TASKalfa308ci
At the summit of this TASKalfa trio sits the 308ci, the heavy lifter built for floors where the color MFP rarely gets a quiet moment. It delivers full copy, print, scan and fax functionality in the family's compact footprint, and it shares the TK-5197 cartridges with its siblings: black TK5197K at about 15,000 pages, and cyan TK5197C, magenta TK5197M and yellow TK5197Y at about 7,000 pages each. Maximum capacity, without moving up to a larger chassis class.
A machine at this end of the range is bought for availability. It stands where the department's work converges, so its supply plan matters as much as its engine: one cartridge family, shared with the 306ci and 307ci, means the closet never fragments into per-model stock. The 308ci will consume that stock faster than its siblings — that is the point of it — but it asks for nothing different, just more of it, on a predictable rhythm set by the panel's own reporting.
Toner Cartridges for TASKalfa308ci
| Cartridge | Color | Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| TK-5197 (TK5197K, TK5197C, TK5197M, TK5197Y) | 4 Color Set | Black ~15,000; colors ~7,000 pages |
| TK-5197 (TK5197K, TK5197C, TK5197M, TK5197Y) | 5 Color Set | Black ~15,000; colors ~7,000 pages |
| TK-5197 (TK5197C, TK5197M, TK5197Y) | 3 Color Set | About 7,000 pages per color |
| TK-5197 (TK5197K) | Black — 2 Pack | About 15,000 pages per cartridge |
| TK-5197 (TK5197K) | Black | About 15,000 pages |
| TK-5197 (TK5197C) | Cyan | About 7,000 pages |
| TK-5197 (TK5197M) | Magenta | About 7,000 pages |
| TK-5197 (TK5197Y) | Yellow | About 7,000 pages |
Which cartridge should you buy?
On the hardest-working machine in the family, stocking depth is the decision. Black empties first and most often, so the black 2 pack — or the 5 color set with its spare black built in — keeps a change from becoming a stoppage. Colors should be reordered as singles when the panel reports them low, since a busy floor rarely drains cyan, magenta and yellow evenly. The 4 color set is the clean full refresh when several slots land low in the same week, and the 3 color set does the same job when black was recently changed. However you combine them, the per-page math favors buying ahead on a machine that never sits idle.
Chip, toner and everyday use
Every compatible TK-5197 cartridge is chipped for this platform, letting the 308ci track each color separately and flag a low slot well before it runs dry. Replace cartridges one at a time, exactly as the panel requests, and let the machine complete its calibration before releasing a long color job. If a job must finish before the replacement arrives, removing the low cartridge and rocking it gently can redistribute the remaining toner for a short reprieve. Store the reserve stock sealed, flat and away from heat, and rotate it so the oldest carton is always the next one fitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which toner does the TASKalfa 308ci use?
The TK-5197 family: TK5197K black (~15,000 pages) plus TK5197C, TK5197M and TK5197Y colors (~7,000 pages each), rated per ISO/IEC 19798.
Will compatible toner void my TASKalfa 308ci warranty?
No. Using compatible cartridges does not void the printer manufacturer's warranty, and our cartridges are themselves backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year returns.
Can I replace just one color?
Yes. The four cartridges are independent; swap only the slot the machine reports as empty and leave the others to finish their rated life.
My documentation mentions TK-5195. Is that a different cartridge?
It is the European designation for this same family. US stock for the 308ci is labeled TK-5197, as listed here.
More printers that use the same cartridges
The TK-5197 shelf is common to the whole three-model family: TASKalfa 306ci and TASKalfa307ci. Both pages carry the same cartridges for their machines.