When a laser printer starts producing faded prints on only one side of the page, it often suggests an issue with the toner distribution inside the toner cartridge or a problem with the cartridge itself, such as a damaged photosensitive drum or worn wiper blade, especially if the cartridge is new. Because the cartridge was recently replaced, it's important to inspect it for defects or improper installation before looking into more serious hardware issues. If the toner itself were low, the fading would typically be uniform across the entire page, not just on one side, and regular maintenance would have already ruled out minor issues. A malfunctioning fuser unit would generally result in toner not adhering to the page fully, appearing smudged, or potentially leading to complete print loss. Clogged nozzles would not be an issue in a laser printer, as this is a problem specific to inkjet printers.