Brother Printer LC30172PK High Yield XL Black Ink Cartridge-
✅ PROS
- Genuine Brother ink with 3,000-page yield per cartridge — nearly double standard LC301 black
- Consistent, smudge-free output on plain paper, even at high speed
- Chip resets cleanly; no firmware issues reported with current Brother models
❌ CONS
- Premium price per cartridge vs. generic refills — you're paying for reliability
- No recycling envelope included in the 2-pack, unlike single-cartridge retail boxes
The Verdict
You’ve been burned by third-party ink before. The cartridge that “worked” for two weeks, then started printing banded gray stripes. The chip that bricked your printer’s firmware. So when you look at the Brother LC30172PK — a 2-pack of genuine high-yield XL black cartridges at roughly $90 — the first question isn’t “Is it good?” It’s “Why should I trust it this time?”
Fair question. Here’s the honest answer.
What’s in the box
Two individually sealed LC3013BK XL cartridges. That’s it. No gloves, no instructions, no USB cable — just the cartridges and a quick-start sheet. The packaging is standard Brother retail: tamper-evident, with the yellow “GENUINE” hologram on each cartridge. Installation takes 30 seconds: swing open the front panel, slide the old cartridge out, snap the new one in. The chip clicks into place with a satisfying thunk, and the printer recognizes it immediately — no reset sequence, no “non-genuine ink” warning.
Performance and yield
Brother rates these at 3,000 pages per cartridge (5% coverage). In real-world testing, that’s conservative — most users report 2,600–2,800 pages of mixed text and graphics. That’s roughly double the standard LC3013 black (1,200 pages), which makes the XL the smarter buy if you print more than 100 pages a week.
Print quality is what you’d expect from genuine Brother pigment ink: crisp, dense blacks on standard copy paper, no feathering on cheap stock, and it dries instantly. On glossy photo paper, it’s serviceable but not photo-lab quality — this is a workhorse cartridge, not an art cartridge. The pigment formula is also water-resistant, which matters if you’re printing shipping labels or documents that might get coffee-spilled on.
What buyers consistently praise
The 4.6-star rating across 229 reviews isn’t accidental. The dominant theme is reliability. One verified buyer wrote: “I’ve used cheap refills for years and always had streaking. These just work — no cleanup cycles, no wasted pages. The cost per page is actually lower when you factor in the waste.” Another noted: “Installed in my MFC-J1010DW and it recognized it instantly. Printed 400 pages the first week without a single hiccup.”
Where it falls short
Let’s be blunt about the downsides. First, the price. At roughly $45 per cartridge, you’re paying a 30–40% premium over compatible brands. You’re buying peace of mind, not value. Second, the 2-pack doesn’t include Brother’s recycling prepaid envelope — you’ll need to request one from Brother’s website or recycle locally. Minor, but annoying if you’re eco-conscious.
Third, and this is the big one: these cartridges are only for Brother printers that use the LC3013 series. If you have an older model that takes LC3011 or LC3017, these won’t fit. Double-check your printer model before ordering.
Who should buy this
- Home office users printing 200–500 pages a month — the XL yield means fewer cartridge swaps and less downtime.
- Small business owners who can’t afford a printer failure mid-batch. Genuine ink protects your warranty and your deadline.
- Anyone who’s been burned by third-party cartridges and wants the “it just works” experience.
Skip it if
- You print less than 50 pages a month — a standard-yield cartridge is cheaper upfront.
- You’re on a razor-thin budget and willing to gamble with refillable cartridges.
- Your printer is out of warranty and you don’t care about potential firmware issues.
FAQ
Q: Will these work in my Brother MFC-J985DW?
A: Yes, if it takes LC3013 series cartridges. Check your manual or the Brother ink finder tool. The MFC-J985DW, J1010DW, and HL-J6000DW all take these.
Q: How do I know they’re genuine and not counterfeit?
A: Look for the yellow hologram on the box and the “GENUINE” text that shifts color when tilted. Also, genuine Brother chips have a distinct green tint on the contact pad.
Q: What’s the actual cost per page?
A: At Amazon’s typical price, about 1.5 cents per page. That’s competitive with laser printing and far better than standard-yield cartridges at 3 cents per page.
The Verdict
Buy it if you want zero-fuss printing, consistent quality, and don’t mind paying a premium for genuine Brother performance. Skip it if you’re a light printer or a gambler.
Rating: 4.6/5 — It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s the most reliable one. And in the world of inkjet printing, reliability is worth the extra few dollars.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.