Our readers keep the lights on and my morning glass full of iced black tea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.7 Best 243 Printer Ink | 400 Pages Without The OEM Price Tag

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The Relcolor 243XL 2-pack represents the sweet spot in compatible 243 ink — reliable smart chip recognition across the major Pixma, MG, and TR series printers, combined with a genuine 400-page per cartridge yield at 5% coverage. Users consistently report zero recognition errors on first install, which is the single most common failure point among lower-tier compatibles. The chip firmware clearly matches the Canon PG-243XL spec closely enough to skip the calibration dance.

Each cartridge measures 4.34 x 1.57 x 3.15 inches and uses water-based ink that produces solid black text with minimal feathering on standard multipurpose paper. The 2-pack configuration makes it easy to keep a spare on hand without committing to a 4-pack before verifying compatibility with your specific printer. Verified reviews frequently mention that these are “every bit as good as the Canon cartridges” for a lower cost.

The only real trade-off is the black-only configuration — you’ll need to pair it with a separate 244 color cartridge if your printing includes graphics or photos. For pure document printing, especially during tax season or for students printing assignments, the Relcolor 2-pack is the most dependable entry point into the 243 compatible market.

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The Relcolor 243 & 244 combo pack delivers the complete black-and-color solution for Canon Pixma, MG, TR, and TS printers, with the same upgraded smart chip technology that makes the black-only version so reliable. The black PG-243XL cartridge yields 400 pages while the color CL-244XL delivers 350 pages, giving you roughly 750 pages before replacement. Verified reviews consistently note “sharp text, vibrant colors, no streaks” and immediate printer recognition.

What sets this combo apart from the Ubinki and PrintImpression alternatives is the consistency of the chip firmware across both the black and color cartridges — some dual-packs suffer from one cartridge being recognized instantly while the other requires re-seating. Relcolor’s quality control appears to address this, with reports of zero compatibility issues. The water-based ink formulation produces solid, saturated color output suitable for document headers and basic graphics.

The one trade-off mentioned by some users is that the color cartridge may deplete slightly faster than expected under mixed-use conditions — printing 20-30 pages with partial color coverage triggered low-ink warnings. For balanced home printing where you need both black documents and occasional color, this is the most polished combo option available.

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The Ubinki 243 & 244 combo pack stands out for using pigment-based black ink rather than the water-based formulation found in most compatibles. Pigment ink bonds to paper fibers, producing text that resists smearing when highlighted or exposed to incidental moisture — a real advantage if your printing includes signed contracts, forms, or documents that get handled frequently. Users consistently report “very bold” printing quality and seamless installation.

The package includes one 243XL black cartridge claiming 400 pages and one 244XL tricolor cartridge claiming 350 pages. The tricolor cartridge uses standard dye-based ink for the cyan, magenta, and yellow chambers. Ubinki also advertises a clog-resistant nozzle design, which is relevant for users who print infrequently — the nozzles are less likely to dry out during idle periods of a week or two. The smart chips are described as the “latest” generation with strict factory inspections.

The main consideration is that while the pigmented black ink provides superior document durability, it can sometimes produce slightly less dense blacks compared to the deepest water-based dyes on glossy paper. For standard copy paper documents — the primary use case for most MG and TR series owners — the Ubinki combo is a smart choice that addresses the smudge issue without jumping to premium pricing.

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PrintImpression’s 243 and 244 combo pack distinguishes itself through a documented 12-point quality verification process and ISO/IEC 19752 compliance for yield testing. The PG-243XL black cartridge is engineered with precision pigments that produce crisp, smudge-resistant text, while the CL-244XL color cartridge uses a formulation designed to virtually eliminate streaking, fading, and leakage. The smart chips are described as “upgraded” and designed for seamless recognition from the moment of installation.

The yield claims match the industry standard — 400 pages for the black cartridge and 350 pages for the color at 5% A4 coverage. The packaging is notable for being clearly distinct from OEM Canon branding, which avoids confusion and makes it easy to identify. User feedback strongly emphasizes “great value” and print quality that matches Canon stock cartridges, with some reporting that alignment and deep cleaning steps were unnecessary after installation.

The biggest caveat comes from a single verified negative report citing faded output after 22 pages and occasional recognition issues requiring cartridge re-seating. While this appears to be an outlier relative to the volume of positive feedback, it highlights that even well-engineered compatibles can have unit-level variability. For most users, PrintImpression’s QC process seems to keep defects rare, making this a strong mid-range option for document-focused printing.

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The Ubinki 243XL black 2-pack mirrors the chip and nozzle technology found in the brand’s combo pack but strips it down to a pure black-document solution. Each cartridge is rated for 400 pages at 5% coverage, and the clog-resistant nozzle design is particularly relevant for users who print irregularly — a week of idle time between print jobs is less likely to result in dried-out nozzles or streaky output. The water-based ink produces clean, readable text on standard office paper.

Printer compatibility spans the same broad list as the Ubinki combo — iP2820, MX490, MX492, TR4520, TR4522, the entire MG 2500 and 2900 series, and TS 3100 and 3300 series. Users consistently describe these as “reliable” and note that they “work just like an original Canon print cartridge.” The value positioning is straightforward: two black cartridges at a price that undercuts most single OEM cartridges, with the clog-resistant design adding long-term reliability.

The main feedback from longer-term users is that the “XL” designation may not fully deliver on page count expectations — one reviewer noted it “doesn’t seem to last much longer than a regular ink cartridge.” This is a common caveat with compatible XL cartridges, where the chip may not always track the full ink reserve. For the price, however, the per-page cost remains competitive even with slightly reduced real-world yield.

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Ankink’s 243XL black 2-pack uses an “advanced pigment making process technology” designed to improve brightness and saturation — a notable differentiator in the budget-compatible space where water-based formulations dominate. The pigment process produces text with higher contrast on standard paper, which is genuinely noticeable when printing small-font legal documents or spreadsheets. The upgraded smart chips undergo strict factory testing to ensure immediate recognition across the full range of compatible Canon printers.

The claim of “4 times the capacity” relative to standard cartridges translates to the same 400-page yield at 5% coverage that other XL compatibles advertise. The printer compatibility is broad: MX490, MX492, MX498, MG2420, MG2520, MG2522, MG2920, MG2922, TS202, TS302, TS3120, TS3122, TR4520, TR4522, IP2820, and IP2850. Users frequently report that these work “better than the Canon cartridge that belongs in it” and appreciate the value proposition at this price tier.

The trade-off for the sharper pigment output is that some users found the ink depleted faster than expected — one noted it “runs out of ink too fast” even though print quality was solid. This is a recurring theme among budget-tier compatibles where the chip may not accurately reflect the true remaining ink volume. For users who primarily need crisp black text and are willing to replace cartridges slightly more frequently, Ankink delivers strong value.

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INKCLOUD takes a different approach to the 243 ink market — remanufactured cartridges rather than new-compatible builds. Each cartridge is sourced from original Canon shells, cleaned, refilled with premium ink, and vacuum-sealed for leak-free delivery. The remanufacturing process is supposed to yield chips that behave exactly like OEM, and the smart chip technology is described as “upgraded” for instant recognition and accurate ink tracking across Pixma, MG, TR, and TS series printers.

The 400-page yield per black cartridge at 5% coverage matches the rest of the field, and the 2-pack configuration provides solid runway for remote workers, students, and home businesses. INKCLOUD emphasizes “laser-sharp black text” for contracts and reports, and the remanufactured shells tend to fit more precisely than some new-compatible housings, reducing the risk of seating issues. Users consistently describe the output as “as good as the name brand” with no practical difference in print quality.

The primary consideration with remanufactured cartridges is batch-to-batch consistency — while the majority work flawlessly, a small percentage may have chips that don’t register the remaining ink volume as accurately as new OEM or top-tier compatibles. The vacuum-sealed packaging mitigates drying risk during storage. For users who prioritize the environmental benefit of remanufacturing and want a well-tested black-ink solution, INKCLOUD is the most polished option at this tier.