SKU:

CS-BR-203-Y

Condition:

New Compatible

OEM Part #:

LC203Y

Color:

Yellow

Page Yield:

Up to 550 pages (ISO/IEC 24711)

Chip:

New compatible chip

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1-Year Free Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages does the LC203Y print?

Up to 550 pages, rated under ISO/IEC 24711 — Brother's published figure for the LC203Y. Against the standard LC201 tier's 260 pages, this is the step that more than halves cartridge changes.

LC201 or LC203 — which should I buy?

On the six WorkSmart printers both fit, and LC203 is the better value per page (550 vs 260 pages). On the six Business Smart printers there is no choice to make: LC201 is not part of their specification at all.

Only my yellow is low — can I change just this one?

Yes. Individual cartridges, individual slots — replace only the color the printer calls for and leave the others in place.

Is this a genuine Brother cartridge?

No — it is a Clever Supplies compatible cartridge built to the LC203Y specification, with a new compatible chip, labeled compatible on the box and on this page. It is not manufactured by Brother.

How do I install it without chip problems?

Hold the cartridge by its housing, keep fingers off the small green chip on top, and push it in until it clicks. Brother's own 'Cannot Detect' guidance for this family starts at that chip, and the ink level is read from chip and optical sensor together.

Can I step up to LC205 colors or LC207/LC209 black from here?

On the six Business Smart models, yes — that is the super-high tier: LC205 colors (1,200 pages) with LC207BK (1,200) on MFC-J4320DW, J4420DW and J4620DW, or LC209BK (2,400) on MFC-J5520DW, J5620DW and J5720DW. The WorkSmart six take no super-high tier.

Why do some listings promise far more than 550 pages for LC203?

Because a seller's own fill claim is not an OEM rating. Brother's published ISO/IEC 24711 figure for this cartridge is 550 pages, and that is the only figure we print.

What warranty and returns does it carry?

A lifetime warranty — a cartridge that fails to perform is replaced — and free returns within the first year.

How should I store a spare cartridge?

Sealed, upright, out of direct sunlight, cap on until installation. Rotate spares oldest-first.

Which printers does this cartridge fit?

All twelve models in the family: MFC-J4320DW, MFC-J4420DW, MFC-J460DW, MFC-J4620DW, MFC-J480DW, MFC-J485DW, MFC-J5520DW, MFC-J5620DW, MFC-J5720DW, MFC-J680DW, MFC-J880DW and MFC-J885DW. It is the one tier every printer here accepts — the six WorkSmart models as their high tier, the six Business Smart models as their base tier.

Will my printer recognize this compatible cartridge?

This cartridge carries a new compatible chip. If your printer's firmware has been updated, recognition issues can occasionally occur — remove the cartridge, check that the green chip contact is clean and untouched, reseat it firmly, and restart the printer. Brother's own "Cannot Detect" guidance for this family starts from the same chip check, and this family reads ink level from the chip and an optical sensor together. We do not claim guaranteed recognition on every firmware version; if a cartridge still will not register, the lifetime warranty covers it.

My printer came with LC203 Starter cartridges. Are these the same?

No — and Brother says so itself: the LC203 Starter (setup) cartridges supplied with a new printer are not the same as retail high-yield LC203 cartridges, and Starter units are a known cause of 'Cannot Detect' messages when mixed up with retail stock. This product is the retail LC203 specification at the full 550-page rating; setup cartridges are never part of a compatible listing here.