There are few modern-day frustrations as acute as the one that hits when your printer grinds to a halt mid-task. You have a concert ticket to print, a last-minute school assignment due, or a critical shipping label for your small business. The printer sputters, flashes a warning light, and delivers a ghostly, faded page. You’re out of ink. It’s a universal moment of exasperation that can derail an entire morning. In our testing lab, we’ve experienced this countless times, and it’s why we take printer consumables so seriously. The promise of a product like the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) isn’t just about putting color on a page; it’s about reliability, consistency, and the peace of mind that when you press “Print,” your document will emerge exactly as you envisioned it. The search for the right ink is a search for dependability, and the consequences of choosing poorly can range from streaky, unprofessional documents to, in some cases, a damaged printer. This review will delve deep into whether this genuine HP ink pack delivers on that crucial promise of reliability.
- HP Ink is engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- These cartridges work with: HP Envy 6152e, 6155e, 6552e, 6555e, 6558e
What to Consider Before Buying Printer Ink Cartridges
A printer ink cartridge is more than just a component; it’s the lifeblood of your inkjet printer, a key solution for transforming digital ideas into tangible reality. For students, home office workers, and families, a reliable set of cartridges is the difference between a seamless workflow and a day filled with troubleshooting. The main benefits are clear: vibrant color reproduction for photos and graphics, razor-sharp text for professional documents, and the simple ability to function in a world that still heavily relies on physical copies for contracts, records, and creative projects. Choosing the right ink ensures your printer performs as its manufacturer intended, preserving its longevity and producing consistent, high-quality output every single time.
The ideal customer for genuine cartridges like the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) is someone who owns a compatible HP Envy series printer and prioritizes quality and reliability above all else. This user values the peace of mind that comes from knowing the ink is specifically engineered for their device, eliminating risks of clogs, leaks, or compatibility errors. It’s for the person who can’t afford a poorly printed document. Conversely, this might not be the most economical choice for those who print hundreds of low-importance pages per week, such as draft documents or internal memos. In such high-volume scenarios, third-party compatible cartridges or even a laser printer might offer a lower cost-per-page. For those who rarely print, a subscription service like HP Instant Ink, for which these cartridges are eligible, could be a more suitable alternative to buying them outright.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Compatibility & Genuineness: This is the most critical factor. Always double-check that the cartridge model (in this case, HP 68) is listed as compatible with your specific printer model (e.g., HP Envy 6155e). Using genuine, original manufacturer ink guarantees seamless communication with your printer for accurate ink level readings and optimal performance, a feature we found to be flawless with the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack).
- Page Yield & Cost-Per-Page: The manufacturer states an approximate yield of 160 pages for black and 120 for tri-color. Understand that this is based on an industry standard of 5% page coverage. If you print dense text documents or full-page photos, your actual yield will be lower. Calculating the cost-per-page (cartridge price divided by page yield) helps you understand the long-term running costs.
- Print Quality & Ink Technology: The quality of the ink formula directly impacts the final output. HP boasts an “Updated G5” technology for its black ink, engineered for crisp text and smudge resistance. For color, you want an ink that produces vibrant, accurate hues without banding or fading over time. Always consider what you’ll be printing most—text, graphics, or photos—and choose an ink designed for that purpose.
- Shelf Life & Packaging Integrity: Ink cartridges have a shelf life and can dry out if not stored properly or if their packaging is compromised. When purchasing online, it’s vital to ensure the product arrives in a factory-sealed, undamaged box with the cartridges themselves sealed in their individual vacuum packs. This has proven to be a significant point of concern for this product, as we will explore later.
While the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) is an excellent choice for its intended printers, it’s always wise to understand the full landscape of printing technology. Inkjet printers are great for color, but for high-volume text printing, a different technology might be more cost-effective. 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 and Unboxing the HP 68 Cartridges
Upon receiving our test units, the packaging was exactly what we expect from a major manufacturer like HP. The HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) arrived in a sturdy, sealed cardboard box clearly marked with the HP logo, model number, and compatibility information. Inside, the black and tri-color cartridges were individually housed in their own vacuum-sealed plastic pouches, providing a crucial barrier against air and moisture that could compromise the ink. This level of protection is paramount. The cartridges themselves felt solid and well-constructed, with a clean and precise feel to the electrical contacts and ink nozzles. A small, brightly colored plastic tab covered the print head, which pulled away cleanly to prepare the cartridge for installation. This unboxing experience is precisely how it should be—secure, reassuring, and indicative of a brand-new, genuine product. It stands in stark contrast to the troubling reports from some users, which we will address in detail, but our initial hands-on impression was one of quality and authenticity. You can check the latest price and verified purchase options to ensure you get the same genuine experience.
What We Like
- Guaranteed compatibility and seamless recognition by HP Envy printers.
- Excellent print quality with sharp, smudge-resistant black text thanks to the G5 ink formula.
- Vibrant and accurate color reproduction for everyday graphics and photos.
- Convenience of purchasing both necessary cartridges in a single, cost-effective pack.
Drawbacks
- Standard page yield may be insufficient for high-volume users.
- Significant number of user reports citing receipt of damaged, opened, or empty cartridges.
A Deep Dive into the HP 68 Ink’s Real-World Performance
An ink cartridge’s true worth is only revealed when the print head meets the paper. We put the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) through a comprehensive series of tests in our HP Envy 6155e, simulating the typical workload of a busy home or small office environment. We evaluated everything from initial installation to the final printed page, focusing on quality, consistency, and overall value.
Installation and Flawless Printer Integration
The installation process for the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) is a masterclass in user-friendly design. After removing the cartridges from their sealed pouches and pulling off the protective tabs, they slide into their respective color-coded slots in the printer with a satisfying and audible click. There is no ambiguity; you know immediately when they are seated correctly. This physical simplicity is matched by a sophisticated digital handshake. Within seconds of closing the printer lid, our HP Envy 6155e recognized the cartridges as genuine HP products. The printer’s touchscreen display immediately showed full ink levels for both black and color, and the HP Smart app on our computer updated to reflect the same. This instant, accurate feedback is a core benefit of using original manufacturer equipment. It eliminates the guesswork and error messages that can often plague users of third-party or refilled cartridges. For a user who just wants their printer to work without hassle, this seamless integration is a powerful, if often overlooked, feature. It’s the foundation of a reliable printing experience, ensuring that from the very first page, the printer is operating exactly as it was designed to.
Print Quality Analysis: Text, Graphics, and Photos
This is where the ink’s chemistry truly shines. We started with what most people print: text-based documents. We printed a 20-page report featuring various font sizes and styles. The updated G5 black ink formula delivered on its promise, producing exceptionally crisp, dark text that could easily be mistaken for that of a laser printer at a glance. Even on standard copy paper, the edges of the letters were sharp with no noticeable feathering or bleeding. More importantly, we tested for smudge resistance immediately after printing. After letting a page sit for just three seconds, running a highlighter over the text resulted in zero smearing—a critical feature for students and office workers who need to annotate documents.
Next, we moved to color graphics by printing a set of presentation slides filled with pie charts, bar graphs, and company logos. The tri-color cartridge performed admirably, producing vibrant and well-saturated colors. Reds were bold, blues were deep, and greens were lively, all without any signs of banding (the faint horizontal lines that can appear with lower-quality cartridges). The color accuracy was impressive for a standard, non-specialized cartridge. While it may not satisfy a professional graphic designer, it is more than capable for producing high-quality school projects, business handouts, and colorful flyers. We were particularly impressed by how well it handled subtle gradients. Finally, we printed a few 4×6 inch photos on HP glossy photo paper. The results were bright and pleasing, with good detail and decent skin tones. While it won’t replace a dedicated six-ink photo printer, the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) proves itself to be a versatile performer, capably handling the diverse printing needs of a modern household.
Page Yield, Long-Term Value, and the Instant Ink Question
No review is complete without discussing the crucial balance of price and performance over time. HP rates the black cartridge at approximately 160 pages and the tri-color at 120 pages. In our real-world testing, which involved a mix of text, graphics, and a few photos, we found these numbers to be reasonably accurate, perhaps trending slightly lower due to our heavier-than-average graphic prints. For a user who prints a few pages a week, this standard yield is perfectly adequate and the 2-pack offers good initial value. However, for a student printing lengthy research papers or a home office user printing daily reports, the ink levels can deplete rather quickly. This is where the cost-per-page calculation becomes important and where users must weigh their options.
The eligibility for HP’s Instant Ink program is a major value proposition tied to this product. Instant Ink is a subscription service where you pay a monthly fee for a set number of pages, and the printer automatically orders new cartridges before you run out. For users with consistent but not excessively high printing needs, this can be a fantastic way to manage costs and ensure you never have that dreaded “out of ink” moment again. It effectively transforms the unpredictable cost of cartridges into a fixed, predictable operational expense. For users who prefer to buy as they go, the value of the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) lies in its flawless performance and the protection of their printer’s warranty, a value that is harder to quantify but no less important.
The Elephant in the Room: A Warning on Product Condition
As experts, it is our responsibility to address the complete user experience, and that includes the purchasing and receiving process. While our own test units of the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) arrived in perfect, factory-sealed condition, we cannot in good conscience ignore the alarming and consistent feedback from a significant number of other buyers. We have seen numerous reports detailing a deeply troubling pattern: products arriving in torn, opened boxes. Some users describe cartridges that have been ripped out of their inner packaging, with the protective tape over the electrical contacts either missing entirely or crudely reapplied with household tape. Worse still are the reports of cartridges that feel light and prove to be completely empty upon installation, essentially “garbage wrapped in plastic,” as one frustrated user put it. Another described getting ink all over their hands from a cartridge that had clearly been tampered with and resealed. This is a critical issue. It suggests a serious problem with fulfillment or third-party sellers in the supply chain. While it does not appear to be a flaw in the genuine HP product itself, it represents a significant risk to the consumer. Our expert advice is unequivocal: inspect your package the moment it arrives. Ensure the outer HP box is sealed and undamaged, and that the inner cartridges are still in their vacuum-sealed pouches. If anything looks amiss, initiate a return immediately. Purchasing from a reputable source is your best defense against this unacceptable experience.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing feedback from the wider community, a clear and concerning narrative emerges that corroborates our findings. The negative experiences are strikingly similar and focus almost exclusively on the condition of the product upon arrival, not its print performance. One user powerfully stated, “I purchased the hp 68 2-pack and received a torn opened hp box… These cartridges look damaged and feel empty. I basically received garbage.” This sentiment was echoed by another who reported, “Upon opening the carton… I discovered that both inks were opened and their protective film had been taped back on with scotch tape.” Yet another simply said, “Color ink arrived nearly empty. Black ink was completely empty.” This feedback pattern is too strong to be dismissed as isolated incidents. It highlights a critical purchasing hazard where consumers are receiving products that are clearly not new. It’s essential for potential buyers to be aware of this risk and to be diligent in verifying the authenticity and condition of their purchase.
How Does the HP 68 Compare to the Alternatives?
No product exists in a vacuum. To provide a complete picture, we’ve compared the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) against three notable alternatives, each catering to a different user need or printer ecosystem.
1. HP 902 Black Ink Cartridge
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The HP 902 is another genuine ink cartridge from HP, but it’s designed for a different line of printers, specifically the OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro series. This cartridge is aimed more at a small office/home office (SOHO) environment, where text document volume is typically higher. Compared to the HP 68, the standard HP 902 offers a higher page yield, and it’s also available in a high-yield XL version for even greater capacity. If you own a compatible OfficeJet printer, the HP 902 is the correct genuine choice. For an owner of an HP Envy 6100e/6500e series printer, however, this cartridge is incompatible. It serves as a reminder of the absolute importance of matching the cartridge model to your specific printer.
2. Smart Ink HP 902XL 4 Combo Pack Compatible Ink
- HP OfficeJet Pro Compatibility: Smart Ink 902 ink cartridges for HP printers are compatible with HP OfficeJet 6950 6951 6954 6956 6958 6961 6962 6963 6964...
- HP OfficeJet Pro Compatibility: Smart Ink 902 ink cartridges for HP printers are also compatible with OfficeJet Pro 6960 6968 6970 6971 6974 6975 6976 6978...
This product from Smart Ink represents the third-party compatible market. It’s designed to work in the same printers as the HP 902, not the HP 68. The key appeal here is value: you get a full set of high-yield (XL) cartridges—black, cyan, magenta, and yellow—for a price that is often significantly lower than the genuine HP equivalent. For high-volume users on a tight budget, the cost savings can be very tempting. However, this comes with potential trade-offs. While many users have success with third-party inks, there’s always a small risk of compatibility issues, less accurate color reproduction, or even the theoretical risk of voiding a printer’s warranty. This is the choice for the cost-conscious user who is willing to accept a degree of risk for a much lower cost-per-page.
3. Epson 232 Standard Capacity Black Ink Cartridge
- Epson printing system is designed to be used exclusively with Epson genuine cartridges. Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the...
- Sharp text and brilliant color for high-quality results; fast-drying ink
The Epson 232 is an alternative from a different brand ecosystem entirely. It’s designed for Epson’s WorkForce and Expression series printers. This highlights a fundamental choice for consumers: brand loyalty versus finding the best overall system. Epson uses its own proprietary ink technology, like the Claria Ink in this cartridge, which is known for producing excellent photo quality and durable prints. Someone considering this cartridge is either an existing Epson owner or a prospective buyer weighing the long-term costs and features of an Epson printer against an HP. If you are not yet committed to an HP printer, exploring the ink costs and print quality of competitors like Epson is a prudent step before making a purchase.
The Final Verdict: Is the HP 68 Ink Pack Worth It?
When you receive a genuine, factory-sealed HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack), the product is exceptional. It performs precisely as it should, delivering the reliable, high-quality, and smudge-resistant prints that HP owners expect. The installation is effortless, the printer integration is flawless, and the output quality is more than sufficient for the vast majority of home and student printing needs. For owners of a compatible HP Envy printer, this ink is the surest path to hassle-free, consistent results.
However, the product is haunted by a significant and unacceptable supply chain issue. The overwhelming user feedback regarding opened, damaged, and empty cartridges represents a major purchasing risk that we cannot overlook. Therefore, our recommendation comes with a strong condition: we recommend the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) only to those who purchase it from a highly reputable source and are prepared to inspect the item thoroughly upon arrival and return it if it shows any signs of tampering. If you can ensure you get a legitimate product, you will be very satisfied with its performance. For those ready to experience the quality of genuine HP ink, you can find the HP 68 Black/Tri-Color Ink Cartridges (2-Pack) and check its current availability online.
Last update on 2025-10-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API