Introduction

The HP 62 Black/Tri-Color Ink (2-Pack) – N9H64FN is a standard-yield original HP cartridge bundle intended for a range of Envy and OfficeJet printers, including the Envy 5540/5640/5660/7640 series, OfficeJet 5740/8040 series, and OfficeJet Mobile 200/250 series. It includes one black and one tri-color cartridge and is eligible for HP's Instant Ink subscription service.

This review focuses on whether this 2-pack still makes sense for typical home and small-office users in terms of print quality, yield, reliability, and value, especially compared with high-yield versions and third-party alternatives.

Key Points

Standard-yield OEM cartridges – One black and one tri-color cartridge in the box; both are original HP-branded units designed specifically for HP 62-compatible printers.
Moderate page yield – The black cartridge is rated for up to around 200 pages and the tri-color for about 165 pages under standard ISO/IEC test conditions, assuming mixed text and graphics. (hp.com)
Compatibility with popular HP models – Works with Envy 5540/5640/5660/7640, OfficeJet 5740/8040, and OfficeJet Mobile 200/250 series devices.
Instant Ink eligible – Can be used in printers that support HP Instant Ink, giving users the option of a subscription-based approach to ink.
OEM reliability and color accuracy – Consistently good text sharpness and accurate colors, especially compared with many remanufactured or off-brand cartridges.
Cost can add up – As standard-yield OEM ink, the ongoing cost per page is higher than high-yield cartridges and substantially higher than many third-party options, though you can often find this 2-pack around $54.89.

Experience

Installation and Setup

Installation is straightforward if you’ve used HP inkjet printers before. The cartridges come individually sealed; you simply remove the old cartridges, snap in the new black and tri-color units, and follow your printer’s alignment procedure. Most compatible Envy and OfficeJet models automatically run an alignment page on first install, which the 62 cartridges handle without issues.

The cartridges are recognized immediately as genuine HP supplies, which helps avoid the compatibility warnings and firmware-related lockouts that sometimes affect remanufactured or refilled cartridges.

Print Quality

Text output (black cartridge)

Produces crisp, dark text on standard office paper, suitable for letters, school assignments, and basic business documents.
Pigment-based black ink helps with water resistance and reduces smudging on typical copy paper.

Color documents and photos (tri-color cartridge)

The tri-color cartridge combines cyan, magenta, and yellow ink in a single unit. Color graphics look clean and vibrant on both plain and photo paper.
For occasional photo printing, output is more than good enough for home albums or casual framing when used with decent photo media.
Because all three colors share one cartridge, heavy use of one color can exhaust the entire cartridge earlier than the theoretical yield.

Yield and Efficiency

Under standard test conditions, HP rates each cartridge at roughly 200 pages for black and 165 pages for tri-color. Real-world yield will vary based on what you print:

Users who mainly print text documents with minimal color are likely to match or even exceed the rated black yield, while the color cartridge may last a long time.
Households printing a lot of photos or color-heavy school projects will see the color cartridge run out noticeably faster.

If your monthly print volume is modest (for example, a few dozen pages a month), this standard-yield 2-pack is convenient; you’re unlikely to worry about dried-out cartridges before they empty. Higher-volume users will get better cost-per-page from HP’s 62XL high-yield cartridges or an Instant Ink subscription.

Reliability and Consistency

Original HP cartridges like the 62 series are typically very reliable:

Printheads are integrated into the cartridge, so each replacement effectively renews the printhead as well.
Clogging is rare when the printer is used regularly, and storage conditions are reasonable.
Most user feedback for HP 62 OEM cartridges points to consistent performance and minimal failures compared with some remanufactured options, which can sometimes trigger compatibility errors or show inconsistent ink levels.

Instant Ink and Long-Term Costs

Because many HP 62-compatible printers are Instant Ink eligible, you have two main approaches:

Buy cartridges like this 2-pack as needed – Simple, no subscription management. This is ideal if your print volume is low or irregular, and you want the flexibility to go long stretches without printing.
Use HP Instant Ink – The printer monitors ink usage and HP ships cartridges as needed for a flat monthly fee, which can significantly improve cost-per-page if you print regularly. However, you’re committing to a subscription and page-count model, which doesn’t suit everyone.

For users who prefer traditional purchasing, this 2-pack offers the convenience of having both black and color on hand, and you can often find promotional pricing around $54.89, though prices fluctuate by retailer and over time.

Pros

Genuine HP quality – Strong text clarity and color accuracy; especially good for mixed text-and-graphic documents.
Easy installation and high compatibility – Recognized instantly in supported Envy and OfficeJet printers, with minimal setup.
Integrated printhead design – Every cartridge replacement includes a fresh printhead, helping maintain print quality over the life of the printer.
Reliable performance – Fewer issues with leaks, clogs, or recognition errors compared with many third-party cartridges.
Instant Ink eligible – Works both with traditional cartridge purchasing and HP’s subscription ink service.
Recyclable packaging and cartridges – Can be returned via HP Planet Partners for recycling in many regions. (hp.com)

Cons

Higher cost per page than alternatives – Compared with high-yield 62XL or third-party cartridges, the standard-yield 62 2-pack has a relatively high ongoing cost, especially if you print frequently.
Single tri-color cartridge – When one color runs out, the entire color cartridge must be replaced, even if the other colors still have ink.
Standard yield may feel limited – Heavy users may find themselves replacing cartridges more often than they’d like.
HP ecosystem lock-in – These cartridges are only usable with specific HP printers; switching brands or printer types usually means starting over with a different ink system.

Verdict

The HP 62 Black/Tri-Color Ink (2-Pack) is a solid, dependable choice for owners of compatible Envy and OfficeJet printers who value reliability and consistent output over squeezing every last cent out of their printing costs.

If you:

Print a moderate number of pages each month,
Want cartridges that "just work" with minimal troubleshooting, and
Prefer OEM-quality text and photo output,

then this 2-pack is an easy recommendation, especially when you can find it at a competitive price such as $54.89.

However, if you regularly print large volumes of documents or photos, you should carefully consider the trade-offs:

HP 62XL high-yield cartridges or an Instant Ink plan will usually deliver a better long-term cost per page.
Users willing to accept potential compatibility and quality trade-offs may find cheaper third-party options.

Overall, for typical home and light home-office use on compatible HP printers, the HP 62 Black/Tri-Color 2-pack strikes a practical balance between quality, convenience, and predictability—provided you are comfortable with the ongoing ink expense.

HP 62 Black/Tri-Color Ink (2-Pack) Review: Reliable OEM Ink for Everyday Printing