TLDR Review: Brother LC401XL Ink Cartridges 4 Pack
Pros
- •Offers significant cost savings compared to Brother subscription cartridges without sacrificing print quality.
- •Prints sharp, clear colors with excellent and consistent quality, including accurate blues and yellows.
- •Mostly quick and easy installation process once initial setup is understood.
- •Ink levels display correctly on the printer with these cartridges.
- •Compatible with multiple Brother printer models like MF1010DW, MFC-J1170DW, MFC-J1012DW, and MFC-J1800DW.
- •Provides a practical alternative for users who don’t consume ink fast enough to justify a subscription.
- •Printer functions normally after user acknowledgment of noriginal ink.
- •Reliable performance reported by many users, matching the quality of original Brother ink.
- •No adverse effect on printer operations when used.
Cons
- •Printer can show "non Brother ink detected" messages at first, which may confuse some users.
- •Installation may require repeated attempts, especially for the cyan cartridge, which has caused detection problems for some.
- •One out of four cartridges sometimes fails to be recognized or work, leading to frustration.
- •NoEM cartridges lack the original Brother latching mechanism, which can affect fit or ease of installation.
- •Minor ink spills during initial installation have been reported, though usually easy to clean.
- •Some users experience ongoing cartridge detection issues requiring restarts and multiple reinstallations.
- •Initial setup confusion is common and may cause hesitation during first use.
Bottom Line
These LC401XL 4-pack cartridges deliver solid print quality and cost savings, making them an appealing choice if you’re looking to ditch Brother’s subscription model for good. However, be prepared for some potential hiccups during installation and occasional detection glitches, especially with the cyan cartridge. If seamless, hassle-free cartridge recognition is your top priority, you might want to consider sticking with original Brother cartridges or exploring other highly rated compatible brands. Overall, this pack is great value for budget-conscious users willing to troubleshoot a bit to save on ink.
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