Epson DURABrite Ultra T702XL Review: Conditional Buy Verdict
Starting with a surprising finding: despite the EPSON DURABrite Ultra Ink Cartridge Combo Pack (T702XL-BCS) being marketed as a high-capacity, cost-effective solution, multiple verified buyers report that even the XL cartridges “aren’t very XL” in real-world usage. Across platforms, this combo pack earns an impressive average sentiment score of 8.5/10, with most users praising print quality, reliability, and ease of use—but recurring concerns about price and yield temper the enthusiasm.
Quick Verdict: Conditional Buy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Vibrant, professional-quality prints | High upfront cost |
| Fast-drying, smudge-resistant ink | XL capacity smaller than expected for some |
| Reliable OEM performance | Ink dries out with infrequent use |
| Easy installation and single-color replacement | Locked to Epson printers (no off-brand use) |
| Long-term cost effectiveness for frequent printing | Price increases noted by long-term buyers |
Claims vs Reality
Epson’s marketing emphasizes “brilliant results” and “instant-dry, smudge, fade and water-resistant prints.” Users broadly confirm these claims. A verified buyer on Amazon noted: “Ok, the print quality is good and installation a breeze,” adding that colors remain sharp on both plain and glossy paper. Best Buy reviewers repeatedly praised “high-quality prints” with vivid color and sharp text, supporting Epson’s durability claims.
However, Epson also promotes “high capacity” XL cartridges as yielding fewer replacements. While technically true, Reddit user reports highlight a gap: “Unfortunately XL isn’t very XL... I don’t have an exact number of pages… but it definitely wasn’t as many as I thought it would be.” This sentiment is echoed on Best Buy, where a customer wrote: “These cartridges are small (even the XL) and just don’t allow for a good amount of printing.”
Epson’s promise of cost-effectiveness over time holds for frequent users. Trustpilot feedback describes them as “cost-effective in the long run—despite higher upfront cost, it provides more prints per dollar.” Yet infrequent users face a different reality: cartridges can dry out, negating the intended value proposition.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Print quality is the standout feature. Best Buy customers consistently rated quality at 4.7/5, with one noting: “I would run out of paper before I needed ink.” This performance benefits home offices, small businesses, and photo printing enthusiasts alike. Fast-drying properties are repeatedly cited as preventing smudges in high-volume settings. On Reddit, users appreciated “vibrant colors and crisp blacks” suitable for professional documents and marketing materials.
Ease of use is another universal win. Multiple Best Buy reviewers mention “easy to install, no fuss no muss,” while Amazon buyers liked the convenience of replacing individual colors. This feature especially benefits users who print mixed-content documents, since only depleted colors need replacing.
Reliability also draws strong praise. A Best Buy reviewer contrasted OEM cartridges with remanufactured ones: “Those reman cartridges… do not last very long… now we strictly use the Epson cartridges, never any issues.” This reliability matters most for business users who can’t afford printer downtime.
Common Complaints
The most persistent complaint is price. An Amazon reviewer lamented: “Charging what they do for the little ink you get is highway robbery!” Long-term buyers note steady price increases from around $50 to nearly $80–90. This hits budget-conscious home users hardest.
Yield expectations also cause frustration. While Epson lists a page yield of 1,100 for black, some users feel real-world performance falls short. A Best Buy reviewer noted that maintenance tasks like print-head cleaning “leave you with nearly half the amount of usable ink.”
Compatibility lock-in is another sore point. Epson’s firmware blocks off-brand cartridges, forcing buyers into OEM replacements. Amazon feedback reflects resentment toward this practice, with one user suggesting it “forces you to use their branded replacements… makes you look at other options.”
Divisive Features
The XL capacity feature splits opinion. Frequent users appreciate fewer replacements—Best Buy feedback calls it “worth the extra money because you get so much more than if you bought two small ones.” Infrequent users, however, report drying issues and limited yield, making the upgrade less appealing.
Another divisive aspect is the combo pack’s configuration: XL black with standard color cartridges. Some praise having “extra black ink” for text-heavy printing, while others wish all colors were XL for balanced longevity.
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot and Reddit data suggest strong long-term reliability. Frequent buyers report consistent performance across multiple purchase cycles, with no clogging or compatibility issues in supported printers. One Best Buy reviewer stated, “Always reliable—Epson is always reliable… replace one color at a time makes it so much easier.”
Concerns about Epson’s lock-in strategy are real but relate to corporate policy rather than product failure. Amazon reviewers express frustration at firmware updates preventing third-party cartridges, but few report outright product defects.
Durability stories show cartridges performing well even after months of intermittent use—provided printers are maintained. A Best Buy user described an XL black cartridge as “like the never-ending ink cartridge,” lasting through extensive document runs.
Alternatives
The only alternatives mentioned are remanufactured/off-brand cartridges from Amazon. Users overwhelmingly found these inferior: “Do not last very long… do not function properly half the time.” While cheaper upfront, they caused downtime and returns. For those willing to try different Epson lines, some Amazon reviewers referenced EcoTank printers, though opinions on those models were mixed.
Price & Value
Current pricing varies by region and retailer: Amazon lists at $77.45, Epson’s own site at $78.99, and Canadian listings at $82.59. eBay shows resale opportunities as low as $25 with free shipping, but buyer protection varies.
Community advice trends toward buying multipacks during sales or using reward points at retailers like Best Buy. Frequent printers see value in the XL black cartridge’s longevity. Infrequent users may be better served by standard capacity packs to avoid drying out unused ink.
FAQ
Q: What colors are included in the T702XL-BCS combo pack?
A: The pack includes one high-capacity black cartridge and three standard-capacity color cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow), designed for Epson WorkForce Pro series printers.
Q: Is the XL capacity worth the extra cost?
A: For frequent printing, yes—users report less downtime and better cost-per-page. Infrequent users may not see the benefit due to potential drying issues.
Q: Can I use third-party cartridges with this printer?
A: No. Epson’s firmware is designed to work exclusively with genuine Epson cartridges, and using non-genuine ink may cause damage not covered under warranty.
Q: How fast does the ink dry?
A: Almost instantly. Multiple users confirm prints are “touchable and ready to use the moment they are printed,” preventing smudges in high-volume workflows.
Q: Which printers are compatible?
A: Verified data shows compatibility with Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720, WF-3730, and WF-3733 models.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a frequent printer user who values vibrant, smudge-resistant prints and OEM reliability. Avoid if you print infrequently or are sensitive to rising ink prices. Pro tip from the community: replace individual colors as they run out, and shop for multipacks during sales to offset the high upfront cost.
