HP 902 vs HP 902XL Ink: Which Should You Buy? 🖨️
The HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 and 6970 were positioned as affordable business all-in-ones — fast duplex printing, wireless, mobile print support, and a step up from consumer-grade DeskJets. If you run one in an Australian home office or small business, you're looking at HP 902 or 902XL ink.
Noodle ran the full analysis (and Ollie voted XL without needing to see the numbers 🐾). Here's the complete picture.
Which Printers Use HP 902 and HP 902XL?
HP 902 fits the OfficeJet Pro 6900 series:
- OfficeJet Pro 6950 — wireless all-in-one
- OfficeJet Pro 6960, 6962 — business wireless all-in-ones
- OfficeJet Pro 6968 — wireless all-in-one
- OfficeJet Pro 6970, 6974 — business all-in-ones with ADF
- OfficeJet Pro 6975, 6978 — higher-capacity business models
Page Yield: HP 902 vs HP 902XL
| Cartridge | Standard 902 | XL 902XL | |-----------|-------------|---------| | Black | ~315 pages | ~825 pages | | Cyan | ~315 pages | ~825 pages | | Magenta | ~315 pages | ~825 pages | | Yellow | ~315 pages | ~825 pages |
Yields based on HP ISO standard at 5% coverage.
HP 902XL delivers 2.6× more pages across all colours — black and colour yields are equal, which is unusual (most inkjets have higher black yield). For any regular business printing, standard 902 at ~315 pages is very poor value.
Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible
At typical Australian retail prices:
| Cartridge | Genuine XL (est.) | Compatible XL | Saving | |-----------|-------------------|---------------|--------| | 902XLBK | ~2.8¢/page | ~1.1¢/page | ~60% | | 902XL colour (each) | ~4.5¢/page | ~1.8¢/page | ~60% |
For a business printing 500 pages/month, compatible XL saves approximately $170–$230 per year vs genuine standard.
The 4-Cartridge Individual System
HP 902/902XL uses a 4-cartridge individual colour system:
- HP 902XLBK (black)
- HP 902XLC (cyan)
- HP 902XLM (magenta)
- HP 902XLY (yellow)
Individual colours — replace only what runs out. Unlike the older HP tri-colour designs (HP 63, HP 65, HP 67), each colour is separate and independent.
HP 902 vs HP 952 — Common Confusion
Both HP 902 and HP 952 are "OfficeJet Pro" cartridges, which causes confusion:
| | HP 902 / 902XL | HP 952 / 952XL | |--|----------------|----------------| | Fits | OfficeJet Pro 6950/6960/6970 | OfficeJet Pro 8710/8720/8730 | | Interchangeable? | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Check the model number on your printer before ordering. If you have an 8710 or 8720, you need HP 952.
Ollie & Noodle's Verdict
- ✅ Always buy XL — 2.6× more pages vs standard across all colours
- ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% — approximately $170–$230/year at 500 pages/month
- ✅ Individual 4-colour system — replace only the depleted colour
- ✅ Don't confuse with HP 952 — different OfficeJet Pro generation
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law
Australian Consumer Law and HP Warranties
HP Australia cannot void your statutory warranty because you used compatible ink. Under the Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010), HP must prove the compatible cartridge directly caused a specific fault. Routine business printer faults — paper feed, carriage errors, ADF issues — are mechanical and unrelated to ink brand.
Summary
- ✅ HP 902XL: ~825 pages across all colours — 2.6× more than standard
- ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% — approximately $170–$230/year at 500 pages/month
- ✅ 4-cartridge individual system — separate black + C/M/Y
- ✅ Fits: OfficeJet Pro 6950, 6960, 6962, 6968, 6970, 6974, 6975, 6978
- ✅ NOT interchangeable with HP 952 (OfficeJet Pro 8710/8720 range)
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law