HP 218A and 218X toner cartridges are made for selected HP Color LaserJet Pro 3200 and MFP 3300 series printers in Australia. Both ranges come in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, so you can replace each colour separately when it runs low.
The main difference is how much toner you get. Genuine HP 218A is rated for around 1,300 pages in black and 1,200 pages for each colour. The 218X gives you around 3,200 black pages and 2,500 pages each for cyan, magenta and yellow.
For lighter printing, the 218A may be all you need. If the printer gets used every day and you are changing toner regularly, the 218X gives you more pages before another cartridge is needed.
CartridgesDirect stocks genuine HP 218 toner along with compatible cartridges where available. Check the full model number on your printer or use the Finder tool before ordering.
Stocked orders placed before 2pm are dispatched the same day, with free shipping on orders over $75.
There is quite a jump between the two cartridge sizes. The 218A black cartridge is rated for around 1,300 pages, while cyan, magenta and yellow are rated for around 1,200 pages each.
With the 218X, black increases to around 3,200 pages and each colour to around 2,500 pages.
If your toner lasts for months, there may be little reason to move straight to the larger cartridge. If you are ordering replacements regularly, the 218X means fewer toner changes.
Price matters too. Compare what each cartridge costs with its rated page yield. The cheaper cartridge at checkout will not always work out cheaper per page.
Page yields are approximate. The number of pages you actually get will vary with what you print and how much toner each page uses.
The HP 218 range uses separate black, cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges. You do not have to replace all four at once. This is handy if your printer spends most of its time on invoices, emails, forms and other documents that use plenty of black. Black may run out while the colour cartridges still have plenty left.
The same can happen with an individual colour. If yellow is low but cyan and magenta are fine, just replace yellow.
Have a look at the toner levels on your printer before ordering. It takes the guesswork out of deciding which cartridges you actually need.
HP 218A and 218X cartridges are used by selected HP Color LaserJet Pro 3200 and MFP 3300 series printers sold in Australia.
There are several models within these ranges, so check the full model number on your machine rather than ordering from the series number alone. You can also enter your printer into the CartridgesDirect Finder tool. It will show the cartridges listed for that model, which is useful if you know the printer but cannot remember whether it takes HP 218 toner.
Cartridge numbers can also differ between countries. If the printer was purchased outside Australia, check its cartridge requirements before ordering.
Genuine HP 218A and 218X cartridges are made by HP for supported Color LaserJet Pro printers. Original HP 218 cartridges use HP TerraJet toner and are available in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
CartridgesDirect also stocks compatible HP 218 toner cartridges where available. These cartridges are made by third-party manufacturers for supported printers and give you another choice when looking at toner costs.
Check the individual product page before buying a compatible cartridge. HP states that printers in the Color LaserJet Pro 3200 and MFP 3300 ranges use dynamic security, so cartridges using non-HP chips or circuitry can be affected by printer updates.
If you are not sure about a compatible cartridge, check your printer model first or ask the CartridgesDirect team before ordering.
You do not need a new set simply because one cartridge has run out. If black is empty, buy black. If cyan and yellow are both getting low, you can order those two and leave magenta alone.
A full set makes more sense when several colours are running low at roughly the same time or you want spare toner ready for later. Checking the printer before you order also helps avoid replacing cartridges that still have toner left.
Choosing between 218A and 218X is easier when you know exactly what fits your printer. CartridgesDirect stocks genuine HP toner in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, with compatible alternatives available for selected models.
If the cartridge number is not clear, enter your printer model into the Finder tool before adding toner to your cart. You can also speak with the Australian-based team if you want to double-check the model, colour or yield. CartridgesDirect has been supplying printer cartridges and printing products across Australia since 2006.
Empty cartridges do not have to go into general waste. CartridgesDirect is a Cartridges 4 Planet Ark partner and includes a free postage-paid recycling satchel with eligible cartridge orders.
Once you have collected at least eight eligible empty cartridges, place them in the satchel and seal it securely. You can then put the satchel in an Australia Post roadside mailbox for return. The cartridges are processed through Close The Loop, where suitable materials are recovered for recycling.
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