XP-850
The Expression Photo XP-850 opens the 277 family's official list — Epson's 277 Fact Sheet names it first among the family's printers. Its ink is Claria Photo HD in six individual dye cartridges; our shelf is the XL tier: black (T277XL120) up to 500 pages, and cyan (T277XL220), magenta (T277XL320), yellow (T277XL420), light cyan (T277XL520) and light magenta (T277XL620) up to 740 pages each — chipped, with a lifetime warranty.
| Cartridge | Type | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson T277XL120 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Black | 500 pages |
| Epson T277XL220 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Cyan | 740 pages |
| Epson T277XL320 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Magenta | 740 pages |
| Epson T277XL420 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Yellow | 740 pages |
| Epson T277XL520 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Light Cyan | 740 pages |
| Epson T277XL620 (compatible) | High-capacity ink cartridge, XL | Light Magenta | 740 pages |
| Epson 277XL Set of 6 (compatible) | Full cartridge set, all XL (1 of each) | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Light Cyan / Light Magenta | 500 black, 740 per color |
| Epson 277XL Set of 13 (compatible) | Bulk set, all XL (3 black + 2 of each color) | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Light Cyan / Light Magenta | 500 per black, 740 per color |
XP-850 Ink — The 277XL Shelf, From Epson's Fact Sheet
Epson America's 277 Fact Sheet (CPD-37999R4) is this family's founding document: it names the XP-850 first among the family's printers and prints the six standard codes. The system is six individual Claria Photo HD dye cartridges: black (T277XL120, up to 500 pages) and T277XL220 / T277XL320 / T277XL420 / T277XL520 / T277XL620 at up to 740 pages each in the XL tier we stock (ISO/IEC 24711 and 24712 pattern; the standard tier rates 240 pages black and 360 per color). Learn this family's one counter-intuitive fact and never unlearn it: 120 is the Black. There is no separate Photo Black cartridge in a 277 printer — the pattern other families teach does not apply here.
The Fact Sheet's roster is the family: the XP-850 stands at its head, and the same six-code system serves the XP-860, XP-950 and XP-960 below. A warning this page is the right place for: many listings learned from other families to read code 120 as Photo Black. In a 277 printer there is no Photo Black cartridge at all, and a "277 Photo Black" listing is simply wrong.
Which 277XL should you buy?
- One color ran out: replace just that color — black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta singles are $11.99 each.
- Full refresh: the Set of 6 ($62.91) resets all six positions, all XL, in one box.
- Stocked shelf: the Bulk Set of 13 ($118.83) carries three blacks and two of each color — built for heavy photo work.
Chip, ink and everyday use
First on the family's official list, the XP-850 sets the pattern its siblings follow, and photo printing sets its pace: long sessions, then quiet weeks. Through both, a new compatible chip in every cartridge keeps the XP-850 reporting ink levels for all six positions. All six inks are Claria Photo HD dye — a photo ink set end to end, with the light cyan and light magenta positions doing the gradient work in skin tones and skies. Epson's official notices for this family say firmware updates can affect third-party ink; if a warning follows one, reseat the cartridge and restart first. The lifetime warranty covers every cartridge either way, with free returns in the first year.