HP 501A-502A

Two cartridge names share one shelf here, and the split between them is simple once it is stated: the black is the 501A, sold singly as the Q6470A, and the color side is the 502A series — Q6471A cyan, Q6472A yellow and Q6473A magenta. Two extended-yield options sit on top of that standard set: the black as the 501X (Q6470X), rated at about 7,200 pages, and the magenta as the 502X (Q6473X), rated at about 4,800 pages.

Three printer families draw on this one shelf — the Color LaserJet 3600, the Color LaserJet 3800 and the Color LaserJet CP3505 lines — which is why fleet owners like this family: one black, three colors and two optional yield upgrades cover a whole corridor of machines. The full printer list is at the bottom of the page; everything above it is organized by cartridge code, because the code is what decides the fit.

Toner Cartridges for HP 501A-502A

Cartridge	Color	Page Yield
Q6470A	Black	See product page
Q6471A	Cyan	See product page
Q6472A	Yellow	See product page
Q6473A	Magenta	See product page
Q6470X (501X)	Black — extended yield	Approx. 7,200 pages
Q6473X (502X)	Magenta — extended yield	Approx. 4,800 pages

Sets and black packs for this family:

Two more code sets sit on this page under related bundle names, and they deserve a warning label. The 504A bundle pairs the same black with the Q7581A, Q7582A and Q7583A colors — those are the color codes of the sibling 501A-503A family, not of this one, so check which color codes your printer takes before choosing it. The 502A 8 Color Set goes further and carries a different code set altogether: the black CE250A with CE251A, CE252A and CE253A. That CE25x series belongs to a different printer family and does not fit the 3600, 3800 or CP3505 machines — match the code on the cartridge you remove, not just the family name on the box.

Also stocked for this family:

Which cartridge should you buy?

This family rewards a mixed strategy. The extended-yield black Q6470X, at roughly 7,200 pages, is the volume play for any of these printers that spends its life on text — it stretches the interval between black changes more than anything else on the page. Magenta has its own upgrade in the Q6473X at roughly 4,800 pages, worth it for brochure and presentation work; cyan and yellow exist only in the standard size, so they are bought as singles when they fade. Quoted yields assume the industry-standard 5% page coverage, so a graphics-heavy office will see lower real numbers from every cartridge here. Full refreshes are the 4 Color Set's job. Compatible cartridges on this page carry a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.

Chip, toner and everyday use

The standard and extended-yield cartridges here share the same shell and the same slot — what the printer believes about capacity comes from the cartridge chip, so the supplies gauge will read a Q6470X as the larger unit it is and a standard Q6470A as standard. Never judge which one you are holding by size; read the label. As always, pull the sealing tape fully clear before installation, and if a page comes out pale well before the rated yield, rock the cartridge gently end to end: at 5% rated coverage, real-world coverage is what empties cartridges early, not a faulty chip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 501A and 502A?

They are two halves of one family, not two competing products. The name 501A covers the black cartridge, Q6470A, while 502A covers the three colors — Q6471A cyan, Q6472A yellow and Q6473A magenta. A printer in this family needs one 501A and all three 502A colors installed.

Which cartridges on this page are the high-yield ones?

Two: the black Q6470X, sold as the 501X at about 7,200 pages, and the magenta Q6473X, sold as the 502X at about 4,800 pages. Cyan and yellow were never given an extended-yield version in this family, so their standard cartridges are the only option.

Do the CE250A-series listings fit my Color LaserJet 3600?

No. The CE250A, CE251A, CE252A and CE253A codes belong to a different cartridge generation that rides along on this page inside the 502A 8 Color Set listing. A 3600, 3800 or CP3505 takes the Q6470A black and Q6471A to Q6473A colors; if the code on your old cartridge starts with CE, you are on the wrong page for your printer.

Can I mix an extended-yield black with standard colors?

Yes. Every cartridge in this family is an independent unit, and the printer tracks each one separately. A Q6470X black alongside standard cyan, yellow and magenta is a normal, sensible configuration — especially for text-heavy printers.