LaserJet 1018S

The 1018S was a retail-channel variant of HP's popular LaserJet 1018, packaging the 2005 compact personal laser for value-focused shoppers — same tiny footprint, same crisp monochrome pages, sold where bargains matter. Its standard cartridge is the Q2612A, the cartridge HP markets as the 12A. The economical first step up is the high-yield Q2612X, the 12X; and shoppers who think in cost per page can go one tier further to the jumbo Q2612AJ, which keeps printing long after a high-yield cartridge would have run dry.

A value-channel printer tends to be bought on price and then kept for a decade, which makes its running costs the real story. The 1018S shares its cartridge with one of the largest small-laser families HP ever built, so compatible supply is deep and competitive — the shelf below is a good example, with three capacity tiers and multipacks up to ten. For a printer this small, the smart money is rarely in the printer; it is in choosing the right tier of the same cartridge.

Toner Cartridges for LaserJet 1018S

• Q2612AJ — Black — jumbo yield — See product page
• Q2612AJ 4 Pack — Black — jumbo yield — See product page
• Q2612X — Black — high yield — See product page
• Q2612X 2 Pack — Black — high yield — See product page
• Q2612X 3 Pack — Black — high yield — See product page
• Q2612X 5 Pack — Black — high yield — See product page
• Q2612X 10 Pack — Black — high yield — See product page
• Q2612A — Black — standard — See product page
• 12A cartridge (Clever Supplies listing) — Black — standard — See product page
• 12A cartridge (alternate listing) — Black — standard — See product page
• LaserJet 1018S cartridge — Black — standard — See product page
• Q2612A 2 Pack — Black — standard — See product page
• Q2612A 3 Pack — Black — standard — See product page
• Q2612A 5 Pack — Black — standard — See product page
• Q2612A 6 Pack — Black — standard — See product page
• Q2612A 10 Pack — Black — standard — See product page
• Q2612A Premium Quality 5 Pack — Black — premium grade — See product page
• Q2612A MICR — Black — magnetic toner — See product page

Which cartridge should you buy?

Work out roughly how many pages a month the printer sees, then pick the tier that changes least often for that volume. Light, occasional printing is honestly served by the standard Q2612A, particularly in a two- or three-pack that keeps the unit price low and a spare on hand. Regular weekly printing belongs on the Q2612X, whose high-yield fill cuts the cost per page. The jumbo Q2612AJ is the connoisseur's pick for this little machine: the longest-life fill in the family, bought by owners who measured their volume and did the arithmetic. The Premium Quality five-pack suits buyers who want the closest match to factory output, and the MICR listing is a check-printing specialist with magnetic toner — not a general-purpose upgrade.

Chip, toner and everyday use

Small printers give small warnings, so learn this one's habits: output that fades evenly across the page means toner is low and settling unevenly, and rocking the cartridge gently side to side redistributes what remains for a while longer. Do the same gentle rock before installing a new cartridge, especially one that sat upright in a cupboard, so the first pages print evenly. Store spares sealed, flat and away from radiators or sunny windowsills. When you swap, a quick test page tells you the new cartridge is seated right — coverage should be even from edge to edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Q2612A and Q2612X for the LaserJet 1018S?

Both fit the 1018S; the Q2612X is simply the high-yield version that lasts longer per cartridge. They are physically interchangeable, so pick whichever matches your print volume — or skip both tiers and take the jumbo Q2612AJ if volume is high.

How do I clear a paper jam in the 1018S?

Turn the printer off first, then open the access doors and ease the stuck paper out along its normal travel direction — never yank it backward. Check inside for small torn pieces, close the covers, and print a test page to confirm the path is clear.

How do I print a test page after changing the toner?

Seat the replacement Q2612A, close the printer up, and print a page — the built-in demo or status page works well. Even black coverage across the sheet tells you the cartridge is installed correctly.

What warranty do these cartridges carry?

The compatible cartridges here are covered by a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns — generous cover for a spare that may wait months before its turn in the printer.

More printers that use the same cartridges

The same three cartridge tiers feed an entire generation of HP personal lasers: HP Q2612A, LaserJet 1010, LaserJet 1010W, LaserJet 1022NXI, LaserJet 1030, LaserJet 3015, LaserJet 3015MFP, LaserJet 3020, LaserJet 3020MFP, LaserJet 3030, LaserJet 3030MFP, LaserJet 3050, LaserJet 3050MFP, LaserJet 3050Z, LaserJet 3052, LaserJet 3052MFP.

LaserJet 3055, LaserJet M1005, LaserJet M1005 MFP, LaserJet M1005MFP, LaserJet M1319, LaserJet M1319F, LaserJet M1319F MFP, Laserjet 1010, Laserjet 1012, Laserjet 1015, Laserjet 1018, Laserjet 1020, Laserjet 1022, Laserjet 1022N, Laserjet 1022NW.