What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 3050A Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 3050A e-All-in-One (J611 series) uses HP 61 black and HP 61 tri-color cartridges. Black comes as HP 61 (CH561WN, about 190 pages) and HP 61XL (CH563WN, about 430 pages); tri-color comes as HP 61 (CH562WN, about 165 pages) and HP 61XL (CH564WN, about 300 pages).
The look-alike HP 301 (UK and Europe), HP 60, HP 62 and HP 63 do not fit. Castle Ink sells remanufactured HP 61XL black and tri-color cartridges plus a 2-pack.
CastleScore · October 2026
72/100 — Recommended
HP DeskJet 3050A (Scored on HP DeskJet 3050A ratings)
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 84 | 4.5★ average across 25 ratings on eBay product pages (small sample) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 78 | 78/100 TechSpot metascore (average of CNET, Expert Reviews and Trusted Reviews) |
| Cost per page (24%) | 74 | About 7¢ per page blended with our remanufactured HP 61XL black (430 pages) and 61XL tri-color (300 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 62 | Most-reported problems: cartridge not recognized or single-cartridge mode; vertical streaks; slow color printing |
| Features (12%) | 48 | Print, copy, scan, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with ePrint and AirPrint, 2-inch mono LCD, 60-sheet tray. No auto duplex, no fax. |
| Value (5%) | 68 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against its original budget price (about $80 class at launch) |
Limited data: Owner ratings come from a small sample, so the sentiment pillar carries less certainty than usual.
Retired. HP no longer sells the DeskJet 3050A; it turns up used or new-old-stock on eBay only.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 28, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 61XL Black
HP 61XL Tri-Color
HP 61XL 2-packOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 3050A Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 61XL Black (high yield) | CH563WN | ~430 pages | Castle Ink HP 61XL Black, $23.95 |
| HP 61XL Tri-Color (high yield) | CH564WN | ~300 pages | Castle Ink HP 61XL Tri-Color, $24.95 |
| HP 61XL Black + Tri-Color 2-pack | CH563WN / CH564WN | — | Castle Ink 2-Pack, $35.99 |
| HP 61 Black / Tri-Color (standard) | CH561WN / CH562WN | ~190 / ~165 pages | Amazon |
Yields are HP's figures as listed by Staples, Walmart and Ink Technologies; HP has trimmed the 61 family's ratings over the years (the 61XL black was once rated 480 pages, now 430), so you will see both numbers on retailer pages. In 2026 HP also began replacing the old part numbers with new ones: C0PA4AN (61XL black, rated 360 pages), C0PA5AN (61 tri-color, 200 pages) and the C0PA6AN 2-pack. Staples and Quill list all three as compatible with the DeskJet 3050A. Amazon links are tagged (as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).
What Does DeskJet 3050A Ink Cost per Page?
On October 28, 2026, Staples listed HP's 61XL black (C0PA4AN, 360 pages) at $49.99 and the 61 tri-color (C0PA5AN, 200 pages) at $52.99: about 13.9¢ and 26.5¢ a page. Walmart had the older CH563WN 61XL black (430 pages) at $73.77 and the CH564WN 61XL tri-color (300 pages) at $79.99. Our remanufactured 61XL black is $23.95 (about 5.6¢ a page) and our 61XL tri-color is $24.95 (about 8.3¢ a page).
Will Remanufactured Ink Work?
Yes. The DeskJet 3050A is a 2011 printer that predates HP+ and HP's Instant Ink program, and HP 61 is an integrated cartridge with the print head built in, so there is no separate chip for firmware to police. If the printer reports a cartridge problem after a swap, it is almost always the pink protective tape left on, dirty copper contacts, or a cartridge from the wrong region (HP 301 is the European number for this same printer and will not work in a US unit).
How Do I Replace the Ink in the DeskJet 3050A?
- Turn the printer on and load plain white paper in the input tray.
- Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to move to the center and stop.
- Press down lightly on the old cartridge to release it, then pull it out (black goes in the right slot, tri-color in the left).
- Unpack the new HP 61 cartridge and pull the pink tab to remove the protective tape. Hold it by the black plastic only; do not touch the copper contacts or the nozzles.
- Slide the cartridge into its slot at a slight upward angle until it clicks.
- Close the door. The printer asks to align the cartridges; press OK and let it print the alignment page.
HP's manual says not to leave a cartridge out of the printer for more than 30 minutes. If a "single cartridge mode" message appears with both cartridges installed, re-check that the tape is off and wipe the contacts with a dry lint-free cloth.
Which Other Printers Use HP 61?
The DeskJet 1000, 1010, 1050, 1051, 1055, 1510 and 1512; the DeskJet 2000, 2050, 2510, 2512, 2540 to 2549 and 2640; the DeskJet 3000, 3050 (J610), 3051A, 3052A, 3054A, 3510 and 3512; the ENVY 4500, 4501, 4502, 4504, 4505, 5530, 5531, 5532, 5534 and 5535; and the OfficeJet 2620, 2622, 4630, 4632 and 4635 all take the same cartridges.
What DeskJet 3050A owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, manufacturer support communities and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Is the DeskJet 3050 the same printer as the 3050A?
No. The DeskJet 3050 is the J610 series; the 3050A e-All-in-One is the J611 series (CR232A in the US) and adds HP ePrint email printing and AirPrint. Both take HP 61 and 61XL, so the ink is interchangeable, but the drivers and manuals are different.
Can I keep printing with just the black cartridge?
Temporarily, yes. Removing a cartridge puts the printer into single-cartridge mode; it will still print from a computer, though not as a standalone copier, until you install a second cartridge.
Why are CH561WN and CH563WN so hard to find now?
HP refreshed the HP 61 line in 2026. Staples marks the old part numbers as discontinued and stocks the replacements C0PA4AN (61XL black), C0PA5AN (61 tri-color) and C0PA6AN (2-pack), all listed for the 3050A. The old numbers are still sold at Walmart and ink specialists while stock lasts, and remanufactured 61XL cartridges are unaffected.
Does the 3050A work with HP+ or Instant Ink?
No. It predates both programs and is not on HP's Instant Ink compatibility list, whose oldest DeskJet entries start at the 3630 series.
DeskJet 3050A quirks worth knowing
- The cartridges in the box are low-yield starters, about 120 black and 100 color pages by HP's own figures, so the first set runs out fast.
- Draft mode is rated at 20 pages a minute, but ISO speed is 5.5 ppm black and 4 ppm color; Expert Reviews measured 1.7 ppm on heavy color pages.
- Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only, and the last official drivers target Windows 7 and OS X 10.6; newer systems rely on built-in or HP Smart drivers.
- HP's own fix for vertical streaks is to check the paper and clean the rollers, not to replace the cartridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP DeskJet 3050A use?
HP 61 or 61XL black and HP 61 or 61XL tri-color cartridges (CH561WN, CH563WN, CH562WN and CH564WN, or the 2026 replacements C0PA4AN and C0PA5AN).
Will HP 301 cartridges work in the DeskJet 3050A?
Only in a European-market printer. HP 301 is the UK and EU equivalent of HP 61 and is region-locked, so it will not work in a US DeskJet 3050A.
Is the HP 61XL worth it over the standard HP 61?
Yes. The 61XL black is rated at about 430 pages against 190 for the standard cartridge, so it costs less per page even at full retail.
Other printers that use HP 61 and 61XL
HP DeskJet 3050 · HP ENVY 4500 · HP DeskJet 1050
More HP ink guides: HP DeskJet 2050 · HP DeskJet 3054A · HP OfficeJet 4630 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother MFC-T780DW — CastleScore 90
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- Brother MFC-J4335DW — CastleScore 89
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 28, 2026 and will change over time.
- Staples: ink for HP DeskJet 3050A J611a
- Quill: HP 61XL Black C0PA4AN
- Walmart: HP 61XL Black CH563WN
- HP DeskJet 3050A J611 series user manual (PDF)
- HP Support: vertical streaks on the DeskJet 3050A
- TechSpot: HP DeskJet 3050A review aggregate
- Expert Reviews: HP DeskJet 3050A review
- eBay: HP DeskJet 3050A product ratings
Need replacement HP ink cartridges? Shop HP ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.