HP 138A and 138X are black toner cartridges for selected HP LaserJet Pro 3000 and 3100 series printers in Australia. Both sit within the same toner family, but they offer two different capacities: the standard 138A for everyday printing and the high-yield 138X for printers that get through more pages.
The genuine HP 138A W1380A is rated for approximately 1,500 pages, while the genuine HP 138X W1380X increases that to approximately 4,000 pages. That is a substantial difference, so it is worth considering how often your printer is used before choosing between them.
CartridgesDirect stocks genuine HP toner alongside compatible alternatives for supported models. HP cartridge numbers can vary between regions, so checking your exact printer model before ordering is worthwhile. Use the Finder tool if you are unsure which 138 toner cartridge suits your printer.
Stocked orders placed before 2pm are dispatched the same day, with free shipping on orders over $75.
Both cartridges contain black toner, so the main difference is how many pages you can print before another cartridge is needed.
The standard HP 138A is rated for approximately 1,500 pages. It can be a practical choice for a printer used at a quieter desk, in a home office or for documents that are only printed when needed.
The HP 138X is the high-yield option, with an approximate rating of 4,000 pages. For a printer that handles reports, invoices, customer paperwork or general administration throughout the working week, the extra capacity means fewer cartridge changes.
That does not make the 138X automatically better value for every customer. It costs more upfront, so consider how much you actually print and compare current cartridge prices against their rated yields if cost per page matters to you.
Actual cartridge life can vary with page coverage, document type and printing conditions. Page-yield figures are best used to compare the two cartridges rather than predict exactly when your toner will run out.
Searching for toner by printer model can sometimes bring up several cartridge numbers, particularly when results come from overseas websites.
For supported Australian printers in this family, HP uses 138A W1380A for standard-yield black toner and 138X W1380X for high-yield black toner.
You may come across cartridge numbers such as 139A or 139X when looking at information intended for other markets. These should not be treated as interchangeable simply because the printer names appear similar.
This is particularly relevant if you found your toner information on an overseas website or are ordering supplies for a printer you did not originally purchase.
For a printer being used in Australia, checking the full model number through the CartridgesDirect Finder tool is more reliable than choosing a cartridge based on an overseas search result.
Although 3001 and 3101 are commonly associated with this toner family, the 138 range is not limited to those two model numbers.
HP identifies the cartridge family across selected LaserJet Pro 3000 series and LaserJet Pro MFP 3100 series printers. The easiest way to avoid confusion is to check the complete model printed on the machine. This becomes even more useful in a workplace with several similar HP LaserJet printers, where one model may use a different cartridge family from another.
Some printers in this generation were offered as HP+ models. The LaserJet Pro 3001dwe is one example.
That extra letter deserves attention if you are considering a compatible toner. Rather than assuming that every compatible 138A or 138X will suit every printer in the broader family, check the cartridge options shown for your exact model.
The cartridge family may be correct while the individual printer configuration still affects which toner options are suitable.
If your model ends in “e” or you know the printer was set up with HP+, use the Finder tool or contact CartridgesDirect before ordering a compatible toner. It is a simple check that can help avoid receiving a cartridge that is not suitable for the printer.
Once you have confirmed the printer model, you can compare the genuine HP and compatible options available for it.
Genuine HP 138A and 138X cartridges are manufactured by HP for supported LaserJet printers. They may suit workplaces that prefer Original HP supplies, have an OEM purchasing policy or require them for a particular printer configuration.
Compatible printer cartridges are third-party alternatives designed for supported printer models. They provide another choice for customers comparing their ongoing printing costs.
CartridgesDirect stocks genuine HP toner alongside compatible alternatives for supported models, subject to current availability. With this range, it makes sense to confirm the printer first and then compare the cartridge options actually listed for it.
Using a third-party cartridge does not remove consumer-guarantee rights that may apply under Australian Consumer Law. Manufacturer warranty terms can still be relevant where a particular printer fault is found to have been caused by a third-party consumable.
A 4,000-page cartridge sounds more attractive than a 1,500-page cartridge on capacity alone, but not every printer needs the larger option.
If your LaserJet only handles a modest number of invoices, forms, letters or other documents each week, the 138A may provide plenty of toner between replacements. In that situation, the lower initial purchase cost may matter more than having maximum capacity available.
The 138X becomes more useful when the printer is used regularly by one or several people. Reports, shipping documents, invoices and everyday administrative printing can add up quickly, making fewer cartridge changes more convenient.
Think about how the printer is actually used rather than assuming high yield is automatically the better choice. If cost per page is important, compare the current prices of the two cartridges against their rated yields when ordering.
You do not need to know every technical detail about your LaserJet, but three quick checks can make ordering easier.
Do not stop at “LaserJet Pro 3001” or “MFP 3101”. Look for the full model designation on the printer.
For supported Australian models in this family, look for HP 138A W1380A or 138X W1380X. Do not assume a cartridge number found on an overseas website is interchangeable.
If the model has an “e” suffix or HP+ applies to your printer, confirm the available toner options before ordering a compatible cartridge.
Once those details are clear, choosing between standard and high yield largely comes down to your print volume.
CartridgesDirect has been supplying printer cartridges and printing products to Australian customers since 2006. Our HP 138A and 138X toner range gives customers a convenient way to find replacement toner for compatible HP LaserJet Pro printers, backed by the experience of an established Australian printer supplies retailer.
Whether you are replacing a standard-yield HP 138A cartridge or looking for the higher-yield HP 138X, CartridgesDirect makes it easy to find the right toner for your printer and printing requirements.
Empty toner cartridges do not need to go straight into general waste. CartridgesDirect is a Cartridges 4 Planet Ark partner and includes a free postage-paid recycling satchel with eligible cartridge orders. Eligible empty cartridges can be collected together rather than discarded individually as they run out. Once you have a minimum of eight eligible empty cartridges, place them in the satchel and seal it securely. The satchel can then be placed in an Australia Post roadside mailbox.
Returned cartridges are processed through Close The Loop so suitable materials can be recovered for recycling. Your original content already contains this recycling process.
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