XP-520
The Expression Premium XP-520 is the reference model of the 273 family — Epson's own product page lists its ink as 273 and 273XL in five individual cartridges. Our shelf is the XL tier: black (T273XL020) up to 500 pages, Photo Black (T273XL120) for photos, and cyan (T273XL220), magenta (T273XL320) and yellow (T273XL420) up to 650 pages each, every cartridge chipped and covered by a lifetime warranty.
| Cartridge | Type | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson T273XL020 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Black | 500 pages |
| Epson T273XL120 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Photo Black | — |
| Epson T273XL220 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Cyan | 650 pages |
| Epson T273XL320 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Magenta | 650 pages |
| Epson T273XL420 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Yellow | 650 pages |
| Epson 273XL Set of 5 (compatible) | Full cartridge set, all XL (1 of each) | Black / Photo Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 500 black, 650 per color; Photo Black — |
| Epson 273XL Set of 11 (compatible) | Bulk set, all XL (3 black + 2 of each other color) | Black / Photo Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 500 per black, 650 per color; Photo Black — |
XP-520 Ink — The 273XL Shelf, From Epson's Own Page
Everything this family claims starts on the XP-520's own Epson page: "Replacement Ink: 273 / 273XL", "Ink Type: Claria Premium Ink", five individual cartridges, and ISO/IEC 24711 yields for both tiers. The shelf is five individual Claria Premium cartridges: pigment black (T273XL020, up to 500 pages), Photo Black (T273XL120), and T273XL220 / T273XL320 / T273XL420 at up to 650 pages each (ISO/IEC 24711; the standard tier rates 250 pages black and 300 per colour). Two code facts keep orders right: 020 is the pigment text black and 120 is the dye Photo Black — separate cartridges, separate slots, never interchangeable — and Photo Black carries no Epson page yield, so none is printed here. We stock the XL tier only; the compatible ladder for this family is built on XL.
As the family's reference model, the XP-520 also carries its sharpest warning: the look-alike 302 family — the XP-6000 and XP-6100 — fits nothing on this page, and nothing here fits those printers. Similar Premium badges, completely different cartridges. Badge first: XP-520 means the 273 shelf below.
Which 273XL should you buy?
- One position ran out: replace just that cartridge — black, photo black, cyan, magenta and yellow singles are $11.99 each.
- Full refresh: the Set of 5 ($52.43) resets all five positions, all XL, in one box.
- Stocked shelf: the Bulk Set of 11 ($103.79) carries three blacks and two of each other colour — the set document-heavy homes actually work through.
Chip, ink and everyday use
Every cartridge carries a new compatible chip, so the XP-520 reports ink levels for all five positions. The ink split is Claria Premium's: a pigment black that keeps text crisp, and dye inks — Photo Black and the three colours — for photographs. Epson's official notice for this family says plainly that a firmware update can affect third-party ink; if a warning ever follows one, reseat the cartridge and restart before judging it. The lifetime warranty covers every cartridge regardless, with free returns for the first year.