HP 738 130-ml Black DesignJet Ink Cartridge (498N4A)

Which printers take part 498N4A

HP lists this cartridge against the DesignJet T850, T850 MFP, T870 and XT870. This is the genuine HP part, 498N4A. It is not a part for the XT950 or XT950 MFP — those machines are served by the 738M range instead, so a district running both families needs two lines on the requisition.

The black channel on a 738 machine

The 738 range has one black cartridge — 498N4A at 130 ml and 498N8A at 300 ml — alongside cyan, magenta and yellow. There is no second black part number to order. HP notes that black ink is typically used at a higher rate than the color channels, which makes it the tank worth counting first when you check the shelf.

130 ml or 300 ml per liter of ink

The same black is sold as part 498N8A in a 300 ml cartridge. At current pricing the 300 ml part costs about 17% less per liter of ink than this one; both figures are in the table below. If black is the tank your print room replaces most often, the larger part number is the cheaper way to buy it.

Don’t order this by mistake

A separate part, A24VLA, is the 738M 130 ml black. It carries a printhead inside the cartridge and it is the part an XT950 needs; this one is not. If your machine is a T850 or T850 MFP, 498N4A is the correct order.

Specifications

Free shipping and school purchase orders accepted. Not sure which part fits your machine? Call 866-788-7900, browse poster maker ink by machine, or see all genuine HP parts by number.

Questions schools ask about this part

Our purchase order from last year says “HP 738 black” but the price is different. Is this the same cartridge?

There are two HP 738 blacks. This one, 498N4A, is the 130 ml cartridge; the other, 498N8A, is 300 ml. Both are black and both fit the same machines — only the part number and the volume tell them apart, so match the part number on the old invoice rather than the description. The current price for each is shown on its own product page.

Can we run 498N4A in an XT950?

No. The XT950 and XT950 MFP sit outside the 738 range and use 738M parts. The 738M black at this volume is A24VLA.