SKU:

CS-EP-288-BK

Condition:

New Compatible

OEM Part #:

T288120-S

Color:

Black

Ink Type:

Pigment

Page Yield:

Up to 175 pages (ISO/IEC 24711)

Chip:

New compatible chip

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1-Year Free Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages does the standard 288 black print?

Up to 175 pages, Epson's ISO/IEC 24711 rating for the T288120. That is document-pattern printing; dense pages with big graphics use more ink per sheet and finish sooner.

Standard or XL — how do I decide?

Count your real habit. A printer that produces a few documents a week is well served by this standard black; the XL black (T288XL120-S, up to 500 pages) suits a home office that prints daily. The slot takes either — nothing else changes.

Why pigment ink in a home printer?

Because these printers are document machines first. DURABrite Ultra pigment black gives crisp text that resists water, fading and highlighter smears; a dye black would bleed more readily on plain paper.

Which printers use this cartridge?

Six Expression Home models: XP-330, XP-340, XP-430, XP-434, XP-440 and XP-446. It does not fit the XP-420 or other Expression models outside that list — those use different families.

Can I change only the black?

Yes. All four cartridges are individually replaceable, and the printer asks only for the empty one. Keep the colours until their own warnings appear.

Does it carry a chip?

Yes — a new compatible chip that reports ink levels to the printer, so the on-screen and panel gauges track it as they do a genuine cartridge.

What is the honest note about firmware?

This: the cartridge carries a new compatible chip, and if your printer's firmware has been updated, recognition issues can occasionally occur, because Epson firmware is written for Epson cartridges. Reseating the cartridge firmly and restarting the printer clears most false warnings; anything further is covered by the lifetime warranty.

Will this black work beside XL colour cartridges?

Freely. Standard and XL cartridges mix in any combination across the four slots — a standard black with XL colours is a common set-up for document-heavy homes.

Text looks faded even with a new cartridge. What else?

Run a nozzle check from the printer's maintenance menu; a clogged black channel fades text exactly like an empty cartridge. Also confirm the paper type is set to plain paper — photo settings spread ink differently.

How many millilitres are inside?

We leave that blank: Epson's US documentation gives no millilitre volume for the 288 family, and we will not pass on a reseller's figure. Compare on the 175-page ISO yield.

Is it a genuine Epson cartridge?

No — a Clever Supplies compatible built to the T288120-S specification and labelled compatible on the box and this page. Epson does not manufacture it.

What does the lifetime warranty do for me?

If a cartridge fails to perform — not recognised after troubleshooting, leaking, or printing poorly from new — we replace it under the lifetime warranty. Free returns apply within the first year.