Brother LC71 Ink Cartridge Set Review: Strong Yet Pricey
A verified Best Buy customer summed it up bluntly: “It’s ink lol you can’t purchase a different one if this is the only one you can get for your printer.” That straightforward necessity has been framing the debate around the Brother LC71 Ink Cartridge Set, which averages an impressive 4.6–4.7/5 stars across major platforms, but hides a contentious undercurrent. Our aggregated score from multi-platform feedback lands at 8.3/10 — strong performance, quality color output, but recurring grumbles about cost and yield.
Quick Verdict: Conditional — best for users prioritizing OEM reliability and color vibrancy, less ideal for high-volume, budget-conscious printers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Vibrant colors and sharp print quality | Page yield often below advertised |
| Easy installation and reliable fit | High cost compared to generics |
| Consistent OEM reliability | Frequent replacements for heavy users |
| Wide printer compatibility | Limited capacity annoys bulk printers |
| Good shelf life for stockpiling | Some confusion over yield per cartridge |
Claims vs Reality
Brother’s official ratings claim up to 400 pages (black) and 300 pages (color) for the LC71 standard yield cartridges. While these figures set clear expectations, user experiences diverge. On Best Buy’s Q&A, multiple customers pushed back: “It’s supposed to be 300 pages per color cartridge. Unfortunately, I don’t think I get the number of pages advertised on the box.” Another admitted, “I have never been able to print more than 50 pages… my color cartridges get emptied for printer cleaning.”
Marketing also touts “superior inkjet print quality you can consistently rely on,” a point echoed by many satisfied buyers. Reddit user feedback such as “prints just as vibrant as originals, long lasting, no smears” validates this claim. However, some in-depth community reports note that while photos and business documents look excellent, heavy print runs deplete ink far faster than the specs suggest.
Finally, the claim of “fade-resistant prints” leans on Brother’s OEM reputation, and long-term users across Staples and Best Buy back this up. A Best Buy regular stated: “Brother inks have been a consistently good product,” with no fading issues over years of use — but those same customers often paired their praise with acceptance of higher costs.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across platforms, print quality stands out as the most consistent win. For graphic-heavy printers, bright colors and sharp edges matter, and customers repeatedly identified this strength. A verified Best Buy buyer wrote: “Great ink for photos and business use. You get a good amount of pages per cartridge.” Reddit user commentary mirrors this, with one self-described “ink snob” writing, “No trouble on photo or normal paper.” This vivid consistency benefits small-office creatives, photo printers, and anyone producing client-facing materials.
Ease of use is another point of consensus. OEM cartridges “fit perfectly” with no leaks — a Staples customer said, “Works perfectly… exactly what my printer needed.” For educators and home-office setups lacking IT support, that plug-and-print reliability matters.
Common Complaints
Price is the loudest frustration. Best Buy user Gal Molina called prices “outrageous,” while Staples buyers often paired positive delivery comments with cost laments: “Should have waited for a better deal… these cartridges are too expensive and run out too quickly.” Reddit’s compatible cartridge crowd leaned heavily into the value argument, linking three-times-the-ink deals to fractions of OEM cost.
Yield gaps aggravate high-volume users. A Reddit customer celebrated “great for every day printing at good price” for compatibles, while a Trustpilot Q&A source reported OEM LC71 delivering far fewer than claimed pages, especially under color-heavy documents. This hits hardest for office environments printing marketing materials — where low yield risks slowing workflows.
Divisive Features
The OEM-versus-compatible debate splits users sharply. Some refuse universals after bad outcomes — “Tried that once and it ruined my printer. Never again!” — valuing Brother’s consistent performance over savings. Others calculate cost-per-page and choose compatible brands like Ink4U, Green Ark, or EZ Ink, which boast higher yields (up to 600 pages per cartridge) and lower costs, albeit with occasional compatibility hiccups.
Trust & Reliability
Years-long Brother loyalists emphasized durability. Best Buy’s lily mama noted no issues “with any of the cartridges” over multiple printers. Staples customers described “reliable as always” performance, even under regional shipping constraints.
Yet, the yield discrepancy surfaces in trust discussions. On Best Buy’s Q&A, skepticism about product specs filtered through multiple answers, hinting at perceived marketing overstatements. For environmental-conscious buyers, OEM’s recycling programs are a plus — Brother’s own site outlines pathways to return cartridges responsibly, enhancing brand trust.
Alternatives
In compatible markets, Ink4U and EZ Ink replacements emerged repeatedly. Ink4U offers 600-page yields per cartridge and is praised for “vibrant color, rich black” at lower prices. Reddit’s Blake Printing Supply 12-pack drew fanfare from budget printers — “same quality as Brother at one-third the price,” although some conceded slight sharpness tradeoffs.
Green Ark compatible cartridges earned marks for “no clogs” and good value but faced criticism for less vivid colors than OEM. For buyers strictly avoiding non-OEM due to past failures, LC71 remains the default, albeit pricier.
Price & Value
Pricing varies widely. On Amazon, OEM 4-packs hovered near $48.63, while eBay’s marketplace showed new OEM black cartridges around $10–$14, with full color sets in the $20 range. Expired-yet-sealed packs sometimes dropped below $10, appealing to risk-takers.
Buying tips from the community emphasize stocking during sales. Best Buy customers leverage “ink rewards discounts” and open-box deals; eBay buyers negotiate “or best offer” for multi-pack purchases. Reddit’s consensus for high-volume users: switch to high-yield compatibles for cost efficiency.
FAQ
Q: Is the advertised page yield per cartridge or for the set?
A: Officially, yields are per cartridge — 400 for black, 300 for each color. Many users, however, report lower real-world numbers, especially on color-heavy prints.
Q: Can I mix OEM and compatible cartridges?
A: It’s possible but not recommended. Mixing may result in print quality variations and color balance issues.
Q: Are compatibles safe for all Brother printers?
A: Not always. While many work fine, some users report clogging or incompatibility. OEM cartridges avoid these risks.
Q: Do LC71 cartridges dry out if unused?
A: Yes. Users noted drying issues if printers sit idle for extended periods. Regular printing helps maintain ink flow.
Q: How can I recycle used LC71 cartridges?
A: Brother offers recycling via their official program, with collection points or mail-back options.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a photo printer, small business, or home office needing reliable, vibrant OEM output without risking printer health. Avoid if your monthly print volume exceeds standard yield capacities or you need aggressive cost-per-page savings — in those cases, vetted high-yield compatibles may suit you better. Pro tip from Reddit: “Get these [compatibles], print your photos, documents — and smile at the receipt total.”
