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The Best Canon Printers for 2026

Printing office documents, personal snapshots, or gallery-level art prints? Canon's got a printer that's up to the job. We break down Canon's printer families and our top-rated reviews to help you pinpoint the right model.

 & M. David Stone Contributing Editor

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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You're probably familiar with Canon printers, but you may not appreciate their full range. Canon offers inkjets for every printing need, from inexpensive models like the Maxify GX5020 (our best Canon printer pick for homes and home offices) to pricey choices that deliver output suitable for gallery-grade prints. I'm PCMag's resident printer expert, and I have been evaluating home and office printers for more than three decades. At PC Labs, we evaluate printers based on image quality, design, usability, ink cost, and overall value, and we run each printer through a set of rigorous, repeatable speed tests. Here, we'll break out our favorite Canon printers for a variety of applications, backed by our deep-dive reviews. We'll then sort out the different Canon sub-brands, the related lines within those families, and the range of printer capabilities in each, to help you find the Canon printer category that fits your needs.

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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

  • Canon Pixma G7020 MegaTank All-in-One
    Best Canon All-in-One Inkjet for Homes

    Canon Pixma G7020 MegaTank All-in-One

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Solid feature set, software bundle, and paper capacity for a bulk-ink model Superb print quality, especially photos Auto-duplexing print engine and ADF Super-low running costs Faster than previous MegaTank models Up to 18,000 pages worth of black ink in the box
      • Last decade's control panel

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Pixma G7020 inkjet all-in-one delivers some of the lowest running costs available in a consumer printer, making it a great value for families and home offices.

    Specs & Configurations

    Automatic Document Feeder
    Color or Monochrome Color
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type PictBridge
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wireless
    Cost Per Page (Color) 0.9 cents
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 0.3 cents
    Maximum Scan Area Legal
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) 5,000 pages per month
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) Not rated
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 4
    Number of Ink Colors 4
    Print Duplexing
    Printer Input Capacity 200
    Printing Technology Inkjet
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 14 ppm
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 9 ppm
    Scanner Optical Resolution 600 by 600 pixels per inch
    Scanner Type Flatbed with ADF (Standard or Optional)
    Standalone Copier and Fax Copier
    Standalone Copier and Fax Fax
    Type All-in-one
    Get It Now
  • Canon Maxify GX5020
    Best Canon Inkjet for Homes

    Canon Maxify GX5020

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Low ink cost
      • Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi connections
      • Duplex printing
      • Mobile device support
      • High initial price compared with cartridge-based competition

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    A workhorse single-function printer, the Canon Maxify GX5020 stands out for its low cost per page, paired with print speeds and paper capacities that actually let you take full advantage of the potential savings.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome Color
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wi-Fi
    Connection Type Wi-Fi Direct
    Cost Per Page (Color) 0.7 cents
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 0.5 cents
    Maximum Scan Area N/A
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) 45,000 pages per month
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) 200 - 3,300
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 4
    Number of Ink Colors 4
    Print Duplexing
    Printer Input Capacity 250 + 100
    Printing Technology Inkjet
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 15.5 ppm
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 24 ppm
    Scanner Optical Resolution N/A
    Scanner Type N/A
    Standalone Copier and Fax N/A
    Type Printer Only
    Get It Now
  • Canon ImageClass LBP236dw
    Best Canon Home/Home Office Mono Laser

    Canon ImageClass LBP236dw

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Top-tier mono laser output quality (or close to it) across the board
      • Auto-duplexer
      • Ethernet and Wi-Fi network connection options
      • Supports mobile printing for Android and iOS devices
      • User manual covers two printers, without making clear which info applies only to the other printer

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Canon's ImageClass LBP236dw, a workhorse mono laser printer, fills that role well, delivering speed, paper capacity, and output quality suitable for a busy small-to-midsize office or workgroup.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome Monochrome
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wi-Fi
    Connection Type Wi-Fi Direct
    Cost Per Page (Color) N/A
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 2.25 cents
    Maximum Scan Area N/A
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) Not provided
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) 750 to 4,000
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 1
    Number of Ink Colors 1
    Print Duplexing
    Printer Input Capacity 250+100 (expandable to 900)
    Printing Technology Laser
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) N/A
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 40 ppm
    Scanner Optical Resolution N/A
    Scanner Type N/A
    Standalone Copier and Fax N/A
    Type Printer Only
    Get It Now
  • Canon imageClass MF455dw
    Best Canon Small/Medium Business Mono Laser

    Canon imageClass MF455dw

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Prints, scans, copies, and faxes
      • Fast 40ppm rating for both printing and copying
      • Single-pass duplexing ADF for scanning, copying, and faxing
      • Top-tier print output quality
      • Touch-screen control panel
      • Easy Wi-Fi Direct setup
      • With graphics, output quality falls just short of the best available

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The imageClass MF455dw laser all-in-one printer delivers everything a small-to-midsize office or workgroup needs: top-tier monochrome print quality, snappy output, and robust paper handling.

    Specs & Configurations

    Automatic Document Feeder
    Color or Monochrome Monochrome
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wi-Fi
    Connection Type Wi-Fi Direct
    Cost Per Page (Color) NA
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 2.25 cents
    Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
    Duplexing Scans
    Maximum Scan Area Legal
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) Not rated
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) 750 to 4,000
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 1
    Number of Ink Colors 1
    Print Duplexing
    Printer Input Capacity 250+100 expandable to 900
    Printing Technology Laser
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) NA
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 40 ppm
    Scanner Optical Resolution 600 by 600 pixels per inch
    Scanner Type Flatbed with Single-Pass Duplexing ADF
    Standalone Copier and Fax Copier
    Standalone Copier and Fax Fax
    Type All-in-one
    Get It Now
  • Canon Color imageClass LBP674Cdw
    Best Canon Home/Home Office Color Laser

    Canon Color imageClass LBP674Cdw

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Fast, top-quality document printing
      • Multiple connectivity options including streamlined Wi-Fi setup
      • Large 5-inch color touch screen with easily customized interface
      • Doesn't require periodic drum unit replacement
      • Somewhat high running costs
      • Small-capacity paper output tray

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Canon's Color imageClass LBP674Cdw is a fast color laser printer for busy small offices, with excellent output quality and plenty of connection options.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome Color
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wi-Fi
    Connection Type Wi-Fi Direct
    Cost Per Page (Color) 14.7 cents
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 2.4 cents
    Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
    LCD Preview Screen
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) 4,000
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 4
    Number of Ink Colors 4
    Print Duplexing
    Printer Input Capacity 250 + 50
    Printing Technology Laser
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 35 ppm
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 35 ppm
    Type Printer Only
  • Canon Maxify GX4020
    Best Canon Small-Office All-in-One Inkjet

    Canon Maxify GX4020

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Prints, scans, copies, and faxes
      • Low ink cost
      • Ample paper capacity for a busy small office
      • Automatic duplex printing
      • ADF with manual duplex scanning
      • Expensive
      • Slow compared with cartridge-based competition

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Canon Maxify GX4020's low ink costs make it a solid AIO printer for a busy small or home office that needs heavy-duty printing and moderate-duty scanning, copying, and faxing.

    Specs & Configurations

    Automatic Document Feeder
    Color or Monochrome Color
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wi-Fi
    Connection Type Wi-Fi Direct
    Cost Per Page (Color) 0.85 cents
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 0.14 cents
    Maximum Scan Area Legal
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) 33,000 pages per month
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) Not rated
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 4
    Number of Ink Colors 4
    Print Duplexing
    Printer Input Capacity 250 + 100 + 1
    Printing Technology Inkjet
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 13 ppm
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 18 ppm
    Scanner Optical Resolution 1,200 by 1,200 pixels per inch
    Scanner Type Flatbed with 35-page ADF
    Standalone Copier and Fax Copier
    Standalone Copier and Fax Fax
    Type All-in-one
    Get It Now
  • Canon imagePrograf PRO-1100
    Best Canon Pro-Grade Art/Graphics Printer

    Canon imagePrograf PRO-1100

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Superb print quality
      • Improved scratch resistance, print longevity
      • Air-feed paper handling for more uniform ink-drop accuracy
      • Anti-clogging technology that swaps out nozzles
      • Supports sheets up to 17 by 22 inches, and printable paper to 129 inches long
      • Improved Wi-Fi connectivity
      • Only a minor speed boost over its predecessor
      • No roll-paper option

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Canon imagePrograf PRO-1100 is among the best 17-inch wide-format photo printers you can buy, with stunning quality that includes exceptionally dark blacks and vibrant colors.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome Color
    Connection Type Ethernet
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wi-Fi
    Connection Type Wi-Fi Direct
    LCD Preview Screen
    Maximum Scan Area N/A
    Maximum Standard Paper Size 17" x 22"
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) Not rated
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) Not rated
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 12
    Number of Ink Colors 11
    Printer Input Capacity 150
    Printing Technology Inkjet
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) Not rated
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) Not rated
    Scanner Optical Resolution N/A
    Scanner Type N/A
    Standalone Copier and Fax N/A
    Type Printer Only
    Get It Now
  • Canon Selphy QX20
    Credit: Joseph Maldonado
    Best Canon Snapshot Printer (Dye Sub)

    Canon Selphy QX20

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Dye-sub technology delivers high-quality, long-lasting prints
      • Supports borders, rounded borders, and three-sided borderless printing
      • Prints on both square (2.7-by-2.7-inch) and card-size (2.1-by-3.3-inch) media
      • Prints from Android and iOS devices via Wi-Fi
      • Easy-to-use app
      • Prints' peel-off backing can be frustrating to remove
      • Fully borderless printing not supported

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Canon's Selphy QX20 spits out high-quality wallet-size prints, delivering almost all you could ask for in a compact photo printer.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome 4-pass color
    Connection Type Wireless
    Cost Per Page (Color) 68.3 or 76 cents
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 68.3 or 75 cents
    Maximum Scan Area N/A
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Wallet-size
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) Not rated
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) Not rated
    Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks 1
    Number of Ink Colors 3
    Printer Input Capacity 10
    Printing Technology Dye Sub
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 1 print per 40 seconds
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 1 print per 40 seconds
    Scanner Optical Resolution N/A
    Scanner Type N/A
    Standalone Copier and Fax N/A
    Type Printer Only
    Get It Now
  • Canon IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer
    Best Canon Snapshot Printer (Zero Ink)

    Canon IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Competitive running costs
      • Good output quality
      • Strong mobile software with image tiling
      • Supports Bluetooth 5
      • No support for Windows or macOS computers
      • Supports only Bluetooth connectivity
      • Slightly pricier than its peers

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Canon's improved IVY 2 Mini prints good-looking photos and stickers at competitive running costs, making it an excellent smartphone companion for little on-the-go pics.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome Color
    Connection Type Bluetooth
    Cost Per Page (Color) 50 cents
    Cost Per Page (Monochrome) 50 cents
    Maximum Scan Area N/A
    Printer Input Capacity 10
    Printing Technology Zero Ink (ZINK)
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 1 print per 40 seconds
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 1 print per 40 seconds
    Scanner Optical Resolution N/A
    Scanner Type N/A
    Standalone Copier and Fax N/A
    Type Printer Only
    Get It Now
The Best Canon Printers for 2026

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Best Canon All-in-One Inkjet for Homes
Best Canon Inkjet for Homes
Best Canon Home/Home Office Mono Laser
Best Canon Small/Medium Business Mono Laser
Best Canon Home/Home Office Color Laser
Best Canon Small-Office All-in-One Inkjet
Best Canon Pro-Grade Art/Graphics Printer
Best Canon Snapshot Printer (Dye Sub)
Best Canon Snapshot Printer (Zero Ink)
Best Canon All-in-One Inkjet for Homes
Best Canon Inkjet for Homes
Best Canon Home/Home Office Mono Laser
Type
All-in-onePrinter OnlyPrinter OnlyAll-in-onePrinter OnlyAll-in-onePrinter OnlyPrinter OnlyPrinter OnlyAll-in-onePrinter OnlyPrinter Only
Color or Monochrome
ColorColorMonochromeMonochromeColorColorColor4-pass colorColorColorColorMonochrome

Buying Guide: The Best Canon Printers for 2026

Making Sense of Canon's Inkjets: Maxify, Pixma, and MegaTank

First to come in our tour of Canon's lineup are inkjets. At first glance, Canon seems to have just two inkjet families: Pixma and Maxify, with no obvious difference between them. All the Maxify printers are tank-based, but so are some Pixma models. And the Pixma printers (unlike the Maxify models) cover a wide range of features and capabilities, with some suitable for only light-duty home use, some designed for much heavier-duty use in a small or home office, and some that can serve nicely for both home and home office.

Complicating matters is that Canon's naming conventions are a little inconsistent, and in the process of changing at this writing, so some printers are available under two slightly different names, and some printer families include some models that use the old naming convention along with some that use the new one. (More on this later.)

The best way we found to sort them out (for the Pixma models, at least) is by the designation that sits between "Pixma" and the number in the model name: MG, TS, TR, G, iP, iX, or Pro. We'll go through each first, followed by an explanation of the Maxify model names, which only include two designations.

Pixma MG, TS, and TR

The Pixma MG, TS and TR models are all cartridge-based, which means they have a low initial price for their capabilities but a relatively high running cost. For those who print few enough pages over a printer's lifetime, they can cost less in the long run than equivalent tank-based printers that offer a low running cost, but a high initial price. The three lines offer ascending levels of capability for home use, but they also overlap in price and capability. So, depending on the printer you need, you may or may not want to look at more than one of the categories.

The MG models are low-cost all-in-one (AIO) printers that print, scan, and copy. They are designed for decidedly light-duty use only. Along with their low cost, they offer low paper capacities and slow print speeds. They also use tri-color cartridges for color ink, which tends to drive up the running cost compared with using a separate cartridge for each color.

TS models are aimed primarily for low-volume use for home and school work, and for applications that include crafting, photo printing, scanning documents, and serving as a dorm-room printer. Models range from inexpensive printer-only models and three-in-one AIOs to fairly pricey three-function AIOs that can print on, but not scan, paper up to 11 by 17 inches or 12 by 12 inches. Most of the inexpensive models use an ink system with one tri-color and one black cartridge, while others use a separate cartridge for each color. The higher-cost models that handle the larger paper size use a five-color ink system—each with its own cartridge—for boosting quality for photos and graphics.

(Credit: Canon)

The TR models are meant for both home and home office. The only single-function printer is the TR150 Wireless Portable. The rest of the models are either three-in-one AIOs, or four-in-one models that add faxing. Most TR models, including the TR150, use tri-color ink cartridges. Others use individual cartridges for each color.

MegaTank Pixma G and Pixma G MegaTank

The naming convention for Pixma G models has been a little flexible, so "MegaTank" may be added in the name before or after "Pixma" or left out altogether, and the same printer might be identified on the Canon website with two different variations of the name on any given day (with an open-box printer having one name, and a new unit having a slightly different name, for example). However, all Pixma G printers are tank-based, using low-cost ink that comes in bottles and pours into the tanks. Canon confirmed that any two Pixma G models followed by the same number are the same printer. So if you find a review referring to a "Pixma Gxxx MegaTank." it also applies to a "MegaTank Pixma Gxxx" using the same model number.

The MegaTank printers cost more than otherwise equivalent cartridge-based printers, but they have lower running costs, which means they can have a lower total cost of ownership in the long run. However, that's true only if you print enough to save more in ink than the extra money you spend in the initial cost. (Read our feature How to Save Money on Your Next Printer: Weighing the Cost of Tank vs. Cartridge Ink.) The G models range from single-function printers to both three- and four-in-one AIOs, including one three-function AIO that uses a six-color ink system to boost photo quality: the Pixma G620 Wireless MegaTank Photo Printer.

Pixma iX and iP

Canon offers only two models in this category at this writing, making it impossible to see a pattern in what, if anything, defines an iX printer as opposed to an iP printer. And note that Canon once offered an iP model that was designed for portable use and limited to 8.5-inch-wide paper, so that one doesn't have much in common with either of the current iX or iP models, both of which can handle paper up to 13 by 19 inches. For those who need to print on tabloid (11-by-17-inch) paper or a bit larger, both current models are relatively inexpensive options. The iP model is marketed primarily for business use, but it has a five-color ink system to help improve photo quality. The iX model is aimed more at moderately serious photo enthusiasts, and it has a six-color ink system for even better photo quality.

Pixma Pro

Canon currently sells only one Pixma Pro model, the Pixma Pro-200. It offers an eight-color ink system for boosting photo quality, and although Canon calls it a "Professional InkJet Photo Printer," it's inexpensive enough to be of interest to serious photo enthusiasts.

Maxify and MegaTank Maxify

Canon's MegaTank Maxify line is similar to the MegaTank Pixma G line. Both share a tank-based design that translates to having a high initial price and a low running cost, thanks to inexpensive ink. Most models include either a GX or an MB before the model number, while one at this writing uses IB. The letters indicate a difference in the physical design and ink system rather than functionality, however, so you can group them all as a single category. As with the MegaTank Pixma G line, all are tank printers that offer ink in bulk for a lower running cost than cartridge-based inkjets. However, the GX models' ink comes in bottles that you pour into the printer tanks, just like the MegaTank Pixma G models, while the MB and IB printers use ink that comes in replaceable tanks that you slide into the printer, much as you would add a cartridge.

(Credit: Canon)

As a group, the MegaTank Maxify printers share essentially the same capabilities as the MegaTank Pixma G printers, making them equally appropriate for the range from home office to small office. So, if you're considering one of the two categories, you'll also want to look at the other. The Maxify models include single-function printers, and both three-function and four-function AIOs.

One other issue the MegaTank Maxify line shares with the MegaTank Pixma G line is a similarly confusing flexibility in naming. In this case, the choices at this writing are "Maxify GX," "Maxify MB," or "Maxify IB" plus the model number, with the GX models sometimes adding "MegaTank" before the "Maxify." So, just as with Pixma G MegaTank versus MegaTank Pixma G printers, if you're looking for a "Maxify GXxxxx" printer based on a review or recommendation, and all you can find on Canon's site is a "MegaTank Maxify" with a matching GX and model number, it's actually the same printer. There are no MegaTank Maxify MB or IB models at this writing.


Laser Printers for Home Office to Enterprise: imageClass and Color imageClass

So much for the inkjets; onward to Canon's lasers. Almost all of the Canon laser printers of interest for purposes of this overview are in either the imageClass or Color imageClass lines. As the names suggest, the difference between the two is that imageClass lasers are all mono printers, while Color imageClass models print in color.

Both lines include single-function printers as well as three- and four-function multifunction printers (MFPs)—a term that's essentially interchangeable with AIO, but more common when talking about lasers. It may help to know that Canon mono laser printers listed as MFPs are more likely to be three-function printer models, while AIOs are more likely to offer four functions. However, the naming convention isn't consistent, and most color MFPs, along with some mono ones, don't add either variation to the name. So be sure to check the specs as well. (And note that Canon doesn't make the same distinction for its inkjets.)

Both the imageClass and the Color imageClass families include models suitable for the range from home office to small-to-medium-size office. Within either line, single-function printers include an "LBP" before the model number. Most multifunction models use an "MF" designation before the number, though some use a "D" instead.

Letters added after the model number include "d" (for duplex, or two-sided printing), "w" (for Wi-Fi), "n" (for Ethernet), and "C" (for color). For the most part, the lack of any of these trailing letters means that the particular printer doesn't have that feature, so knowing these details can help you find the right printer quickly. However, keep in mind that, as with the MFP vs. AIO naming convention, this isn't entirely consistent. For example, we found one model that doesn't have the lowercase "d" after the number, but includes "Duplex Laser Printer" in the name. As of this writing, there are a few models with "VP" after the model number, which stands for Value Pack. In this case, the VP signifies that the printer comes with more toner than the same model without the letters.

(Credit: Canon)

Finally, do not confuse the imageClass and Color imageClass lines with Canon's two lines that share the imageClass name, but add an "X": imageClass X, and Color imageClass X. Most models in both groups are floor-standing and meant for enterprise use, mostly in large departments. Canon also offers other lines for even higher-end, heavier-duty printing, including imageRunner and imageRunner Advance DX. Those are beyond the scope of what we review at PCMag.

That said, a few imageClass X monochrome printers, like the imageClass X LBP1238, are aimed for work-from-home use "as part of an organization's extended print fleet," which also makes them suitable for a home or micro office. If you can make use of their extra features, like the LBP1238's unusually large 5-inch color touch-screen control panel, and the printer's ability to print from the cloud, you might find them worth considering. However, if you don't need the extras, you can get the same core features for less with non-X imageClass models.


Ivy, Selphy, and imagePrograf: Photos From Wallet-Size to Wall-Size

Canon's photocentric printers range from small enough to serve as a phone accessory for 2-by-3-inch prints to big enough for giant gallery prints.

At the low end of that scale, the Ivy line uses Zink technology, which embeds dye crystals in the paper to serve as ink—or "zero ink," which gives Zink its name. The 2-by-3-inch Zink peel-off-and-stick paper is a suitable size for wallet photos or sticking on lockers or laptops. The small print size also keeps the printer itself small, lightweight, and as easy to carry as a cell phone, while the built-in battery and ability to connect by Bluetooth to print from Android or iOS mobile devices (but nothing else) turns it into a phone accessory.

There's only one Ivy standalone printer model at this writing, but Canon also offers an Ivy Cliq+2 Instant camera, which is the photographic equivalent of an AIO that happens to have a camera instead of a scanner. You can connect to it by Bluetooth to print from your phone, or take a picture with the camera and print it (which is basically what a copier does). Note that Canon also has an Ivy Cliq2 camera (without the "+" in the name). It doesn't offer Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and cannot print from a phone.

Canon Selphy models, meanwhile, are all portable printers that use what's commonly called dye-sublimation, or dye-sub, technology (though it's really using thermal dye transfer). All offer internal rechargeable batteries or attachable battery packs for greatest portability, either in the base price or as an extra cost option.

The CP models support printing photos in several sizes up to 4 by 6 inches. Connection options, which depend on the model, allow printing from a variety of sources, including PCs and mobile devices. The Square QX model (there's only one QX printer at this writing) supports printing images in a square format only, at up to 2.7 inches square on its roughly 2.8-by-3.4-inch paper, which has a peel-and-stick adhesive back. It prints only via Wi-Fi from iOS, iPadOS, and Android mobile devices, and it includes the battery in its base price.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The Selphy and Ivy lot are all small. At the other end of the scale, the giant imagePrograf models are mostly aimed at professional photographers and graphic artists, including those who need wide-format, floor-standing models that are well beyond the scope of what we review. However, a few models at the low end of the line, including the imagePrograf Pro-300, are inexpensive enough to be of interest to serious enthusiasts.

Finally, note that Canon offers a bunch of additional printer lines—including imagePress, DreamLabo, VarioPrint, ColorStream, ProStream, Colorado, and Arizona—that are meant for commercial- and production-level printing, but don't include any models of interest for this overview.


Ready to Buy the Right Printer for You?

We trust our rundown has clarified the Canon spectrum. Given all the printer choices Canon offers, it helps to start your search by selecting which printer lines to focus on. In addition to our descriptions of those families here, we've included our favorite Canon printers for a range of use cases, based on our tests and overall evaluations. For other choices—from both Canon and others—take a look at our picks for best printers overall. For more focused picks, also check out our guides to the best photo printers, business printers, wide-format printers, and cheap printers.

About Our Expert

M. David Stone

M. David Stone

Contributing Editor

My Experience

Most of my current work for PCMag is about printers and projectors, but I've covered a wide variety of other subjects—in more than 4,000 pieces, over more than 40 years—including both computer-related areas and others ranging from ape language experiments, to politics, to cosmology, to space colonies. I've written for PCMag.com from its start, and for PC Magazine before that, as a Contributor, then a Contributing Editor, then as the Lead Analyst for Printers, Scanners, and Projectors, and now, after a short hiatus, back to Contributing Editor.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who worked on every "Project Printer" blockbuster PCMag ever produced, often writing 15 or more reviews for the year's big printer blowout. (I snuck in a single review one year when I was writing a book, strictly so I could keep that claim alive.)

I've always worked for PCMag as a freelancer, which has freed me to take time away to write nine books, be a major contributor to four others, and write for other publications, including Wired, Computer Shopper, Projector Central, and Science Digest, where I was Computers Editor. I also wrote a computer column at one point for The Newark Star-Ledger.

Although I started my career primarily as a science (mostly physics and astronomy) and science-fiction writer (published in Analog), my non-computer-related work runs the gamut from the Project Data Book for NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (written for GE's Astro-Space Division) to the script for a video overview of a top company in the gaming industry (that would be gambling, not video games). My books include The Underground Guide to Color Printers (Addison-Wesley), Troubleshooting Your PC (Microsoft Press), and Faster, Smarter Digital Photography (Microsoft Press).

Having covered a wide range of subjects, I've developed a serial expertise in many of them. The ones most relevant to my current work at PCMag.com are all imaging technologies.

The Technology I Use

I buy new PCs for my writing desk infrequently, because it takes a week or more to customize the settings the way I want them. At the moment, I have an HP Envy tower running Windows 10, but it's old enough to have a Windows 7 sticker on it. Its latest lease on a longer life is courtesy of a newly installed 500GB Samsung SSD 870 EVO.

Elsewhere in my house is an assortment of older and newer PCs. The older ones are dedicated to specific tasks, like the one I've been using to slowly digitize all the paper stored in my filing cabinets, while the newer ones are testbeds for printer and projector reviews.

For writing, I use Microsoft Word 2003, because I find it too annoying to take my hands off the keyboard to give mouse commands using the Ribbon. My workhorse printers are a Xerox Phaser 6280 color laser and a Dymo LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo for labels and stamps. I also have a Canon Pixma iP8720 for printing photos, and a Canon ImageFormula DR-C225 for scanning.

My first computer was bought to replace my IBM Selectric for writing. After rejecting both the IBM PC (which had just been introduced) and the Apple II because of the keyboards, I chose a Vector Graphics Vector 3 CP/M machine with dual floppies. The first MS-DOS machine I was willing to use for writing was the IBM AT, with its much-improved keyboard compared with the original PC and its gargantuan 20MB hard drive.

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