HP 564/564XL Ink (4-Pack) Review: Conditional Buy 7.9/10
A “brand new” cartridge that prints every color except black is the kind of complaint that stops you mid-checkout. For the HP 564/564XL Ink Cartridges (4-Pack), the broad sentiment is strong satisfaction with OEM print quality and easy installation—but a recurring undercurrent of fitment confusion, occasional DOA black cartridges, and sticker shock. Verdict: Conditional buy — 7.9/10.
Quick Verdict
Conditional — worth it if you want OEM consistency and your printer model matches the exact cartridge variant; less appealing if you’re price-sensitive or worried about black-cartridge fit/defects.
| What users emphasize | Evidence (platform) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Reliable OEM quality | Best Buy reviews praise “top quality” and “works great” | Good for people who don’t want to troubleshoot print issues |
| Easy installation | Best Buy notes it’s “easy to install” | Suits home users who just want it to click in and work |
| Longevity varies, especially black | Best Buy: concerns about “longevity… particularly the black ink” | Heavy black-text printers may replace more often than expected |
| Occasional failures out of box | Best Buy: “all the colors worked except for black” | Risk of returns/exchanges, especially if you need ink immediately |
| Fitment confusion across 564XL versions | HP Support Community: “564xl black ink cartridge doesn’t fit” | Model/part-number matching matters more than “564XL” branding |
| Price is a common pain point | Best Buy: “feel that they are expensive” | Budget users may look to third-party or marketplace deals |
Claims vs Reality
HP’s official positioning leans hard on predictable output and page-yield expectations. Amazon’s listing frames the 4-pack as “the right amount of ink for everyday printing,” and highlights yields like “approx. 550 pages black, 300 pages” per color. On HP’s own store pages, the messaging emphasizes XL value: “get up to 2x the pages with XL inks vs. standard cartridges,” with the black XL “up to 550 pages.”
Digging deeper into user reports, the “everyday printing” story often holds—until a user hits a basic failure mode. One Best Buy reviewer described a scenario that contradicts the expectation of plug-and-play reliability: a customer wrote, “I had recieved the ink package undamaged… all the colors worked except for black… it does not work,” then asked bluntly, “are these cartiages brand new?” (Best Buy). For a home-office user who depends on black text output, that kind of DOA failure isn’t a minor inconvenience—it’s a stop-work moment.
Another gap appears around compatibility. While marketing copy lists broad printer support and implies straightforward fit, HP Support Community threads show buyers encountering physical design differences. One user reported, “I have a newer and narrower black cartridge 564 which will not fit into hp photosmart 5510 slot although it is supposed to fit” and described different “T” shapes on the cartridge backs (HP Support Community). That mismatch turns a “should fit” purchase into an investigative exercise in part numbers and cartridge revisions.
Finally, page yield and “XL value” is often more complicated in lived use. While HP rates the 564XL black around 550 pages, a Shopper+ reviewer claimed the “high yield cartridge is awesome, lets me get much closer to 800 pages per cartridge” (Shopper+). While officially rated around 550 pages, at least one user reports substantially higher real-world output—suggesting that print coverage and usage patterns can swing results widely.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A recurring pattern emerged: when the cartridge is genuine and compatible, people talk about it like a dependable household staple rather than a tech product. Best Buy reviewers repeatedly anchor their satisfaction in consistency, not novelty. One wrote, “hp ink the best… got a good price on the ink” (Best Buy). Another summarized the OEM rationale succinctly: “pretty good ink tried others, but the quality was not the same” (Best Buy). For families printing school forms or occasional photos, that “don’t make me think” reliability is the whole point of paying for original HP ink.
For light-to-moderate printers, longevity gets framed as a pleasant surprise—especially when users compare it to prior retail experiences. A Best Buy customer said, “we don’t use a lot of printing especially in color but our ink stays good until used up” and contrasted it with “other big box stores” they found “inferior” (Best Buy). That story matters most to intermittent users: if you print sporadically, the fear is that ink dries out or becomes unreliable before it’s consumed. This buyer’s experience suggests the opposite—ink that remains workable over time.
Ease-of-order and availability also show up as part of the “product experience,” even though they’re retail-side factors. A Best Buy reviewer emphasized the relief of finding it when needed: “I went to several websites / store happy you had it!” (Best Buy). Another echoed the convenience: “good product, usually have stock on hand and staff helpful” (Best Buy). For owners of older Photosmart/OfficeJet models who can’t always find 564-series stock locally, availability becomes a key part of satisfaction.
After these positives, users typically summarize the emotional payoff: fewer surprises. A Best Buy reviewer called it a “reliable product for printing” suited for “daily print jobs” (Best Buy). Shopper+ reviewers also reinforced the “no compatibility anxiety” angle: “this ink worked great, and i didn't have to worry about compatibility as it is hp original ink” (Shopper+). For small business users printing invoices or shipping labels, that confidence can matter more than saving a few dollars.
- Most-praised themes: OEM print quality, reliable day-to-day performance, easy install, and “works great” experiences (Best Buy; Shopper+).
- Who benefits most: home users who want predictable results; light printers worried about ink “going bad” before it’s used (Best Buy).
Common Complaints
The most disruptive complaints aren’t about minor streaking—they’re about cartridges failing immediately or not fitting at all. One Best Buy customer described inserting the set and discovering a single point of failure: “all the colors worked except for black… it does not work” even after cleaning and reinstalling (Best Buy). For anyone printing primarily black text (students, home office, medical forms), a failed black cartridge makes the entire pack feel defective, even if the color tanks are fine.
Fitment confusion is the other major frustration, and it appears most clearly in HP’s own community support thread. A user wrote that despite HP indicating compatibility, their “newer and narrower black cartridge 564… will not fit” into a Photosmart 5510 (HP Support Community). Another user replied, “i have exactly the same problem with my new hp 6510… bought two hp 564 xl black” (HP Support Community). The thread becomes a forensic discussion of shape differences and revisions: “there are 2 versions of 564xl black,” one “newer cn684w” and an “older cb 321 wn” (HP Support Community). For consumers, the practical impact is harsh: buying “564XL” isn’t enough; you may need the correct revision/part number.
Price complaints are steadier and less dramatic—but persistent. Best Buy’s roll-up sentiment notes that some customers “feel that they are expensive” (Best Buy). One reviewer who still liked the product explained the math: since the cartridges are not XL, they expected to “deplete the ink… at least twice as quickly,” even though they paid “half as much” (Best Buy). That’s a specific pain point for frequent printers: the perceived value hinges on whether you’re buying standard capacity or XL, and whether you expected the pack to include more high-yield units.
- Most-common negatives: occasional DOA black cartridges, cartridge version/fit confusion, and high price relative to yield (Best Buy; HP Support Community).
- Who’s most affected: heavy black-text printers and owners of older Photosmart/OfficeJet units navigating cartridge revisions (Best Buy; HP Support Community).
Divisive Features
Even the “bundle” concept—getting everything in one go—splits opinion depending on what someone expected to be included. One Best Buy buyer said, “it doesn’t come with a black ink photo cartridge. other than that, i’m happy with my purchase” (Best Buy). For photo-focused users with printers that support photo black, the absence can feel like a missing piece; for document-focused users, it’s irrelevant.
Longevity is similarly divisive. A Best Buy reviewer praised duration with heavy use: “love this ink. last me about 6 months and i print everyday” (Best Buy). But Best Buy’s aggregated cons highlight concerns about longevity, “particularly the black ink” (Best Buy). The split likely reflects different print coverage and usage patterns—high-coverage black pages versus lighter text documents—and underscores why page-yield marketing doesn’t translate cleanly into every home.
- Dividing lines: whether you needed photo black included, and whether your print habits align with stated yields (Best Buy; HP).
Trust & Reliability
The most “scam-like” anxiety isn’t overt fraud in these sources; it’s the suspicion of non-new or malfunctioning cartridges. That shows up most sharply in the Best Buy complaint asking, “are these cartiages brand new? or do they fill the used one” after the black failed (Best Buy). Even when the packaging is “undamaged,” a failure can trigger doubts about authenticity or handling.
On long-term reliability, some users offer time-based reassurance. A Best Buy reviewer said the combo pack “last me about 6 months and i print everyday” (Best Buy), presenting a durability story that will resonate with regular home-office printing. Another framed reliability more broadly: “works great, and longer than expected lifespan from this package” (Best Buy). Those narratives won’t erase the DOA and fitment risks, but they do suggest that when you get the right cartridge and it functions, it can remain stable for months.
Alternatives
Only a few alternatives are explicitly discussed in the provided data, and they mostly fall into “refill/third-party compatible cartridges” rather than named OEM competitors. The Amazon listing itself claims “up to 2x more prints with original HP ink vs. refill cartridges,” positioning refills as the baseline alternative (Amazon).
User commentary echoes that comparison in lived terms rather than lab results. A Best Buy customer said, “tried others, but the quality was not the same” (Best Buy), implying third-party options may trade consistency for savings. Meanwhile, a Quora-style post about the 564 series focuses on refill friction: it claims the cartridge chip is “there to prevent refilling,” and discusses how “chips cannot be reset” and that there are “no chip resetters available” for the 564 cartridges (InkDaddy/Quora source). For refill-minded users, that translates into extra hassle—potentially more than the savings are worth.
Price & Value
The price story depends heavily on where you shop and whether you’re comparing OEM retail boxes to marketplace listings. Amazon’s retail-pack 4-pack is shown at $83.89 (with an indicated list price higher) (Amazon). Best Buy lists a standard-capacity 4-pack at $68.99 (Best Buy). Those figures form the “official retail” reality that drives the recurring “expensive” feedback.
At the same time, eBay listings display dramatically lower prices for compatible sets and even “genuine” lots—often described as “open box” or older stock (eBay). That resale landscape can tempt bargain hunters, but it also increases risk: multiple listings mention expiration dates and mixed conditions, and the HP Support Community thread shows how small variant differences can cause fit failures. For value-focused shoppers, community behavior suggests a tradeoff: lower upfront cost versus higher odds of compatibility headaches or inconsistent results.
Buying tips from user commentary skew toward avoiding surprises. One Shopper+ reviewer praised both price and shipping experience—“so much cheaper buying here and the shipping speed was great” (Shopper+). Meanwhile, the HP Support Community thread repeatedly returns to part numbers and cartridge versions, advising users to “view the part number on the bottom of the cartride” (HP Support Community). In practice, “value” for 564/564XL seems to come from buying the exact correct revision from a reputable channel, not merely finding the lowest sticker price.
- Retail pricing referenced: Amazon ~$83.89 (Amazon), Best Buy ~$68.99 (Best Buy).
- Marketplace reality: wide price dispersion on eBay for “open box,” “expired,” and compatible bundles (eBay).
- Practical value lever: confirming the exact cartridge part number/revision before buying (HP Support Community).
FAQ
Q: What’s the difference between HP 564 and 564XL in this 4-pack?
A: HP positions 564XL as higher yield. Amazon specifies “XL black; standard cyan, magenta, yellow” in the 4-pack, with yields listed around “550 pages black” and “300 pages” for each color (Amazon). Some buyers still feel standard cartridges run out faster (Best Buy).
Q: Why are some users saying the 564XL black cartridge doesn’t fit?
A: HP Support Community users describe multiple physical versions of 564XL black and report a “newer and narrower” cartridge that “will not fit” certain printer slots despite compatibility listings (HP Support Community). One reply advises checking the part number because “there are 2 versions of 564xl black” (HP Support Community).
Q: Is the black cartridge more likely to have problems than the colors?
A: Several sources single out black. Best Buy’s overview notes longevity concerns “particularly the black ink,” and one reviewer reported “all the colors worked except for black… it does not work” (Best Buy). That said, other users report months of use from the pack (Best Buy).
Q: Does this pack include photo black?
A: Not always. A Best Buy reviewer warned, “it doesn’t come with a black ink photo cartridge” (Best Buy). HP’s bundle description also states “does not include photo cartridge” (HP). If your printer/workflow depends on photo black, confirm the pack contents before buying.
Q: Are refills or third-party cartridges a safe alternative?
A: Amazon’s listing claims “up to 2x more prints with original HP ink vs. refill cartridges” (Amazon). A Best Buy reviewer said they “tried others, but the quality was not the same” (Best Buy). A Quora-style post argues the chip design “is there to prevent refilling” and complicates resets (InkDaddy/Quora source).
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a home-office or family printer user who values OEM consistency and wants an easy-install 4-pack—especially if you double-check the exact 564/564XL part number for your printer. Avoid if you’re extremely price-sensitive or you’ve previously run into 564XL black fitment issues; the HP Support Community reports show that “564XL” labeling alone may not guarantee compatibility. Pro tip from the community: “view the part number on the bottom of the cartride” before you open anything (HP Support Community).
