[johngalt]

FYI, the included cartridges in a new printer are typically a 'low capacity' type. This has been true for 20+ years. You may find yourself both spending a large amount of money, and generating a significant amount of e-waste if you pursue this strategy.

It is important to check consumable cost when buying a printer. They aren't all the same in this regard.

[roncesvalles]

Pro tip: Sometimes refurbished printers have the actual full cartridge. I once bought a refurbished Xerox laser printer and used it for 12+ years and it was still printing when I threw it away despite the low ink indicator having come on for the last couple of years. I went through all of high school and university with the same $60 printer (and cartridge).

That means it's possible to make a printer that has a cartridge that outlives the life of the printer for typical home users. Getting people to replace the cartridge is mostly artificial and not some inherent technology limitation. If they really wanted to, they could make 50% of the interior space of the printer just one big laser ink cartridge that prints like 5000 pages, which in 2025 means it's going to last the rest of your life.

[pcthrowaway]

Sure, but a lot of ink cartridges sold separately are also low capacity now.