What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said compatible cartridges work normally in the 8139e if you declined HP+. They don't always. HP says the printer uses dynamic security to block cartridges with non-HP chips whether or not HP+ is on, so a third-party cartridge needs a new or reused HP chip. It also said the 8139e is sold only by HP; Best Buy sells it too.
Quick answer: the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e uses HP 923 ink — four individual pigment cartridges. The high-yield tier is spelled HP 923e. There is no HP 923XL; any listing offering one is relabelling something else, and some of them ship a standard 923 in the box.
The 8139e comes with 12 months of Instant Ink; the otherwise identical 8135e comes with three. Both are sold at HP.com and Best Buy, and both take the same cartridges.
CastleScore · October 2026
77/100 — Recommended
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 75 | 3.87★ average across 2,498 ratings at Amazon (3.7), Best Buy (4.3) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 68 | About 6.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 923 (500 black / 400 color pages; we do not sell 923e). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (13%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: paper tray does not lock at Letter size, so paper shifts, multi-feeds or triggers false out-of-paper errors |
| Features (12%) | 92 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). |
| Value (5%) | 72 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $169 |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Still sold new. Best Buy lists it at about $169.99 on sale. The 8135e is the same printer with three months of Instant Ink instead of twelve.
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 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 923 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
HP 923 Black4K0T3LN · OEM chip · ~500 pages
HP 923 Cyan4K0T0LN · OEM chip · ~400 pages
HP 923 Magenta4K0T1LN · OEM chip
HP 923 4-pack
HP 923 Black
HP 923 Cyan
HP 923 MagentaOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e ink at a glance
| Cartridge | Family | Part Number | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black (standard) | HP 923 | 4K0T3LN | ~500 pages |
| Cyan (standard) | HP 923 | 4K0T0LN | ~400 pages |
| Magenta (standard) | HP 923 | 4K0T1LN | ~400 pages |
| Yellow (standard) | HP 923 | 4K0T2LN | ~400 pages |
| Black (high yield) | HP 923e | 4K0T7LN | ~1,000 pages |
| Cyan (high yield) | HP 923e | 4K0T4LN | ~800 pages |
| Magenta (high yield) | HP 923e | 4K0T5LN | ~800 pages |
| Yellow (high yield) | HP 923e | 4K0T6LN | ~800 pages |
Those are HP's own ISO figures. The 923e tier roughly doubles both black and color, a bigger step than most HP families offer.
The Instant Ink and HP+ question
This is the most important thing on the page for anyone planning to buy third-party ink, and it is easy to get wrong because the 8139e ships with a year of Instant Ink included.
If you accepted HP+ during setup, HP requires Original HP cartridges to operate the printer — compatible cartridges will not work, and the printer needs an active internet connection to print at all. If you declined HP+, the printer still uses HP's dynamic security, which blocks cartridges with non-HP chips. HP says it is intended to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip, so a third-party cartridge needs a reused original HP chip to work reliably. Separately, an Instant Ink subscription sends you HP cartridges chipped for the plan; if the subscription lapses or a payment fails, those cartridges stop working and the printer reports a cartridge problem. That is a billing issue, not a hardware fault.
Our guide to printers that do not lock you into OEM ink covers what to look for, and whether compatible ink voids your warranty covers the legal position.
About the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e
Print, scan, copy and fax, with automatic duplex printing, a 35-sheet ADF and a 225-sheet input tray. Rated 20 ppm black and 10 ppm color, with a 2.7-inch touchscreen, Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi. HP's recommended monthly volume is up to 800 pages against a 20,000-page duty cycle, which tells you it is built for a home office rather than a busy workgroup.
Common problems on this model
Streaks, banding or a missing color
Print the Print Quality Diagnostic Report from the printer's reports menu. Gaps in the test boxes mean clean the printhead; crooked lines mean align it. If the printer has been shaken or moved roughly, give it a few hours — HP's automatic servicing routine often clears it without any intervention.
Prints only in greyscale, or black looks muddy
That is backup mode, not a fault. With the color cartridges empty the printer prints greyscale; with black empty it mixes a composite black from the colors. Replacing the empty cartridge restores normal output.
Cannot print when the internet is down
Specific to HP+ and Instant Ink printers. HP documents that these models need Web Services and an active connection, and that extended offline or USB-only use limits what the printer will do.
Paper jams at the duplexer
Open the rear access door and pull the duplex cassette right out. See our paper jam guide.
What OfficeJet Pro 8139e owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support forum and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Do I have to sign up for HP+ or Instant Ink to use it?
No. You can decline both during setup. The 12 months of Instant Ink is a trial that bills monthly afterward unless you cancel. HP+ can only be chosen at setup, and once on, it requires Original HP ink for the life of the printer.
If I decline HP+, will any third-party cartridge work?
No. HP says the printer is intended to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip, and dynamic security blocks non-HP chips with or without HP+. Our remanufactured 923 cartridges keep their original HP chips for this reason.
How much longer do the 923e cartridges last?
HP rates 923e EvoMore at about 1,000 pages for black and 800 per color, against 500 and 400 for standard 923. We sell standard 923 only, not 923e.
Can the feeder scan both sides of a page?
No. HP lists a 35-sheet, one-sided document feeder, so two-sided originals have to be flipped by hand.
Can I fax with a landline?
Yes. It sends and receives color fax and has two RJ-11 phone ports on the back.
OfficeJet Pro 8139e quirks worth knowing
- Owners report that the paper tray does not lock at letter size, so paper can shift, feed crooked or trigger a false out-of-paper message. Check the guides each time you load paper.
- HP calls the high-yield tier "EvoMore" (923e), not XL, and the 8139e page still says EvoMore was "planned to be available April 2024."
- Accepting HP+ extends the hardware warranty from one year to two. That is the trade for Original-HP-only ink and an always-on internet connection.
- Besides the USB port for a computer, it has a USB host port.
FAQ
What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e use?
HP 923 in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, or the high-yield HP 923e equivalents.
Is there an HP 923XL?
No. The high-yield tier is spelled HP 923e.
Does the 8139e take HP 924 or HP 925?
Not in the U.S. U.S. models take HP 923. HP uses other cartridge numbers, such as HP 924, for the same printers in other regions, and HP cartridges are region-coded, so buy for the region where the printer was sold.
Is the 8139e different from the 8135e?
Not for ink. HP lists one difference: the 8139e comes with 12 months of Instant Ink and the 8135e with three.
Can I cancel Instant Ink and use compatible cartridges?
Only if the printer is not enrolled in HP+, and only with cartridges that carry a new or reused HP chip. Instant Ink cartridges themselves stop working when the plan ends, so you will need standard retail cartridges either way.
Other printers that use HP 923
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8130e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8138e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8120e
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 8, 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.