Epson 504 vs 504XL Ink: Which Should You Buy? 🖨️

The Epson XP-2100 and WF-2850 have become two of the most popular budget and home-office printers sold in Australia over the past few years. Compact, wireless, affordable upfront — but replacement ink is where the real cost lives.

Ollie's done a thorough sniff-test (his methodology is impeccable 🐾) and Noodle has run the numbers. Here's everything you need to know about 504 vs 504XL ink in Australia.

Which Printers Use Epson 504 and 504XL?

The 504 range covers several popular Epson models available at Australian retailers:

• Epson XP-2100, XP-2105 — compact home all-in-ones, popular at Officeworks
• Epson XP-4100, XP-4105 — mid-range home all-in-ones with ADF
• Epson WorkForce WF-2830 — home office inkjet
• Epson WorkForce WF-2850 — wireless home office all-in-one
• Epson WorkForce WF-2870 — higher-capacity home office model

Page Yield: 504 vs 504XL

| Cartridge | Standard 504 | XL 504XL | |-----------|-------------|---------| | Black | ~180 pages | ~500 pages | | Cyan | ~180 pages | ~650 pages | | Magenta | ~180 pages | ~650 pages | | Yellow | ~180 pages | ~650 pages |

Yields based on Epson ISO standard at 5% coverage.

The difference is dramatic — the XL black delivers 2.8× more pages, and the XL colours deliver 3.6× more pages than the standard cartridges. Standard 504 cartridges are genuinely poor value unless you print very occasionally.

Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible

At typical Australian retail prices:

| Cartridge | Genuine XL (est.) | Compatible XL | Saving | |-----------|-------------------|---------------|--------| | 504XLBK | ~3.8¢/page | ~1.5¢/page | ~60% | | 504XL Colour (each) | ~4.5¢/page | ~1.8¢/page | ~60% |

For a household printing ~150 pages/month (typical mix of text and colour), switching to compatible XL cartridges saves approximately $180–$220 per year.

The 4-Cartridge System

Epson 504 and 504XL use a 4-cartridge individual colour system:

1. 504XLBK (black)
2. 504XLC (cyan)
3. 504XLM (magenta)
4. 504XLY (yellow)

The key advantage: replace only the cartridge that runs out. You do not need to swap the entire set. Black typically runs out faster for text-heavy printing; colours last longer unless you print photos regularly.

Ollie & Noodle's Verdict

• ✅ Always buy XL — nearly 3× more pages from black, 3.6× from colours vs standard
• ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% with no meaningful quality compromise for everyday printing
• ✅ Replace individually — only swap the cartridge that's actually empty
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law

Standard 504 cartridges are one of the worst value consumables on the market at ~180 pages. If you own an XP-2100 or WF-2850, never buy standard — XL only.

Australian Consumer Law and Epson Warranties

Epson Australia cannot void your statutory warranty simply because you used compatible ink. Under the Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010), Epson must demonstrate the compatible cartridge directly caused a specific fault. Routine printer faults — printhead issues, paper feed problems, scanner faults — are unrelated to ink brand and must be covered under warranty.

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Summary

• ✅ 504XL delivers ~2.8–3.6× more pages than standard 504 across all colours
• ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% per page vs genuine — approximately $180–220/year for a typical household
• ✅ 4-cartridge individual system — replace only what's empty
• ✅ Available for: XP-2100, XP-2105, XP-4100, XP-4105, WF-2830, WF-2850, WF-2870
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law