What Ink Does the HP Photosmart C4780 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP Photosmart C4780 all-in-one uses two HP 60 cartridges: one black and one tri-color. The high-yield HP 60XL versions fit too. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured 60XL Black, 60XL Tri-color, standard 60 Black and 60 Tri-color, and a 60XL 2-pack.
It belongs to HP's C4700 series and takes the same ink, and the same cartridge steps, as the C4795 and the older Photosmart C4680. The Photosmart D110 and ENVY 120 use HP 60 too. European versions take HP 300 cartridges, which won't fit a U.S. C4780.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP Photosmart C4780
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | Reviewed by PCWorld, without a numeric score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 85 | About 4.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 60XL (600 / 440 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 74 | Most-reported problems: 'print cartridge problem' messages, sometimes from burned carriage contacts; carriage jams with no paper in the way; loud grinding noises; no Windows 11 driver on HP's site |
| Features (12%) | 58 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi, small color screen with touch-sensitive controls, memory card slots. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no Ethernet. |
| Value (5%) | 74 | 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 sold the Photosmart C4780 from 2009, and its HP store page now points to the ENVY 6455e as the newer model. HP 60 cartridges are still sold.
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 16, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 60XL 2-packBlack + Tri-color
HP 60XL BlackCC641WN · ~600 pages
HP 60XL Tri-colorCC644WN · ~440 pages
HP 60XL 2-pack
HP 60XL Black
HP 60XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the HP Photosmart C4780 Take?
| Cartridge | HP part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 60 Black | CC640WN | ~200 pages | Remanufactured 60 Black |
| HP 60 Tri-color | CC643WN | ~165 pages | Remanufactured 60 Tri-color |
| HP 60XL Black | CC641WN | ~600 pages | Remanufactured 60XL Black |
| HP 60XL Tri-color | CC644WN | ~440 pages | Remanufactured 60XL Tri-color |
| HP 60 Black/Tri-color 2-pack | N9H63FN | ~200 / 165 pages | Remanufactured 60 2-pack |
The 60XL black prints three times as many pages as the standard 60. Staples titles some of these "HP 60/901", but HP 901 is a different family; buy by the HP 60 number.
Is HP 60XL Worth It?
Yes, but HP's own cartridges are expensive. On October 16, 2026, Staples listed HP's 60XL black at $83.99 (about 14¢ a page), the standard 60 black at $32.99 (about 16.5¢ a page), the 60 tri-color at $42.99 (about 26¢ a page) and the 60 2-pack at $71.99. 4inkjets listed HP's 60XL tri-color at $66.41 (about 15.1¢ a page), backordered. Our remanufactured 60XL black is $20.95 (about 3.5¢ a page) and the 60XL tri-color $23.95 (about 5.4¢ a page), or $43.95 for the 60XL 2-pack.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP Photosmart C4780?
- Turn the printer on.
- Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to move to the center.
- Push down on the old cartridge to release it and pull it out.
- Unwrap the new cartridge and pull off the plastic tape by its pink tab. Don't touch the copper contacts or nozzles.
- Slide it into its slot (tri-color left, black right) until it snaps in, close the door, and align the cartridges when the printer asks.
Which Other Printers Use HP 60?
The DeskJet D2530, D2545, D2560, D2660, D2680 and D5560; the DeskJet F2430, F2440, F2480, F4210, F4235, F4240, F4280, F4435, F4440, F4480 and F4580; the ENVY 100, 110, 111, 114, 120 and 121; and the Photosmart C4635, C4640, C4650, C4680, C4740, C4750 and C4795, the DeskJet D1660 and the Photosmart D110.
What Photosmart C4780 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.
The screen says there's a print cartridge problem.
The printer can't read a cartridge's contacts. Reseat it, then unplug the printer and clean the copper contacts on the cartridge and in the carriage with a lint-free cloth. Power-cycle it for at least 15 seconds and try a new cartridge. If the carriage contacts are burned, repair usually isn't worth it.
It reports a carriage jam, but there's no paper in it.
A volunteer expert on HP's forum suggests wiping ink residue off the carriage rod, adding one drop of light oil and moving the carriage by hand. If that doesn't work, clean the encoder strip with water only.
Where do I get a Windows 11 driver?
HP no longer hosts C4780 drivers on its support site. Use Add a printer in Windows and let Windows Update find the driver. One owner had installer errors with an unofficial driver package.
Paper won't feed.
Clean the pickup rollers with a damp lint-free cloth, and don't load more than 80 sheets.
Photosmart C4780 quirks worth knowing
- HP claimed up to 29 pages a minute in black in draft mode. PCWorld measured 7.6 for text and 2.5 for graphics, and found scanning very slow.
- Its 1.45-inch color screen is surrounded by HP's touch-sensitive TouchSmart controls.
- It has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and USB, plus card slots for SD, Memory Stick and xD, but no Ethernet.
- Printed pages land on top of the 80-sheet input stack. HP rates it for up to 1,000 pages a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the HP Photosmart C4780 use?
HP 60 or HP 60XL: one black and one tri-color cartridge.
Does the C4780 have Wi-Fi?
Yes. It has built-in Wi-Fi and USB, but no Ethernet port.
Will HP 300 cartridges fit?
No. HP 300 is for European versions of the printer.
Other printers that use HP 60
HP Photosmart C4680 · HP Photosmart D110 · HP DeskJet F4480 · HP DeskJet F4280 · HP ENVY 120
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 16, 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.