What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet J4680 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet J4680 uses two HP 901 cartridges: one black and one tri-color. The high-yield HP 901XL black fits too, but there's no XL tri-color. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured 901XL Black, 901 Black, 901 Tri-color and a 901XL + 901 combo pack.
The J4680 belongs to HP's J4500/J4600 family and takes the same ink as the OfficeJet J4580 and the later OfficeJet 4500. It was also sold as the J4680c. European HP 901 cartridges end in 'AE' instead of 'AN'; to be safe, buy the 'AN' versions for a U.S. printer.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP OfficeJet J4680
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | Reviewed by CNET, Macworld and PCWorld, without a numeric score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 86 | About 4.2¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 901XL black (700 pages) and 901 tri-color (360 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 78 | Most-reported problems: 'Print cartridge problem: Tri-color' errors, even with a new cartridge; very slow printing, copying and scanning at normal quality; awkward paper feeding; original HP 901 cartridges getting hard to find |
| Features (12%) | 66 | Print, copy, scan, fax, document feeder, Wi-Fi. No auto two-sided printing, no Ethernet, one-line text display. |
| Value (5%) | 72 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. HP launched the OfficeJet J4680 in August 2008 at $129.99. Original HP 901 cartridges are getting scarce: in October 2026 major sellers showed the 901XL black and 901 tri-color backordered or out of stock.
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 15, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 901XL + 901 comboBlack CC654AN + Tri-color CC656AN
HP 901XL BlackCC654AN · ~700 pages
HP 901 Tri-colorCC656AN · ~360 pages
HP 901 BlackCC653AN · ~200 pages
HP 901XL + 901 combo
HP 901XL Black
HP 901 Tri-color
HP 901 BlackOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the HP OfficeJet J4680 Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 901 Black | CC653AN | ~200 pages | Remanufactured 901 Black |
| HP 901XL Black | CC654AN | ~700 pages | Remanufactured 901XL Black |
| HP 901 Tri-color | CC656AN | ~360 pages | Remanufactured 901 Tri-color |
| HP 901 Black + Tri-color 2-pack | CN069FN | ~200 black / 360 color | — |
HP never made a 901XL tri-color; the standard 901 tri-color is the only one. Each HP 901 cartridge has its printhead built in, so a fresh cartridge also means fresh nozzles.
Is HP 901XL Worth It?
Yes. On October 15, 2026, Walmart listed HP's 901XL black at $45.39 (about 6.5¢ a page), though it was out of stock, and 4inkjets listed the 901 tri-color at $43.58 (about 12.1¢ a page), backordered. Our remanufactured 901XL black is $17.95 (about 2.6¢ a page), the same price as our standard 901 black, so the XL is the one to buy. The tri-color is $20.95, or $35.99 for the combo pack.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP OfficeJet J4680?
- Turn the printer on and load plain letter paper.
- Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to stop moving and go quiet.
- Press the old cartridge down slightly to release it, then pull it toward you (tri-color on the left, black on the right).
- Unwrap the new HP 901 cartridge, pull off the pink tape over the nozzles without touching the copper contacts, and slide it in until it snaps into place.
- Close the door and print the alignment page when asked. Place it on the scanner glass and scan it to finish.
Which Other Printers Use HP 901?
The OfficeJet 4500 (G510a, G510g and G510n) and 4500 Wireless, and the OfficeJet J4500, J4524, J4525, J4535, J4540, J4550, J4580, J4585, J4624, J4660, J4680c and J4860.
What OfficeJet J4680 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in HP's support community and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Is there an XL tri-color cartridge?
No. Only the black comes in XL (901XL, about 700 pages). The tri-color is standard 901 only, at about 360 pages.
Why does it say 'Print cartridge problem' with a new cartridge?
Usually the printer can't read the cartridge. Wipe the copper contacts on the cartridge and in the carriage with a lint-free cloth, reseat it and power-cycle the printer. If it persists, try a different 901 cartridge.
Can the J4680 print two-sided automatically?
No. It has no duplexer, so two-sided printing is manual.
Does it work wirelessly?
Yes. It has built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and USB. There's no Ethernet port.
OfficeJet J4680 quirks worth knowing
- HP quoted draft speeds of up to 28 pages a minute in black and 22 in color, but PCWorld measured about 7 pages a minute for text.
- The document feeder holds 20 sheets and scans one side at a time.
- The tray holds 100 sheets, and there are no memory card slots.
- CNET found it slow and its paper handling awkward. Square the stack and keep it under 100 sheets to help feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP OfficeJet J4680 use?
HP 901 or HP 901XL black and HP 901 tri-color.
Will HP 901 cartridges for the J4580 fit?
Yes. The J4580, J4680 and OfficeJet 4500 all take HP 901.
Why are original HP 901 cartridges hard to find?
The printers that use them are old. In October 2026 several sellers showed HP's own 901XL black and 901 tri-color backordered or out of stock.
Other printers that use HP 901
HP OfficeJet J4580 · HP OfficeJet 4500
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (laser) — CastleScore 82
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — CastleScore 79
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 15, 2026 and will change over time.
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.