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Canon PIXMA G7020 Printer Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed May 12, 2020 at 08:55 am
Latest change: Writing modified Sep 15, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Canon PIXMA G7020 Picture
8.1
Family
8.0
Small/Home Office
8.4
Student
7.8
Black & White
7.9
Photo

The Canon PIXMA G7020 Wireless Megatank is a great printer for family use. It has an outstanding cost-to-print ratio and its high black and color yield means you can print off a lot of pages before having to refill the ink tanks or even buy new ink bottles, making it an affordable choice. It also has both a sheetfed and flatbed scanner, which is useful for scanning multiple documents or more fragile items like photos. On the downside, it prints black text and color documents very slowly and it uses a two-line full-dot matrix display that some may find limiting.

Our Verdict

8.1 Family

The Canon G7020 is very good as a family printer. It prints good quality photos which is great when you want to physically save your memories. It also has a sheetfed and flatbed scanner, making it easy to copy, fax, or scan your documents. It has an outstanding cost-to-print ratio for black and color documents as well as photos, so you won't need to constantly refill the ink tanks.

Pros
  • Very low cost-per-print.
  • High page yield for black and color documents.
  • Sturdy, solid build.
  • Decent color accuracy.
Cons
  • Very slow printing speed for black and color documents.
8.0 Small/Home Office

The Canon G7020 is good for home office use. It has an outstanding cost-to-print ratio for black text and color documents while also yielding a lot of pages before you have to refill the ink tanks. While this printer has a flatbed scanner, it also has a sheetfed scanner that has automatic document feeding, making it easy to copy, fax, or scan documents with a lot of pages. However, this printer doesn't have duplex scanning so if you're scanning double-sided documents, you need to scan them one side at a time. Also, it's very slow at print, whether you're printing a black or color document.

Pros
  • Very low cost-per-print.
  • High page yield for black and color documents.
  • Sturdy, solid build.
Cons
  • Very slow printing speed for black and color documents.
  • Limited two line screen interface.
  • Lacks duplex scanning.
8.4 Student

The Canon G7020 is great for student use. This printer yields a lot of pages for both black text and color documents before you need to refill the ink tanks. It also has an outstanding cost-to-print ratio and both a sheetfed and flatbed scanner, making it an affordable choice for students. On the downside, it's very slow at printing black and color documents. Still, this printer can connect to your Wi-Fi via a router or by Wi-Fi Direct. You can also print from your mobile device using Apple AirPrint or Mopria Print Services.

Pros
  • Very low cost-per-print.
  • High page yield for black and color documents.
  • Sturdy, solid build.
Cons
  • Very slow printing speed for black and color documents.
7.8 Black & White

The Canon G7020 is alright for black and white printing. While it has an outstanding cost-to-print ratio for black ink and it yields a lot of pages before the ink tanks needs to be refilled, it prints very slowly. There's also no high-yield cartridge available if you only print in black and white.

Pros
  • Very low cost-per-print.
  • High page yield for black and color documents.
  • Sturdy, solid build.
Cons
  • Very slow printing speed for black and color documents.
  • Limited two line screen interface.
7.9 Photo

The Canon G7020 is good for casual photos. It has good photo printing quality, and it produces images with good detail. Its color accuracy is decent, and it's suitable for printing photos for home use. That said, colors are a little over-saturated, and there's some banding present in darker areas of the image.

Pros
  • Very low cost-per-print.
  • Sturdy, solid build.
  • Decent color accuracy.
Cons
  • Can't print on 2" x 3".
  • 8.1 Family
  • 8.0 Small/Home Office
  • 8.4 Student
  • 7.8 Black & White
  • 7.9 Photo
  1. Updated Sep 15, 2023: We added a link to the Canon PIXMA G3270 in the Cartridge section of the review to provide an alternative with a larger color page yield.
  2. Updated Mar 09, 2023: Added mention of the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 as an alternative with a better display in the Display Screen section.
  3. Updated Sep 08, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
  4. Updated Aug 25, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  5. Updated Apr 21, 2022: We've updated the In Use Picture under the 'Dimensions' test for this printer to ensure greater consistency with other reviews.
  6. Updated Feb 07, 2022: Fixed an error with the Input Tray Capacity test result.
  7. Updated Feb 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  8. Updated Jun 15, 2021: Updated Cartridge box to be consistent between similar models.
  9. Updated Jun 08, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
  10. Updated May 12, 2020: Review published.

Compared To Other Printers

The Canon PIXMA G7020 is a supertank inkjet printer from Canon's photo printing lineup. It's well-suited to casual photo printing like the Canon PIXMA TR4520 or Canon PIXMA TS8220, and it can reproduce vivid and detailed images. However, while it has an affordable cost-per-print, it can take longer to print off black and color documents than many other Canon PIXMA printers. That being said, if you don't mind the slow print time, it can yield an large number of pages before its tanks need to be refilled. Check out our recommendations for the best photo printers, the best home printers, and the best printers for college students.

Epson EcoTank ET-3850

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 are both supertank printers that offer outstanding page yields and a low cost-per-print. The only differences are that the Epson prints faster and produces higher-quality scans. The Canon has better color accuracy, but not significantly.

Canon PIXMA G6020

The Canon PIXMA G6020 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are both supertank inkjet printers. The biggest difference between the two is that the G7020 has an automatic document feeder and fax capabilities, whereas the G6020 only has a flatbed scanner. The G7020 also has better color accuracy and photo printing quality, so it's a better choice for photos.

Canon PIXMA G3270

The Canon PIXMA G7020 is slightly more versatile than the Canon PIXMA G3270. The G7020 has a flatbed scanner with an ADF, enabling it to process documents much faster, an integrated fax, an input tray with a much greater overall capacity, and an Ethernet port. Unlike the G3270, it also supports duplex printing, so you won't need to flip pages manually when printing double-sided. However, the G3270 has a slightly greater color page yield.

Canon MAXIFY GX6020

The Canon MAXIFY GX6020 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are similar all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertank ink systems that give them incredibly high page yields. However, the MAXIFY is newer and performs better overall, with a significantly higher color page yield and faster printing speed. It can also print directly from USB flash drives. On the other hand, the PIXMA has faxing capabilities, produces better-detailed photos, and has a better overall cost-per-print.

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5180

The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5180 is better than the Canon PIXMA G7020 for most uses. The Epson has better page yields, duplex scanning capability (manual), and faster printing speed. However, the Canon's build feels sturdier, and it prints higher-quality photos.

Epson EcoTank ET-4800/ET-4810

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 are both supertank printers, but the Canon is better overall. It prints significantly more pages and a lower cost-per-print (meaning you'll save more money in the long run). Also, it can duplex print automatically, and it prints much nicer-looking photos.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 are both supertank inkjet printers, but the Canon performs better overall. The Canon is a better choice if you need to scan often since it has an automatic document feeder. Also, it prints much more accurate colors, making your photos look better than they would on the Epson. While the Canon doesn't print as many black pages as the Epson, the slightly lower ink bottle costs help keep its black cost-per-print identical to the Epson's, meaning you won't save more with one or the other if you mostly print in monochrome.

Canon MAXIFY GX7020

The Canon MAXIFY GX7020 is the newer, office-redesigned version of the Canon PIXMA G7020. Both are all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertank ink systems with incredible page yields, but the MAXIFY is a much better printer overall. It has a significantly higher color page yield, and a much faster printing speed. It also has a much better screen, its automatic document feeder can duplex scan, and it can print directly from USB flash drives. The PIXMA has a better overall cost-per-print and also produces photos with much better quality.

Canon PIXMA G4270

The Canon PIXMA G4270 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are very similar overall. The G4270 has a higher color page yield, produces higher quality documents, and scans faster. However, the G7020 has a much wider color gamut to produce more colorful photos and supports automatic duplex printing.

Canon PIXMA G3260/G3262

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Canon PIXMA G3260 are both all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertanks. As a result, they both have an incredibly high page yield and superbly low cost-per-print. However, the G7020 is a better for small or home offices, with an ADF, larger paper tray capacity, automatic double-sided printing, and an Ethernet port. It also produces better-quality photos. On the other hand, the G3260 has much better color page yields, so you need to refill the tanks a lot less often.

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850

The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertanks, but the Epson is a better printer overall. The Epson prints significantly faster, its automatic document feeder can duplex scan, and it can print directly from USB flash drives. On the other hand, the Canon has almost double the color page yield and has a much better cost-per-print for color documents and photos.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760

The Epson EcoTank ET-4760 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are both very good supertank printers. The Epson is better for office use thanks to its higher black page yield, lower black document cost-per-print, and faster printing speed. The Canon is better for photos because of its higher color page yield, lower cost-per-print for photos, and its nicer image printing quality.

Epson EcoTank ET-15000

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Epson EcoTank ET-15000 are very similar overall. The Canon has slightly better print quality, but it's slower to print, and unlike the Epson, it only supports up to 8.5" x 11" paper, whereas the Epson can print on paper up to 13" x 19". The Epson yields more black prints, while the Canon yields more color prints.

Brother MFC-J805DW INKvestment Tank

The Brother MFC-J805DW INKvestment Tank and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are both very good all-in-one color inkjet printers, but the Canon uses a supertank ink system for a superior cost-per-print and page yields. The Canon also prints photos more quickly, and it has an Ethernet port. On the other hand, the Brother does print documents a bit faster.

Brother MFC-J995DW

The Brother MFC-J995DW is a better overall inkjet printer than the Canon PIXMA G7020. While the Brother may not yield as many pages as the Canon per cartridge, you can buy even higher-yielding cartridges if you need it. However, the Canon's cost-per-print is slightly lower, and you can connect to it via Mopria Print Service.

Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank are both great family printers with supertanks. The Canon is much better built, and it has an automatic document feeder and a larger paper tray capacity. It also yields more color pages and has a lower cost-per-print for color documents and photos. On the other hand, the Epson has a higher yield for black pages, it prints faster, and you can print directly from an SD card or USB key.

Canon PIXMA TR8620

The Canon PIXMA G7020 and the Canon PIXMA TR8620 are all-in-one color inkjet printers, but the TR8620 is better for families and casual photo printing. The TR8620 produces higher-quality photos with good detail and vibrant colors. It prints faster overall and can also print directly off of SD cards. On the other hand, the G7020's supertank ink system gives it a far superior page yield and cost-per-print.

Epson EcoTank ET-2760

The Epson EcoTank ET-2760 and Canon PIXMA G7020 are both all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertank ink systems. The Canon is better for family use and home offices, as it has an ADF, an Ethernet port, and much better color accuracy and photo printing quality. It also prints photos much faster. On the other hand, the Epson has a significantly better page yield and cost-per-print, prints black and color documents faster, and supports printing directly from an SD card.

HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are both all-in-one color inkjet printers. While the Canon uses a supertank ink system for far superior page yields and a much lower cost-per-print, the HP performs better overall for office use. The HP prints much faster, can print directly from USB flash drives, and its automatic document feeder can duplex scan. It also comes with six free months of HP's Instant Ink subscription.

Epson EcoTank ET-4700

The Epson EcoTank ET-4700 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are all-in-one color inkjet printers with supertank ink systems for outstanding cost-per-print and page yields. However, the Canon is better for casual photos, with a better cost-per-print and higher page yields, faster photo printing speed, and much better image quality. On the other hand, the Epson prints documents more quickly, so it might be better for students and small or home offices.

Brother MFC-J6945DW

The Brother MFC-J6945DW is better for small or home offices, while the Canon PIXMA G7020 uses a supertank and is better for casual photo printing. The Brother prints single pages much quicker, and it prints longer documents much faster, too. Also, it can print 11" x 17" sheets and scan them using both its flatbed scanner and duplex-scanning automatic document feeder and can print directly from USB flash drives. On the other hand, the Canon has much better page yields at a cheaper cost-per-print, and it prints photos more quickly.

Canon PIXMA TS9120

The Canon PIXMA G7020 is a better overall inkjet printer than the Canon PIXMA TS9120. The G7020 is a well-built supertank printer, so its ink tanks can yield more pages before they need to be refilled, and its cost-per-print is much lower. It also has an integrated fax feature and it can duplex scan too. However, the TS9120 has a much better display screen, its printing speed is quicker for all documents, and it even has Bluetooth and external storage support.

Epson EcoTank ET-3760

The Epson EcoTank ET-3760 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are both supertank inkjet printers, but the Canon has better photo printing performance. The Canon feels better built, yields more color pages at a lower cost-per-print, and prints better-looking photos. It also holds more paper in its input tray, and it has a fax feature. On the other hand, the Epson yields significantly more black pages and prints documents much faster, so it may be a better choice if you print long documents more often.

Canon PIXMA TR8520

The Canon PIXMA TR8520 and the Canon PIXMA G7020 are both great printers for family use, but the G7020 uses ink tanks instead of disposable cartridges like the TR8520. If you intend to print many photos, the TR8520 has a much better color accuracy and better photo printing quality. If you frequently print a variety of different types of documents, the G7020 may be a better choice since it yields significantly more pages at a much lower cost-per-print.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
8.0
Design
Build Quality
Type All in One

The Canon PIXMA G7020 has a great, solid plastic build. There's good access to the ink tanks, as they're below the scanner, and while you're refilling ink or dealing with paper jams, the scanner lid doesn't fall. You can access paper jams from the printer's back or by lifting the entire scanner. The front and rear paper trays both have a slider to adjust for different page sizes. However, the rear input tray can get stuck while taking it off the printer or putting it back.

Design
Dimensions
Height 9.1" (23.1 cm)
Width 15.9" (40.4 cm)
Depth 14.5" (36.9 cm)
Height When In Use
11.2" (28.4 cm)
Width When In Use
15.9" (40.4 cm)
Depth When In Use
28.0" (71.0 cm)
Weight
21.0 lbs (9.5 kg)

The Canon PIXMA G7020 is a somewhat compact printer. It's heavier than the Canon PIXMA TR8520 and it's slightly taller, but it shouldn't be a problem for most spaces.

7.0
Design
Expected Maintenance
Ink Related Maintenance
Expected
Drum Unit
No Drum Unit
4.5
Design
Display Screen
Display Screen Yes
Display Screen Size
1.8" (4.5 cm)
Touchscreen No

The Canon G7020 has a poor display screen. It's a monochrome 2 Line Full-Dot Matrix Display which gives it a vintage, calculator-like feel. However, some may find it restricting since it can only display a limited amount of text at a time. There are also physical buttons that surround the screen and while you can tilt the screen cover, the display screen has poor viewing angles. If you want a similar printer with a better display, check out the Epson EcoTank ET-4850.

10
Design
Cartridge
Technology Inkjet
SuperTank
Yes
Photo Cartridge
No
Color Yes
Number Of Color Cartridges
3
Black Cartridge Model
GI-20 PGBK
Tested Black Page Yield
285 prints
Estimated Black Page Yield
5,415 prints
Color Cartridge Model
GI-20 CMY
Tested Color Page Yield
209 prints
Estimated Color Page Yield
4,790 prints
Third Party Cartridge
No Cartridges
Ink Type
Dye And Pigment
High Yield Cartridge
No Cartridge

The Canon PIXMA G7020 has an outstanding ink cartridge system. It yields a high amount of black and colored pages, so you can print out stacks of documents before these tanks need to be refilled, though its color page yield isn't quite as substantial as that of the Canon PIXMA G3270, which you can refill with GI-21-format bottles.

This printer accepts third-party ink, but this could void its warranty.

7.4
Design
Scanner Features
Scanner
ADF + Flatbed
ADF Capacity
30 pages
Scan Speed
4 PPM
Duplex Scanning
No
Max Flatbed Scan Size
8.5" x 11"
Max ADF Scan Size
8.5" x 14"
Flatbed Hinge Adjustability
0.76" (19 mm)
Fax
Yes
Copy
Yes
OCR Included
Built-in

The Canon G7020 has a flatbed for scanning thicker documents or more fragile items like old family photos. You can also easily scan several documents at once using the sheetfed scanner; however, double-sided documents need to be manually scanned on each side as this printer doesn't have a duplex scanning feature. This printer has an integrated fax, so you can easily scan your documents and send them to others.

If you don't need an automatic document feeder and you want to save some money, check out the Canon PIXMA G6020, which is basically the same printer without an ADF and it's cheaper.

6.5
Design
Scan Quality
Max Scan Resolution
1,200 DPI
Max Scan Color Depth
24Bit

While the DPI limit may seem to be 600 at first glance, if you look under the "Drivers" tab, you can do an advanced scan with Canon’s My Image Garden software at a higher resolution. If you’re using the Canon IJ Scan Utility app, these settings can be found under the “Scan Gear” tab. If the document you’re scanning exceeds over 100mb, you need to turn off “thumbnail preview mode” (located on the left top corner of “scan advanced” settings page) to reach 1200 DPI.

Design
In The Box

  • User manual
  • Installation CD
  • 4"x 6" Photo Paper Plus Glossy II sample pack (3 sheets)
  • Fax cable
  • Canon GI-20 ink bottles
    • 3x GI-20 PGBK
    • 1x GI-20 Cyan
    • 1x GI-20 Magenta
    • 1x GI-20 Yellow
  • Power cable

Design
Battery
Advertised Battery Life
N/A
Tested Charging Time
N/A
Document
8.0
Document
Black & White Documents
Color Ink Needed For Black & White
Yes
7.5
Document
Color Documents
10
Document
Cost-Per-Print
Black Cartridge Price
17.99 US$
Color Cartridge Price
35.95 US$
Black-Only Printing Cost
0.003 US$/print
Color Printing Cost
0.008 US$/print
Photo Printing Cost
0.015 US$/print
Ink Subscription
No

The Canon G7020 has a superb cost-per-print ratio. It's very affordable to print in black, color, or photo, as each ink tank can yield a lot of pages before needing to be refilled. While you can buy each bottle on its own, Canon also sells a bundle pack that could save you more money down the line.

Keep in mind that even if you print only in black, most inkjet printers continue using the color ink for servicing tasks, so you likely still need to refill them eventually.

6.0
Document
Printing Speed
Black Only Text Document
8 PPM
Color Document
3 PPM
Photo Printing Time
54.4 s
Single Page Out Time (Black Only)
18.8 s
Duplex Printing
Automatic
Input Tray Capacity
350 pages

Update 02/07/2022: We initially listed the Input Tray Capacity as 250 pages, but this is wrong. While the front input tray can hold 250 pages, the rear feeder can hold another 100 pages, so the result should say 350 pages. We updated the review.

The Canon PIXMA G7020 is very slow at printing black and color documents, which can be stressful when you're in a rush. It also takes just under a minute for it to print one 4" x 6" photo. If printing speed is important to you, check out the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015; or if you're looking for a supertank option, consider the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850.

Document
Document Printing Sizes
Letter (8.5" x 11") Yes
Legal (8.5" x 14") Yes
Tabloid (11" x 17") No
A6 (105mm x 148mm) No
A5 (148mm x 210mm) Yes
A4 (210mm x 297mm) Yes
Max Paper Weight
300 g/m²

The Canon PIXMA G7020 has two adjustable paper trays with sliders to fit different paper dimensions. The rear paper tray can also extend to support longer sizes such as legal paper.

Photo
7.5
Photo
Color Gamut
6.0
Photo
Color Accuracy
Average Color dE
8.25

The Canon G7020 has decent color accuracy. It struggles most with blacks and browns, but other colors print accurately enough. It does the job adding a splash of color on office reports, school assignments, or casual photos.

8.5
Photo
Small Details
Max Print Resolution (DPI)
4800 x 1200
9.5
Photo
Photo Printing Sizes
Glossy Paper (4" x 6") Yes
Glossy Paper (5" x 7") Yes
Glossy Paper (8" x 10") Yes
Glossy Paper (8.5" x 11") Yes
Glossy Paper (13" x 19") No
Borderless Printing
Yes
Mobile App And Connectivity
8.0
Mobile App And Connectivity
Connectivity
Ethernet
Yes
USB Input To Computer
Yes
Wireless Yes
Bluetooth
No
Wi-Fi via Router
Yes
Wi-Fi Direct
Yes
External Storage Support
No
Apple AirPrint
Yes
Mopria Print Service
Yes

The Canon PIXMA G7020 has great connectivity options. You can wirelessly connect to this printer using Wi-Fi via your router or by Wi-Fi Direct. You can also print from your mobile device by using Apple AirPrint if you're using an iOS device, or Mopria Print Service if you have it installed on your Android device. For a wired connection, this printer can use an Ethernet cable or you can directly plug it into your computer via a USB input. Unlike the Canon PIXMA TS9120, there isn't any Bluetooth support and there's no place to plug in external storage either.

8.9
Mobile App And Connectivity
Mobile App
Mobile App Yes
App Name Canon Print Inkjet/Selphy
iOS Yes
Android Yes
Photo (JPEG, PNG)
Android and iOS
PDF
Android and iOS
Microsoft Office Files
Android and iOS
Text Files (TXT)
No
Webpages (HTML)
No

The Canon PIXMA G7020 uses Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY which is available on Android and iOS. This app allows you to print, scan, and copy directly from your mobile device. You can also order new ink, see what you scan directly on the app, and print pages directly from the internet.

Mobile App And Connectivity
OS Compatibility
Windows Fully
macOS Fully
Chrome OS Fully