HP 564 vs HP 564XL Ink: Which Should You Buy? 🖨️

The HP PhotoSmart 5520 and 6520 were two of the most popular home all-in-ones ever sold in Australia — capable photo printing, wireless, and attractive form factors. Millions are still in use in Australian homes, even a decade after their retail peak.

If yours is still running, you're looking for HP 564 or 564XL ink. Ollie has sniffed out the best options (he's a legacy ink specialist 🐾), and Noodle's done the cost breakdown.

Which Printers Use HP 564 and HP 564XL?

HP 564 covers a large range of older HP consumer printers:

HP PhotoSmart:

• PhotoSmart 5510, 5514, 5520, 5524 — popular wireless home all-in-ones
• PhotoSmart 6510, 6520, 6525 — mid-range photo printers
• PhotoSmart 7510, 7520 — larger photo-focused all-in-ones
• PhotoSmart B8550, B8553, C6380 — dedicated photo printers

HP DeskJet:

• DeskJet 3520, 3521, 3522, 3526 — compact home all-in-ones

HP OfficeJet:

• OfficeJet 4620, 4622 — compact office all-in-ones

Page Yield: HP 564 vs HP 564XL

| Cartridge | Standard 564 | XL 564XL | |-----------|-------------|---------| | Black | ~250 pages | ~550 pages | | Cyan | ~300 pages | ~750 pages | | Magenta | ~300 pages | ~750 pages | | Yellow | ~300 pages | ~750 pages |

Yields based on HP ISO standard at 5% coverage.

HP 564XL black delivers 2.2× more pages. XL colour delivers 2.5× more. The XL is clearly better value for any user printing more than occasionally.

The 4 vs 5-Cartridge System

Most HP 564 printers use a 4-cartridge system:

1. 564XLBK (black)
2. 564XLC (cyan)
3. 564XLM (magenta)
4. 564XLY (yellow)

However, some higher-end PhotoSmart models (7510, 7520, B8550) use a 5-cartridge system that adds: 5. 564XL Photo Black (for superior photo print quality on glossy paper)

Check your printer's cartridge bay — if there are 5 slots, you need the photo black too. For everyday document printing, the photo black is rarely the limiting factor.

Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible

At typical Australian retail prices (compatible pricing as genuine 564 may have limited retail availability):

| Cartridge | Genuine XL (est.) | Compatible XL | Saving | |-----------|-------------------|---------------|--------| | 564XLBK | ~3.5¢/page | ~1.4¢/page | ~60% | | 564XL colour (each) | ~4.5¢/page | ~1.8¢/page | ~60% |

For a household printing ~100 pages/month, compatible XL saves approximately $110–$150 per year vs genuine standard.

Note on genuine availability: HP 564 is an older range. Genuine cartridges may be scarce or expensive at retail. Compatible cartridges are the primary practical option for most Australian owners of these printers.

Ollie & Noodle's Verdict

• ✅ Always buy XL — more than double the pages vs standard on all colours
• ✅ Compatible XL is the practical choice — genuine 564 may be hard to source retail
• ✅ Check for 4 or 5-cartridge system — some PhotoSmart models need a photo black
• ✅ Individual colour cartridges — replace only what runs out
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law

A Note on Printer Age and Printhead Maintenance

HP 564 printers are 10+ years old. The most common issue at this age is dried printhead nozzles from infrequent use — not cartridge quality. If you're seeing streaky or missing colour output, run the printer's built-in printhead cleaning utility (via Settings → Tools) before assuming the cartridge is faulty.

Compatible cartridges are not the cause of age-related printhead wear.

Australian Consumer Law and HP Warranties

HP Australia cannot void your statutory warranty simply because you used compatible ink. Under the Australian Consumer Law, HP must demonstrate the compatible cartridge directly caused a specific fault. For older printers outside warranty, Australian consumer guarantees still provide protection for reasonable product lifespan expectations.

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Summary

• ✅ HP 564XL: ~550 pages (black) and ~750 pages (colour) — 2.2–2.5× more than standard
• ✅ Individual colour cartridges — replace only the depleted colour
• ✅ 4-cartridge system standard; some PhotoSmart models use 5 (add photo black)
• ✅ Compatible XL is the practical choice — genuine 564 has limited retail availability
• ✅ Fits: PhotoSmart 5510–7520, DeskJet 3520–3526, OfficeJet 4620–4622
• ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law