Brother-Compatible LC401XL Ink Cartridges

If you need to replace black and color ink together, this LC401/LC401XL-compatible set covers all four colors in one package. It’s intended for several Brother MFC-J printers, so the practical question is whether your exact model is on the compatibility list—not just whether it’s a Brother printer. According to the maker, the stated yield is up to 560 pages for black and 510 pages for each color cartridge at 5% coverage, actual results can vary with what you print.

What matters most

The pack contains one black, one cyan, one magenta, and one yellow cartridge, plus a user guide. That makes it a straightforward choice when multiple colors are running low, rather than buying only the color you need right now. The cartridges are identified as non-OEM, so they’re compatible replacements, not Brother-branded original supplies.

The listed printers include the MFC-J1010DW, MFC-J1010, MFC-J1012DW, MFC-J1012, MFC-J1170DW, MFC-J1170, MFC-J1800DW, and MFC-J1800. Keep in mind that the printer may display a non-original cartridge warning. The supplied instructions say to select OK or Next to continue, and not to remove or touch the cartridge chip. If the printer reports low or empty ink after installation, the instructions recommend removing and reinstalling the cartridge several times. That extra troubleshooting is worth factoring in if you prefer supplies that work without prompts.

Best use cases

This set is aimed at owners of a listed MFC-J model who want black and all three print colors on hand. It can suit a home printing routine that shifts between forms, text, and occasional color pages. For example, if a printer is low on black and a color at the same time, replacing the set keeps the other two colors ready rather than leaving the next print job waiting on another order.

The stated page yields are based on 5% coverage, so they shouldn’t be treated as a promise for pages with large graphics, photos, or heavy blocks of color. It makes sense if your printer is on the compatibility list and you’re comfortable following cartridge prompts. You may want to skip it if you need original Brother cartridges or don’t want to deal with non-original alerts.

Tips for day-to-day use

Before opening the pack, match the printer’s full model number against the list, similar-looking model names aren’t enough to confirm compatibility. When installing, handle each cartridge by its body and leave the chip untouched, as the instructions specify. If a warning appears, follow the stated OK or Next prompt rather than assuming the cartridge is unusable. If an ink-level message remains, use the provided reseating guidance, but don’t assume the page-yield estimate will match your mix of documents and color coverage.

Before you decide

Which printers are listed as compatible? The set names the MFC-J1010DW, J1010, J1012DW, J1012, J1170DW, J1170, J1800DW, and J1800.

What comes in the package? One cartridge each in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, along with a user guide.

Are these original Brother cartridges? No. The product is described as a non-OEM compatible set.

Final verdict

Choose this four-color set if your exact printer appears in the compatibility list, you need several colors, and you’re willing to handle possible non-original or ink-level prompts. If avoiding those alerts is more important than replacing all four colors together, an original cartridge route may better fit your priorities. The stated yield gives a useful point of comparison, but the 5% coverage basis matters when estimating how long the ink will last for your actual print jobs.