HP 652 Black (F6V25AE) & Tri-Color (F6V24AE) Ink Cartridge Review
Introduction
The HP 652 Black (F6V25AE) and Tri-color (F6V24AE) ink cartridges promise professional-quality prints with minimal downtime. I’ve spent the last few weeks putting these cartridges through their paces to see if they live up to the hype. This review covers everything from setup and ease of use to print quality and overall value.
Key Features
These cartridges are marketed for their high-speed performance, vibrant colors, and ease of use. The packaging boasts bold, crisp text and sharp images, a claim I’ll thoroughly examine in the performance section. One key feature highlighted is the ability to easily replace the printheads if needed, extending the life of the printer.
| Colour Name | Black & Tri Colour |
|---|---|
| Set Includes | 2x HP 652 Black Cartridge, 1 x HP 652 Colour Cartridge |
| What’s In The Box | 1 x Ink Cartridge (Note: This description appears to be an error on the packaging, as the set includes 3 cartridges) |
| Model Number | F6V24AE/F6V25AE |
| Model Name | F6V24AE/F6V25AE |
| Item Quantity | 2 |
Performance & Print Quality
Installation was a breeze; the cartridges slotted into place without any issues. Throughout my testing, I printed a variety of documents: text-heavy reports, colorful presentations, and even some high-resolution photos. The black text consistently came out sharp and crisp, with no noticeable fading, even after printing several hundred pages. The color reproduction was also impressive, with vibrant and accurate colors across the board. I experienced no noticeable slowdown in printing speed, even when printing large documents. The claim of high-speed performance holds true in my testing.
While the quality of the color prints was largely excellent, I did notice slightly lighter shades on large, solid color areas compared to prints produced with other cartridges of a similar price point. This is a minor detail that is only really apparent when directly compared with alternative cartridges, though. Overall, for everyday printing needs, the quality was exceptional.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Easy installation, vibrant colors, sharp black text, high print speeds, consistent performance.
- Cons: Slightly lighter shades on large solid color blocks compared to similar cartridges; the ‘What’s In The Box’ specification is inaccurate.
Final Verdict
The HP 652 Black (F6V25AE) and Tri-color (F6V24AE) ink cartridges deliver on their promise of high-quality prints and ease of use. While there’s a minor quibble with the slightly lighter color shades on large areas, it’s a minor point in an otherwise excellent package. For everyday printing needs, these cartridges provide excellent value for money. I would wholeheartedly recommend these cartridges to anyone looking for reliable and high-quality printing results. The small discrepancy in the product description, however, is worth noting for potential customers. It’s important to be aware the set contains three cartridges, not one.
