Epson has recently updated a selection of its consumer and commercial ink cartridges, introducing a redesign that changes how your printer communicates ink levels. This update ensures continued high-quality performance while adapting to a discontinued component in certain cartridges. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s changing and what it means for Epson users.
Changes to Low Ink Communication
For a limited range of Epson consumer ink cartridges, the printer’s status monitor will no longer display “Low Ink” warnings. Instead, when a cartridge needs replacing, you will see the message:
“Ink cartridge cannot be recognised”
At this point, the cartridge should be replaced in the usual way. You can still monitor remaining ink levels using the graphic display in the status monitor until the cartridge needs replacement.
It’s important to note that if you have multiple cartridges installed, messaging may differ between them depending on the production date.
Specific Cartridge Updates
For T1291-T1294 and T1301-T1304 ranges, when the black cartridge is installed, the ink level display will not show as full. The page yield remains the same for T1291-T1294 cartridges, while T1301 black ink offers approximately 4.5% lower page yield than the original cartridge. Epson has adjusted the Recommended Retail Price so that the cost-per-page remains consistent.
Impacted consumer ink cartridges include:
- T0711-T0714 (Cheetah)
- T1301-T1304 (Stag)
- T0891-T0894 (Monkey)
- T0801-T0806 (Hummingbird)
- T1291-T1294 (Apple)
- T7601-T7609 (Killer Whale)
- T1281-T1284 (Fox)
- T3241/2/3/4/7/8/9/0 (Puffin)
FAQs for Consumer Cartridges
How can I identify a redesigned cartridge?
Redesigned cartridges feature an asterisk on the spine label.
Why has the low ink communication changed?
A component used in some cartridges is no longer in production. The redesign allows Epson genuine ink to remain compatible with select printers.
Will I still receive low ink warnings?
No, impacted cartridges will not display low ink warnings. You can check ink levels via the status monitor’s graphic display.
What does “Ink cartridge cannot be recognised” mean?
It signals that the cartridge needs replacing. Simply replace the cartridge as usual.
Has the page yield changed?
Most cartridges retain the same page yield. Some, including T0711-T0714, T0891-T0894, and T1281-T1284 ranges have slightly reduced yields with certain printers. Epson has lowered prices accordingly.
Is ink quality affected?
No, the redesign does not affect Epson genuine ink quality.
Commercial Cartridge Updates
For certain commercial printer inks, the low ink communication has also changed. The discontinued component affects ink consumption tracking, meaning ink levels are now estimated rather than precisely measured. Consequently, you may see varying levels of ink left when replacement is requested. To offset this, prices have been reduced by 20%.
Impacted commercial inks include:
- T804 (700ml)
- T824 (350ml)
These cartridges are compatible with Epson SureColor SC-P6000, SC-P7000, SC-P8000, and SC-P9000 printers.
Important Installation Note
Before installing new redesigned cartridges, it’s essential to update your printer firmware to the latest version. Without this update, the printer may display an error and will not function. Detailed instructions are included with the cartridge and are also available on the Epson Support website.
