provides the peace of mind that only genuine HP ink can offer. The prints are sharp, the colors are vibrant, and the installation is foolproof.
However, its value diminishes rapidly as printing volume increases. The standard-yield cartridges will feel restrictive and uneconomical for anyone with heavy printing needs. Furthermore, the recurring reports of shipping and packaging issues from various sellers are a valid concern. For its target audience, this 2-pack is a reliable, high-quality choice. For everyone else, exploring high-yield “XL” options or even alternative printing systems is a more prudent path. If you are a light-to-moderate printer who prioritizes flawless compatibility and professional-grade output, this cartridge pack is a solid investment in your workflow. To ensure you get the genuine article and keep your printer running smoothly, you can find the authentic HP 63 2-pack and check for current deals online.
Last update on 2025-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API