Is the HP 910XL Black High-Yield Ink Cartridge Worth It?
Worth it, but only if your printer actually earns its keep
By Daniel Kruger, tech & home gear · updated 2026-07-24
Worth it if you print often and want to skip the subscription math
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Picture the low ink light blinking right as you're printing something you needed five minutes ago, and you're standing there comparing a plain cartridge to an hp instant ink cartridge deal, trying to work out which one actually saves you money. The box says XL like it's a bigger soda, not a spec. You just want to know if the extra upfront cost pays you back or if it's a sticker trick.
Here's what XL actually means: same cartridge shell, same printhead, just a bigger internal ink reservoir crammed into the same footprint. That's the whole trick. More ink in, more pages out, no change to how the printer itself works. For this one that translates to about 825 pages before you're back at the store, versus a fraction of that for the standard 910. The effect on your week is simple: fewer trips, fewer cartridge swaps, and a lower cost per page even though the receipt stings more at checkout. It's also listed as eligible for Instant Ink, which is a separate HP subscription that tracks your page count and mails cartridges automatically. Buying this cartridge outright is the opposite move: you pay once for a fixed pool of pages and own it, no monthly charge, no sensor reporting your habits back to HP. If you print in bursts, that outright pool of 825 pages just sits there waiting, ink slowly drying whether you use it or not.
So you're not really buying ink, you're buying pages, and the XL premium is basically a bulk discount for people who print enough to notice. The marketing skips the part where light printers pay the same dried-out-cartridge tax regardless of size. The only real question is whether your print volume clears that bar.
Worth it if
- You print regularly enough that fewer cartridge changes actually matters
- You'd rather pay once than track a monthly ink subscription
- You already own a compatible OfficeJet or OfficeJet Pro 8010 to 8035 series printer
Skip it if
- Your printer goes weeks without use
- You print only a handful of pages a month
- You're already happy with an Instant Ink plan and don't want a standalone cartridge
If you print several pages a week and want to skip subscribing to anything, this is a quiet yes, the cost per page beats the standard cartridge easily. If your printer mostly collects dust between the odd form or boarding pass, a standard 910 or the Instant Ink plan will fit your habits better than a big tank of ink you barely touch.
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Before you go
What's the difference between HP 910 and 910XL?
The XL version packs more ink into the same cartridge shell, pushing the yield up to about 825 pages instead of the standard cartridge's much smaller run, so you pay more upfront but less per page over time.
Are HP XL cartridges worth the extra money?
Usually, if you print more than a handful of pages a week, since the cost per page drops even though the sticker price is higher; if you print rarely, the ink can dry out before you use it, making a standard cartridge the smarter buy.
Can I still use my HP printer without Instant Ink?
Yes, this cartridge works as a standalone purchase with no subscription required, you're simply buying a fixed pool of roughly 825 pages outright instead of paying monthly.
Full spec sheet
| Model Name | 3YL65AN |
|---|---|
| Brand | HP |
| Ink Color | Black |
| Page Yield | 825 |
| Compatible Devices | Printer |
| Special Feature | High Yield |
| Compatibility Options | Genuine |
| Color | Black |
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