HP 05A Black Toner Cartridge | Works with HP LaserJet P2035,

The Verdict

The HP 05A is the toner cartridge that keeps aging LaserJet P2035 and P2055 workhorses alive. If you’re still running one of these printers — and plenty of small offices are — you know the drill: they refuse to die, and they demand OEM toner to behave. Here’s what 235 Amazon reviewers at 4.7 stars have learned about this cartridge, and what you should know before clicking buy.

What’s in the box

You get a single, sealed HP 05A black toner cartridge (part number CE505A). That’s it — no drum unit, no waste toner bottle, no extras. The drum is integrated into the cartridge, which means every swap gives you a fresh imaging unit. For a printer in this class, that’s actually a smart design: you’re not gambling on a worn-out drum outliving the toner.

The cartridge ships with HP’s standard orange protective tab and plastic seal. Installation takes about 30 seconds — pull the tab, slide the cartridge in until it clicks, close the front cover. The printer recognizes it immediately, no firmware complaints, no chip alignment fiddling.

Real-world performance

I’ve run these through P2035s and P2055s, and the output is what you’d expect from genuine HP: deep, consistent blacks with no streaking, no ghosting, and no gray undertones. Text at 10-point and below stays sharp — important if you’re printing contracts or legal docs. The 2,100-page yield figure holds up in practice. One reviewer noted, “I print about 300 pages a month and this lasts me 7 months without fail. Never had a smudge or a low-toner surprise.” Another long-term user echoed that: “The only cartridge I trust in my P2035. Third-party ones gave me streaks after 500 pages.”

The cartridge handles idle periods well. Leave the printer untouched for two weeks, and the first page comes out clean — no dried toner clumps or light bands across the page. That’s a common failure point on cheaper compatibles, so it’s worth noting.

What buyers consistently praise

The 4.7-star rating isn’t accidental. Across the reviews, three themes dominate: reliability, consistency, and zero troubleshooting. “No fuss, no mess, no printer errors — just prints,” one reviewer wrote. Another mentioned they’d “been using these for 5 years in a P2055dn” and never once had a jam or a quality issue traceable to the cartridge.

The integrated drum gets specific praise too. Because the drum and toner are replaced together, there’s no separate maintenance schedule to track. For a busy office, that’s one less thing to remember.

Where it falls short

The price is the elephant in the room. At roughly $60-70 per cartridge (depending on seller and timing), you’re paying a significant premium over compatible options that can run $20-30. Per-page cost works out to about 3 cents — not outrageous, but if you’re printing high volumes, those pennies add up fast.

There’s also no XL version. The 05A tops out at 2,100 pages, so high-volume users will be swapping cartridges more frequently than they’d like. For a small office printing 500 pages a month, that’s a swap every 4 months — manageable. For a busy front desk or legal practice, it becomes a recurring annoyance.

Who should buy this

• Small offices running a single P2035/P2055 — reliability matters more than per-page cost savings
• Legal or medical practices that need consistent, sharp text for client documents
• Anyone burned by compatible cartridges — if you’ve dealt with chip errors, streaking, or premature “toner low” warnings, the OEM premium buys peace of mind
• Not for high-volume print shops — the lack of an XL option and per-page cost make this a poor fit for 5,000+ pages a month

FAQ

Is this cartridge compatible with the HP LaserJet P2055dn? Yes. The 05A (CE505A) works with the P2035, P2035n, P2055d, P2055dn, and P2055x. Same cartridge, same yield, same performance across the series.

How many pages does it actually print? HP rates it at 2,100 pages at 5% coverage. Real-world users report getting between 1,800 and 2,400 pages depending on how dense their documents are. Full-page graphics will cut that significantly — plan for roughly 1,500 pages if you print a lot of charts or images.

Can I use a remanufactured cartridge instead? You can, but be prepared for potential issues: chip compatibility problems, lower yield, and occasional streaking. If you go compatible, buy from a reputable remanufacturer with a warranty. If you can’t afford downtime, stick with OEM.

The Verdict

Buy it if: You need reliable, consistent output from a P2035/P2055 without troubleshooting, or you’ve been burned by cheap compatibles before. The premium price buys genuine reliability.

Skip it if: You’re printing high volumes and cost-per-page is your primary metric — look for a high-yield compatible or a newer printer with cheaper consumables.

Rating: 4.6/5 — loses a half-star for pricing and the absence of an XL option. Otherwise, this is exactly what a toner cartridge should be: invisible, dependable, and forgettable in the best way.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.