HP 85A Black Toner 2-Pack Review: Reliable but Pricey
A single line sums up the emotional split around HP 85A Black Toner Cartridges (2-pack): Best Buy user [eagle 2001] said: “great but expensive.” Verdict: dependable OEM print quality with recurring sticker-shock. Score: 8.6/10.
Quick Verdict
Yes—conditional. If you prioritize reliability and crisp text (and you’re tired of remanufactured leaks), the dual pack earns its keep. If you’re price-sensitive or expecting the full rated yield every time, the value case gets shakier.
| What buyers agree on | Evidence from user feedback | Where it can fall short |
|---|---|---|
| Reliable OEM performance | Best Buy user [cruzer user] said: “the quality is always there and the printer can be relied upon to work properly!” | Price swings frustrate repeat buyers |
| Clean, sharp text | Best Buy user [jerry] said: “good printing and dark texts.” | Not meant for photos; some call it document-only quality |
| Easy swap, low hassle | Staples reviewer noted: “the cartridge installed easily and the ink never smudges.” | One Best Buy buyer reported “product… was past expiration date” |
| Long-lasting in light duty | Best Buy user [warren] said: “toner never dries up and saves a ton of money over using ink.” | Published yield often feels optimistic to some users |
| Better to keep a spare | HP’s dual-pack framing echoed by users buying “to have on hand” | Dual pack can feel forced/packaging-heavy |
Claims vs Reality
HP positions the dual pack as a way to “print more and save more” and “maintain productivity and minimise downtime” (HP official site). Digging deeper into buyer stories, the “downtime” claim aligns closely with how people actually use it: stocking a backup cartridge so printing doesn’t stop mid-task. A Staples reviewer described the planning mindset plainly: “i bought the double pack of hp 85a toner to have on hand for future use.” Another echoed convenience and reliability as a routine expectation, with Staples reviewer [Timothy M.] calling it “my printer’s lifeblood.”
Where the marketing message runs into reality is the “save more” part—because the savings depend heavily on where and when you buy. Best Buy reviews repeatedly frame the dual pack as a deal when discounted, not as an inherent bargain at typical pricing. Best Buy user [fat larry] said it’s a “great package for the price… because its very expensive,” while Best Buy user [bargain city] called toner “out of this world expensive,” adding: “the deal at best buy is better than the big clubs.”
HP also emphasizes professional results and consistent quality (HP official site). Across platforms, people largely validate print quality for everyday documents. Best Buy user [cesc pa] reported “quality printing and easy to change… ( no mess ).” But for users expecting exact spec performance, there’s friction: the official yield is ~1,600 pages per cartridge (HP official site), yet a B&H reviewer noted, “the number of printed pages per cartridge is usually a little less than published.” That gap becomes meaningful for higher-volume users tracking cost-per-page.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A recurring pattern emerged: people treat OEM HP 85A as the “it just works” option—especially after bad experiences with third-party or remanufactured cartridges. Reliability is the headline benefit for home offices, small businesses, and anyone printing critical documents. Best Buy user [it maniac] compared it directly to generics: “never had any problems using the hp brand for over 4 years… generic ones… only work % 30 of the time.” For users who can’t afford printer drama—like small business staff printing forms or invoices—that kind of repeatable success matters more than shaving a few dollars.
Print quality, specifically “dark text” and crisp black-and-white output, is the second consistent theme. Best Buy user [jerry] said: “good printing and dark texts.” Another user framed it as reliable recovery: Best Buy user [cruzer user] said: “just replaced the cartridge… and it’s running flawlessly again.” The implied persona here is the practical document printer—contracts, schoolwork, shipping labels—who wants legible output without streaks or smudging.
Ease of installation shows up repeatedly as a quiet but important win, especially for non-technical owners or offices where multiple people may replace supplies. A Staples reviewer wrote: “i am satisfied with the way the cartridge installed easily and the ink never smudges.” Best Buy user [billb] reduced the experience to: “no muss no fuss.” For occasional printers—people who might go weeks between jobs—this simplicity prevents the cartridge swap from becoming an event.
Longevity also gets praise, particularly from those who migrated from inkjet and hated dried ink and maintenance cycles. Best Buy user [warren] described the shift: “until a few years ago i always printed with ink… and now print almost everything on it toner never dries up.” A B&H reviewer reinforced storage and readiness: “do not have to worry about the toner deteriorating over time like inkjet cartridges.” For low-to-moderate volume households, that “toner never dries up” narrative is central to why they stay with this cartridge line.
Commonly praised themes (from Best Buy, Staples, B&H):
- “Reliable” OEM behavior over generics
- Crisp/dark document text
- Easy installation and clean handling
- Long shelf life compared with ink
Common Complaints
Price is the dominant complaint—sometimes even from people who like the product. Best Buy user [eagle 2001] said: “i think they are expensive,” even while adding “i have never had any problems with them.” Staples reviews show similar frustration, but in sharper terms when prices rise. Staples reviewer [debbie] wrote: “unreasonable price hike !!… an insanee price increase !” Another Staples reviewer bluntly titled their experience: “awful and too expensive.”
Digging deeper into user reports, buyers often separate “the product” from “the deal.” When priced aggressively, people celebrate value. When priced at typical OEM levels, the same buyers feel punished for choosing reliability. Best Buy user [fat larry] called it “very expensive” but still liked the two-pack “for the price.” Staples reviewer [Timothy M.] described delivery as successful “and on time,” but still concluded: “price on the high side.” This matters most for small offices and frequent printers: every unexpected price jump becomes an operating cost problem, not an annoyance.
Yield expectations form the second tension point. Officially, HP lists ~1,600 pages per cartridge (HP official site). Yet some buyers report results below that. A B&H reviewer said: “usually a little less than published.” Best Buy user [eagle 2001] claimed: “you only get about 800 pages on it.” While that’s one user’s report and may reflect coverage differences, it highlights a recurring reality: published yields don’t always match real-world documents, settings, and print behavior.
There are also occasional retail-quality-control grievances. Best Buy user [laredo ag] reported: “product purchased was outdated… past expiration date.” That complaint targets the retailer experience rather than the toner’s day-to-day printing—but for a buyer who’s paying OEM prices, even one “outdated” incident can erode trust quickly.
Most repeated complaints (by platform):
- Price is “expensive” or “too expensive” (Best Buy, Staples)
- Real-world page yield can feel below published (B&H, Best Buy)
- Occasional retail issues (Best Buy: “past expiration date”)
Divisive Features
The dual-pack format itself splits opinion. Some see it as the smart default—buy two, keep one ready, reduce emergency runs. Best Buy user [lela 2910] said: “this is a great alternative!” after finding singles pricey. Staples reviewers also describe buying the 2-pack “to have on hand.”
Others resent the packaging and the sense of being pushed into buying multiples. A B&H reviewer wrote: “do we need 2x packs? yes we do because they made the printers smaller than before… and we pay more because each has its own box and plastic container.” That critique is less about print results and more about value perception and waste—important for eco-conscious buyers or anyone annoyed by consumables economics.
Finally, the “OEM vs remanufactured” decision can be divisive. Some explicitly pay more to avoid messy failures. Best Buy user [eagle 2001] said: “i would rather pay more for an oem because i have re-manufactured ones leak on me. ( laser toner really makes a mess all over )” Meanwhile, a Staples reviewer returned OEM due to cost: “i returned the two cartridges because they were too expensive… i could get satisfactory quality with a much cheaper product.” The split is clear: risk tolerance versus budget pressure.
Trust & Reliability
From the available community feedback, “trust” isn’t framed as scam anxiety so much as fear of third-party cartridge failures and mess. Best Buy user [eagle 2001] anchored that concern in a specific risk: “re-manufactured ones leak on me… makes a mess all over.” For users printing in shared spaces—home offices with carpet, small retail counters, classrooms—that mess factor becomes a decisive trust issue.
Long-term reliability stories skew positive, especially around consistency and storage. Best Buy user [it maniac] cited “over 4 years” of trouble-free use with HP-branded toner, contrasted against generics that “only work % 30 of the time.” B&H reviewers also emphasized longevity and storage, noting the dual packs “last” and that toner doesn’t deteriorate like inkjet supplies. That combination—predictable output plus good shelf stability—supports the cartridge’s reputation as a low-maintenance choice.
Alternatives
The data includes non-OEM alternatives on Amazon, alongside a Staples remanufactured option. LINKYO’s compatible 2-pack is rated 4.4/5 from 1,080 Amazon reviews (Amazon listing), and its marketing promises “clear and crisp content” and “easy installation.” However, the strongest user argument in the provided feedback for staying OEM is risk avoidance—especially leaks and inconsistent compatibility. Best Buy user [eagle 2001] explicitly prefers OEM after remanufactured leaks, and Best Buy user [it maniac] reported generics working “% 30 of the time.”
Staples also sells a remanufactured Staples-branded HP 85A replacement (Amazon specs), positioned around cost savings and recycled content. But the user narratives here repeatedly justify OEM spending as insurance against messy failures and unreliable performance. For buyers who print occasionally and can tolerate troubleshooting, the compatible/remanufactured path may feel attractive; for those who need predictable output, the stories tilt toward genuine HP.
Price & Value
A recurring pattern emerged: shoppers feel the HP 85A dual pack is “worth it” when bought on promotion, and hard to justify when prices spike. Best Buy’s listing showed a dramatic clearance price in the captured data ($26.99, sold out), and customers repeatedly praised the deal angle. Best Buy user [raymond] said: “price… highly competitive,” while Best Buy user [doug] celebrated that “the price dropped while i was at the counter.”
On Staples, recent reviews are more volatile about pricing. Staples reviewer [debbie] tracked specific increases: “$132.39… increased to $163.66… now it cost $186.87.” That kind of documented price escalation shapes perceived value more than the cartridge’s technical performance—especially for small offices that buy repeatedly.
Market listings on eBay show wide pricing for HP 85A items—ranging from low-cost compatibles to higher-priced “genuine” dual packs (eBay market page). For bargain hunters, the community buying tip is implicit: shop deals, compare retailers, and treat OEM as a “when discounted” purchase rather than a fixed-cost staple. As the B&H reviewer put it, “expensive, unless you shop for the deals.”
FAQ
Q: Do HP 85A 2-pack cartridges really last 1,600 pages each?
A: Officially, HP rates them at ~1,600 pages per cartridge (HP official site). Real-world reports vary: a B&H reviewer said yields are “usually a little less than published,” and Best Buy user [eagle 2001] claimed “about 800 pages.” Coverage, settings, and document type likely drive the spread.
Q: Are these better than remanufactured or generic toner cartridges?
A: Many buyers pay more specifically to avoid third-party issues. Best Buy user [eagle 2001] said remanufactured cartridges “leak… makes a mess,” and Best Buy user [it maniac] reported generics “only work % 30 of the time.” Others still switch away from OEM due to price.
Q: Is the HP 85A dual pack easy to install?
A: Installation is repeatedly described as simple and clean. A Staples reviewer noted the cartridge “installed easily and the ink never smudges,” and Best Buy user [billb] summarized it as “no muss no fuss.” This seems especially valued by casual home users.
Q: Why do people buy the 2-pack instead of a single cartridge?
A: The main reason is avoiding downtime by keeping a spare. A Staples reviewer bought the double pack “to have on hand for future use,” and Best Buy user [lela 2910] called the bundle “a great alternative” after finding singles pricey. Others dislike the extra packaging.
Q: What’s the biggest downside mentioned in reviews?
A: Price—especially when it rises. Best Buy user [eagle 2001] called it “expensive,” and Staples reviewer [debbie] criticized an “insanee price increase.” Even positive reviewers often frame their satisfaction as tied to finding a good deal rather than accepting full-price OEM costs.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a home-office or small-business user who wants dependable OEM toner and crisp document text without “no mess” drama—especially if you can grab a promotion. Avoid if you’re highly price-sensitive or you’ll feel burned when costs spike, as Staples reviewer [debbie] did over the “unreasonable price hike !!”. Pro tip from the community: shop discounts—B&H’s buyer said it’s “expensive, unless you shop for the deals,” and Best Buy user [bargain city] said, “i know where to look first.”
