HP 301 Black & Tri-Colour Original Ink Cartridges Multipack vs HP 62 Black & Tri-Colour Original Ink Cartridges Multipack

Price Comparison

The HP 62 Black & Tri-Colour Original Ink Cartridges Multipack is currently £0.48 cheaper than the HP 301 version, priced at £41.56 compared to £42.04. This represents a saving of about 1.1% on the current price. While the difference is modest, it does make the HP 62 the more cost-effective option in the short term. Over the past 30 days, both products have hovered around similar average prices—£42.61 for the HP 301 and £43.61 for the HP 62—suggesting that the HP 62 has seen slightly better pricing stability recently. The HP 301’s bestseller rank of 3 indicates strong demand, but the HP 62’s lower current price may appeal to budget-conscious buyers seeking immediate savings without sacrificing quality.

Page Yield

The HP 62 offers a higher page yield than the HP 301, particularly in black printing. It delivers approximately 200 pages of black text, compared to the HP 301’s 170 pages. This is a 17.6% increase in black page output, making the HP 62 significantly more efficient for users who print large volumes of text documents. For colour prints, the HP 62 yields 165 pages, slightly exceeding the HP 301’s 150 pages—a 10% improvement. These figures suggest that the HP 62 provides better value per cartridge when considering actual usage, especially for users with moderate to high printing needs across both monochrome and colour content.

Compatibility

The HP 301 is designed for a broader range of printers, including models such as the DeskJet 1000, 1010, 1510, 2050, 2510, 2540, 3000, 3050, 3055, ENVY 4500, 5530, and OfficeJet 2620, 4630. In contrast, the HP 62 is compatible only with newer models like the ENVY 5540, 5542, 5545, 5548, 5642, 5644, OfficeJet 200 Mobile, 250 Mobile, 5740, 5742, and 5744. If your printer model is listed among the HP 301’s supported devices, the HP 62 will not work. Conversely, if your device is one of the newer OfficeJet or ENVY series, the HP 301 is incompatible. Therefore, compatibility hinges entirely on your specific printer model, and selecting the wrong cartridge will prevent use altogether.

Print Quality and Reliability

Both cartridges are described as delivering sharp text and vibrant colours, ensuring consistent, high-quality prints you can count on. They are both branded as original HP ink, which means they are engineered to work seamlessly with their respective printer families. The shared claim that each cartridge is “designed to work the first time, every time” underscores a commitment to reliability and performance consistency across both products. There is no data suggesting one outperforms the other in terms of print clarity, longevity, or colour accuracy. Users can expect comparable results from either cartridge, provided it matches their printer model.

Environmental Impact and Recycling

Both the HP 301 and HP 62 cartridges are part of HP’s Planet Partners recycling programme, allowing users to return empty cartridges at no cost. Free recycling envelopes and boxes with pre-paid shipping are available online, making disposal convenient and environmentally responsible. This feature applies equally to both products, meaning neither holds an advantage over the other in sustainability practices. The ability to recycle ensures that used cartridges don’t end up in landfills, supporting HP’s broader environmental goals while offering customers a simple, low-cost way to contribute to waste reduction.

Sales Performance and Market Position

The HP 301 holds a bestseller rank of 3, indicating it is currently among the top three most popular printer cartridges on Amazon in this category. This reflects strong consumer trust and widespread adoption across its compatible printer range. The HP 62, by comparison, has a bestseller rank of 23, which still places it within the top tier of sales performance but shows slightly lower overall popularity. Despite this, its lower current price and superior page yield may attract buyers looking for better value. The HP 301’s higher ranking suggests greater brand recognition and user confidence, though the HP 62 remains competitive in terms of performance and affordability.

Which should you buy?

Choose the HP 62 Black & Tri-Colour Original Ink Cartridges Multipack if you own one of its compatible printers (ENVY 5540, 5542, 5545, 5548, 5642, 5644, OfficeJet 200 Mobile, 250 Mobile, 5740, 5742, 5744) and want a slightly lower price (£41.56) along with a higher page yield—200 pages black and 165 pages colour. It offers better efficiency and saves about 1.1% today compared to the HP 301. However, if your printer is among the older DeskJet, ENVY 4500, 5530, or OfficeJet 2620/4630 models supported by the HP 301, then the HP 62 will not work. In that case, the HP 301 at £42.04 is your only viable choice, despite its higher price and marginally lower yield. Ultimately, the decision comes down to printer compatibility: match your cartridge to your printer, and then opt for the HP 62 for better value where possible.