Brother LC-38 Ink Cartridges: Australian Guide 🖨️

The Brother DCP-145C and MFC-290C were popular compact colour inkjet all-in-ones sold widely in Australia from the late 2000s to early 2010s — affordable, reliable, and capable of basic colour printing and scanning. Many are still in service.

If yours is still running, LC-38 (or the higher-yield LC-67) is what you need. Ollie appreciates a Brother that keeps going (🐾 — though Noodle points out that upgrading might also be worth considering).

Which Printers Use Brother LC-38?

LC-38 covers a range of older Brother colour inkjets:

• DCP-145C, DCP-165C, DCP-185C — compact 3-in-1 home printers
• MFC-250C, MFC-255CW — wireless all-in-ones
• MFC-290C, MFC-295CN — fax-capable all-in-ones
• MFC-490CW, MFC-495CW — wireless all-in-ones
• MFC-990CW — premium wireless all-in-one

LC-38 vs LC-67: Which Should You Buy?

This is the most important decision for LC-38 printer owners:

| Cartridge | Type | Black | Colour (each) | |-----------|------|-------|---------------| | LC-38 | Standard yield | ~300 pages | ~260 pages | | LC-67 | High yield | ~450 pages | ~400 pages |

LC-67 is the high-yield version for the same printers — it delivers approximately 50% more pages than LC-38 and is better value per page. If you're buying compatible cartridges, buy LC-67 equivalents.

The 4-Cartridge Colour System

Brother LC-38 and LC-67 use a 4-cartridge individual system:

1. Black (BK)
2. Cyan (C)
3. Magenta (M)
4. Yellow (Y)

Replace only the colour that runs out — you don't need to replace the full set at once.

Genuine Availability

Genuine Brother LC-38 cartridges are no longer carried by major Australian retailers. Compatible LC-38 and LC-67 cartridges from third-party suppliers are the practical ongoing option. Print quality for basic document and photo printing is typically comparable to genuine on printers of this vintage.

Cost Per Page on Compatible

At typical compatible pricing:

• Compatible LC-67BK (high yield): ~1.5–2.0¢/page
• Compatible LC-67 colour (each): ~2.5–3.5¢/page

For a household printing ~50–80 pages/month: ~$25–$40/year in ink costs.

Is It Worth Keeping the Printer Running?

At ~$25–$40/year on compatible ink, running cost isn't the issue. The question is reliability and features:

Worth keeping if:

• The printer is working cleanly and prints consistently
• You only need basic printing and scanning
• You don't need wireless (most LC-38 models have limited wireless)

Worth replacing if:

• Printhead cleaning cycles don't resolve streaky output
• You want wireless, duplex printing, or better mobile printing support
• You're finding compatible ink harder to source

A new Brother DCP or MFC inkjet with wireless can be had for $80–$120 at Officeworks.

Australian Consumer Law

Brother Australia cannot void your statutory warranty simply because you used compatible ink. For printers well outside their standard warranty period, ACL statutory consumer guarantees still provide reasonable lifespan protection.

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Summary

• ✅ LC-38: standard yield; LC-67: high yield for same printers — buy LC-67
• ✅ 4-cartridge individual system — replace only the depleted colour
• ✅ Compatible is the practical option — genuine LC-38 has limited AU retail availability
• ✅ Very low running cost (~$25–$40/year at light use)
• ✅ Fits: DCP-145C, DCP-165C, MFC-250C, MFC-290C, MFC-490CW and related models
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law