Canon is a well-known brand in the world of photography and printing. They have a large catalog of printers to meet the needs of general consumers and businesses, with their PIXMA and imageCLASS lines being the most popular. They make both inkjet and laser printers, color and monochrome, and have a large selection of budget options. With their experience in photography, their printers are usually the go-to option for casual and professional photo printing, as they tend to offer superior color quality than their competitors.
Updates
- 11/08/2024 Canon PIXMA TR4720/TR4722 updated
- 10/28/2024 Canon PIXMA PRO-200 reviewed
- 09/04/2024 Canon PIXMA TS9520a/TS9521Ca reviewed
- 08/16/2024 Canon PIXMA TS302a reviewed
- 08/14/2024 Canon PIXMA TS702a reviewed
Best Canon Printers
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Best Canon Printer
Document Quality9.5Color Quality5.6Scanner9.5Speed8.2Build Quality9.0Estimated Black Page Yield1,726 printsEstimated Color Page Yield1,282 printsBlack-Only Printing Cost0.049 US$/printColor Printing Cost0.236 US$/printThe best Canon printer we've tested is the Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw. This color laser all-in-one produces exceptionally sharp documents and prints quickly at up to 23 black or 36 color pages per minute. Its wide connectivity options make it easy to access, and its scanner produces amazing scans and processes multi-page and double-sided documents quickly through its automatic feeder. If you don't need duplex scanning, know there's a cheaper variant, the Canon imageCLASS MF751Cdw. Except for the lack of duplex scanning, it has the same features and print quality as the MF753Cdw, so you aren't compromising much.
This printer yields around 1700 black and 1200 color prints from a single set of toner. The cartridges are expensive, but since you don't have to replace them often, you won't have to spend much in the long run. Also, these cartridges contain the drum, so you don't have to spend extra to replace the drum separately; an integrated drum isn't always better, as the drum typically lasts much longer than the toner cartridges. Like most laser models, this printer isn't ideal for photo printing, as it produces low-res, dull, and grainy pictures. If you need a printer that can handle a high print volume but also prints great photos, then check out our next pick, the Canon PIXMA G7020.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Canon Printer
Document Quality8.0Color Quality6.8Scanner7.0Speed6.0Build Quality8.0Estimated Black Page Yield5,415 printsEstimated Color Page Yield4,790 printsBlack-Only Printing Cost0.003 US$/printColor Printing Cost0.008 US$/printIf you don't need all the bells and whistles of a high-end model like the Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw, you can save some money with the Canon PIXMA G7020, one of the best Canon PIXMA printers we've tested. It's a great option to keep your maintenance costs low because it has a refillable ink tank that yields around 5400 black and 4700 color prints. Plus, replacement ink is cheap, so you won't have to worry about high maintenance costs if you print a lot. It has the usual Wi-Fi and USB connectivity plus an Ethernet port.
This model produces high-quality black and color documents. Printed pictures look detailed, and while color accuracy isn't the best, it isn't bad enough to make photos look unnatural or bad. Unfortunately, patience is necessary when printing, as it can only churn out eight black or three color pages per minute. Its ADF scanner is also slow and doesn't support duplex scanning, though it's still more convenient than scanning each page manually. The printer requires a little more maintenance than laser models, as the printheads can clog after extended use, and refilling the tanks can be messy if you aren't careful.
The Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw/MF654Cdw is another upper mid-range model worth considering if you're in the market for a laser printer. Although it yields fewer prints and isn't good for photo printing, it produces extremely sharp documents and detailed scans through its ADF. It does have a quirk: it prints very slowly over Wi-Fi.
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Best Mid-Range Canon Printer
Document Quality8.0Color Quality7.3Scanner6.9Speed6.6Build Quality7.5Estimated Black Page Yield228 printsEstimated Color Page Yield320 printsBlack-Only Printing Cost0.079 US$/printColor Printing Cost0.150 US$/printThe best Canon all-in-one printer in the mid-range price category is the Canon PIXMA TR8620a. It's an all-in-one color inkjet printer with plenty of features to meet every family member's needs. It feels decently well-built and has wide connectivity options, including wireless printing via Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service, making it easily accessible to everyone in the household. The flatbed scanner's lid can extend slightly to accommodate thicker books and documents, and there's an automatic document feeder to make scanning long documents easier. It also has an optical character recognition feature that lets you scan documents into a text file, meaning you can edit the text.
As for its printing performance, it can print excellent-looking photos with plenty of fine details and vibrant colors. Its black page yield isn't that great, so you'll have to replace the black ink cartridge fairly often, but its color page yield is good as it can print over 300 color pages before the ink runs low. The ink cartridges are inexpensive, so the printer doesn't cost much to maintain. Its printing speed is okay; it churns out about 12 black and white or four color pages per minute and can perform automatic double-sided printing. Overall, it's a versatile all-in-one and one of the best Canon printers for home use we've tested.
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Best Budget Canon Printer
Document Quality8.5Color Quality7.0Scanner7.4Speed6.2Build Quality5.5Estimated Black Page Yield225 printsEstimated Color Page Yield210 printsBlack-Only Printing Cost0.084 US$/printColor Printing Cost0.119 US$/printIf you have a tight budget, we recommend the Canon PIXMA MG3620. It's a basic all-in-one inkjet printer with a flatbed scanner, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, and a two-cartridge system. However, it's still one of the best Canon printers and still produces good-quality documents and photos, so if you're only looking for a printer for the occasional one-off project, this printer can get the job done without costing you too much. The scanner also produces high-quality scans; it just doesn't have an automatic feeder or fax functionality.
The main downside of this printer is its page yield; its cartridges only last for around 200 black and color prints, meaning you'll have to replace them often. Maintenance cost isn't a problem because the ink cartridges are cheap; it's more inconvenient because it requires a lot of maintenance, and you may need to interrupt print jobs to change the cartridges. Also, since it uses a tri-color cartridge, you have to replace the entire cartridge if only a single color runs out, which is wasteful. Again, it's a good option if you only print once in a blue moon, but if you print often, it's better to get a printer with better page yields, like the Canon PIXMA G7020.
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Best Canon Photo Printer
Document Quality9.5Color Quality8.8Scanner0Speed1.5Build Quality9.0Estimated Black Page Yield323 printsEstimated Color Page Yield425 printsBlack-Only Printing Cost0.040 US$/printColor Printing Cost0.275 US$/printThe Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is the best photo printer we've tested. This professional-grade model produces incredibly detailed, vibrant, and color-accurate pictures. It supports borderless printing and wide format paper up to Supertabloid size sheets (13" x 19"), making it a great option for making posters. You can connect to the printer via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet, and thanks to its support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, you can easily print from your Apple and Android devices without installing any drivers or a third-party app.
The cartridge system is different from what you might expect. It uses nine cartridges, including specific photo cartridges that work only on glossy photo paper, meaning you won't have to worry about depleting the photo ink when printing documents. The problem is that the cartridges are only good for about 400 color prints and are expensive. Another downside is its slow printing speed; printing a single 4" x 6" photo takes over two minutes. Also, as a print-only model, you'll need a separate scanner to digitize photos.
If you're looking for a printer with lower recurring costs but still want professional-grade print quality, consider the Canon PIXMA PRO-200. This printer uses dye ink, so it performs better on glossy paper; it's the better choice if you only print photographs. However, it doesn't perform as well for art prints on non-glossy paper, and its color accuracy isn't quite as good.
Compared To Other Brands
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Good photo printing quality.
Most of Canon's printers have good photo printing quality, even the budget options. -
Higher color page yield.
While most printers from other brands yield more black pages than color pages, Canon's printers tend to have a higher color page yield. -
Many affordable options.
Canon has a wide range of budget-friendly models.
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Inkjet printers have low black page yield.
Most of Canon's home inkjet printers have a lower black page yield than other brands.
Canon vs Brother
Brother and Canon are both major printer manufacturers that offer a wide variety of printers. Canon is generally better for photo printing quality, and they also have a wider range of professional and portable photo printers. Canon generally makes better color laser printers, but Brother usually makes better monochrome ones. You can see our recommendations for the best Brother printers.
Canon vs Epson
Canon and Epson are very similar overall. The main difference is that Canon still makes laser printers, whereas Epson largely focuses on inkjets. Canon printers are usually better for photo printing but don't yield as many pages as Epson's EcoTank printers. You can see our recommendations for the best Epson printers.
Canon vs HP
Both HP and Canon make a wide range of printers. Canon focuses more on photo printing, while HP focuses more on general-purpose office and personal printers. Canon laser models usually perform better and cost less. However, those with a large print load might want to consider HP, as it makes laser models with a refillable toner tank, similar to supertank inkjet printers. See our recommendations for the best HP printers.
Compared to other brands, Canon is arguably the best for photo printing. Their inkjet printers tend to have a better color page yield, making them more cost-effective for printing photos. Also, their photo printing quality is usually better, as even the most basic budget option can print good-looking photos. Compared to Brother or Epson, Canon has more options in the budget range. However, if you mainly print in black, it's better to go with one of their laser models, as their inkjet printers tend to have a lower black page yield than other brands.
Lineup
Canon's printer lineup is large and diverse, ranging from consumer-level all-in-ones to large enterprise-grade printers. This list isn't exhaustive and only contains printers available to general consumers.
- PIXMA: Consumer-level printers for personal and home use, also includes photo printers.
- PIXMA G-Series: Refillable ink tank (MegaTank) printers.
- PIXMA PRO: Professional inkjet printers.
- SELPHY/IVY: Compact photo printers.
- MAXIFY: High-yield inkjet printers for small offices, some with MegaTank branding (GX series).
- imageCLASS: Laser printers for home or small offices.
Recent Updates
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We added the Canon PIXMA PRO-200 as an alternative to the 'Best Canon Photo Printer' and made small edits throughout for clarity.
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Aug 08, 2024: We've done a major overhaul of this article, introducing a new format and new performance usages.
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May 14, 2024: Confirmed all picks are still relevant and available. Added reference to MegaTank branding in the MAXIFY product line description, as all new GX-series printers in the MAXIFY line-up have MegaTank branding.
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Feb 16, 2024: Minor text edits for clarity. No changes in product picks.
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Nov 22, 2023: Verified that all picks are valid and available. Minor text changes to add the Canon PIXMA G4270 as an alternative to the Canon PIXMA G7020.
Conclusion
Canon is one of the top companies when it comes to printers. They're also one of the best, if not the best, for photo printing; this isn't surprising, given their long history in photography. They have a large selection of printers at all price points, so you can easily find what you need.