In the past the phrase high performance magenta colorants/pigments was only understood in terms of technical properties. A clear definition still doesn't exist. Since digital color presses and color laser printers have become a success story, cost relevant parameters like price and color strength of the colorant are and will be discussed more intensively. Compared to the trichromatic print colors cyan and yellow and especially for magenta, the discrepancy between the cost and technical performance level is more noticeable. The paper will describe the term high performance magenta including cost-related issues by the example of three typical magenta pigments for toner applications.