HP PhotoSmart 6520 Ink Cartridges
Your HP PhotoSmart 6520 uses the 564, 564XL cartridge series, featuring an individual ink system with separate slots for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. We have been supplying premium consumables for this creative printer since Sep 2023, helping users maintain optimal colour balancing for text and vivid imagery. Our 4.8 Google rating is built on dependable cartridge performance and uncompromising product quality. Because text documents and photography pull from different ink reservoirs at varying rates, managing single cartridge replacements as they deplete ensures you never waste remaining ink in your other colour wells.
Expected Page Output and Replacement Cycles
Page yield expectations vary depending on whether you choose standard or high-yield cartridges. HP determines these ink limits using the ISO/IEC 24711 international testing standard, which measures continuous printing under controlled laboratory parameters. Real-world consumption values differ based on your precise layout densities and how often the printer performs maintenance head cleans.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 564 | Standard | Black | 250 | $0.14 |
| 564 | Standard | Photo Black | 130 | $0.23 |
| 564 | Standard | Cyan | 300 | $0.081 |
| 564 | Standard | Magenta | 300 | $0.081 |
| 564 | Standard | Yellow | 300 | $0.11 |
| 564XL | High Yield | Black | 550 | $0.14 |
| 564XL | High Yield | Cyan | 750 | $0.080 |
| 564XL | High Yield | Magenta | 750 | $0.086 |
| 564XL | High Yield | Yellow | 750 | $0.082 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Choosing Between Genuine and Compatible Options
We offer both genuine manufacturer replacements and cost-effective alternative cartridges for this printing system. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. Selecting our premium compatible alternatives provides an identical physical fit and equivalent ink volume at a much lower cost. If you wish to read a detailed comparison of these options, view our guide comparing genuine vs compatible cartridges.
Managing Replacements and Delivery
If you print mainly text documents, prioritizing high-capacity 564XL black cartridges prevents early interruptions. If you print photos or complex graphics, colour depletion occurs rapidly across cyan, magenta, and yellow, making multi-pack bundles a much better way to stock these cartridges. Our premium compatible options come backed by a full money-back guarantee if they do not perform to your expectations. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). To ensure fast transit times to your doorstep, we ship directly from local warehouses situated across Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. For further peace of mind, read our complete Returns policy before ordering. You can also browse the wider HP ink cartridges range for other printer models.
Pro Tip
The standard black ink cartridge (CB316WA) uses a pigment-based ink formula engineered specifically for sharp text on plain paper, whereas standard colour cartridges use dye-based inks. If you notice text prints looking grey or faint while photos remain vibrant, it means your printer's dedicated black nozzles require a targeted printhead clean rather than a full cartridge replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix a genuine HP cartridge with compatible 564XL cartridges in the same printer?
Yes, this printer allows you to run a combination of genuine and compatible ink slots concurrently. The internal microchips communicate independently with the central motherboard, meaning you can swap individual colours out for budget-friendly alternatives one by one as they naturally empty.
Why does my colour ink disappear even though I mostly print black text?
The system routes small microscopic drops of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink during its periodic startup routines and maintenance cycles to keep the micro-nozzles clear of dried residue. Additionally, default text print settings often mix trace amounts of colour ink into black text to enrich shadow details and sharpen font edges.
What is the difference between standard 564 and 564XL cartridge slots?
Standard 564 and high-yield 564XL cartridges share identical outer physical shell dimensions and snap into the exact same tracking guides inside the printer carriage. The single functional difference is internal; the 564XL version contains a larger physical reservoir chamber holding more ink to deliver an increased page count before drying out.
