PIXMA G6020 All-in-One Supertank Wireless (Megatank) Printer, Copier and Scan with Mobile Printing, Black, Works with Alexa

Review: Canon PIXMA G6020 MegaTank – A High-Value, Low-Cost Printing Solution Quick Summary The Canon PIXMA G6020 is a robust "supertank" printer that trades the convenience of cheap up-front costs for incredible long-term savings. The initial setup requires patience—specifically regarding tape removal and print head installation—but the payoff is a machine that prints at a fraction of the cost of a laser printer. With sharp text, quality photo output, and a massive ink supply included in the box, it is an ideal choice for those who want to stop worrying about the high price of replacement cartridges. Detailed Experience & Technical Observations Unboxing and Setup Caution When you first open the box, pay close attention to the inner lids; they contain vital diagrams for locating all the components. The setup requires some manual assembly: • Print Heads: The printer uses two print heads that resemble standard inkjet cartridges. One is tucked near the power cord in the top styrofoam, and the other is located underneath near the ink bottles. • Critical Tape Removal: There is a significant amount of protective tape. Most importantly, when you lift the top to access the print head carriage, there is a strip running the length of the interior. You must remove this very slowly. Pulling too fast can leave a fiberglass-like residue behind, which can interfere with the orange plastic piece that must be fully removed. Ink System and Long-Term Value The "MegaTank" system is impressively clean and easy to fill. Each tank is designed to hold exactly one full bottle of ink. • Capacity: The black tank is larger than the color tanks. Canon includes three bottles of black ink; you will use one for the initial fill, leaving two spares. All three color bottles (CMY) are used entirely during the first fill. • Cost Analysis: Based on my calculations over a projected 4-year period, this printer operates at one-half the cost per page of my laser printer. Even if I were to use only the included ink and then dispose of the printer, it would still be more economical than maintaining a laser printer or a traditional cartridge-based inkjet. Operational Quirks and Software • Control Panel Angle: The control face is adjustable, arching from horizontal to about 45 degrees. A key quirk is that the printer will not function unless the face is tilted at an angle or positioned horizontally; it cannot be left flat/closed during operation. • Power Management: It is important to press the power button and let the printer complete its shutdown cycle before unplugging it. While it can be left on for instant printing, those who print infrequently (like me) may prefer to power it down between uses. • Windows 11 Integration: The software installation was quick and non-intrusive. Unlike many modern printers, the software has not "nagged" me to sign up for subscription services or buy replacement ink—at least not yet. Print Quality and Duplexing • Sharpness: The native print quality is very sharp. Test pages show extremely thin lines with clear white space between them. • Scanning/Copying: Note that while the print engine is high-resolution, the scanner has limits. In my tests, ultra-thin lines that were visible on the original print appeared as solid blocks on the copy. This is expected unless using a specialized high-resolution scan mode. I used the copy feature on the printer. It might have done better if I used the scanner software in the computer where I could choose the resolution. • Auto-Duplex (Two-Sided): The printer handles two-sided printing by feeding the paper, printing one side, then rolling it back in to flip it. In my observations, it appears to print the second page first before finishing with the first page and ejecting the sheet. Paper Handling The front tray 250 sheets of standard paper up to 8.5" x 11" as well as envelopes and odd sizes of paper. For legal paper or heavier media, there is a standing rear feed. This is perfect for cardstock, postcards, and envelopes. Pros and Cons Pros: • Massive Ink Savings: Includes enough ink for roughly 2 years of moderate use (or 3-4 years of low use). • Clean Refills: The bottle-to-tank design prevents spills and messes. • Sharp Output: Excellent clarity for both text and photos. • Non-Intrusive Software: No aggressive sales pitches or "ink-as-a-service" pop-ups (at least not yet.) • Flexible Media: Rear tray allows for thick cardstock that usually jams in front-loading printers. • Large Paper Capacity: The 250-sheet drawer is much larger than typical home inkjets. Cons: • Tedious Setup: Numerous pieces of tape and a delicate internal removal process. • Interface Requirements: The control panel must be angled correctly or the printer throws an error. • Scan Resolution: The default copy/scan mode may not pick up the finest details that the print engine is capable of producing. • No ADF: Lacks an automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning. • The Display: The small, 2-line LCD screen is not backlit, making it very hard to read without a flashlight or bright overhead light. • WIFI: Setting up the WIFI is a bit tricky. I got mine to work, but after a failed attempt or two. I recommend looking for a YouTube video that walks you through step-by-step if you have trouble. Technical Specifications • Print Resolution: Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi for both black and color documents. • Print Speed (ISO): Up to 13.0 ipm (images per minute) in black and 6.8 ipm in color. • First Print Out Time: Approximately 9 seconds for black and 14 seconds for color documents. • Ink System: 4-color Continuous Ink Supply System (CISS) using GI-20 pigment black and dye-based color ink bottles. • Paper Capacity: Total capacity of 350 sheets (250-sheet front cassette plus 100-sheet rear tray). • Scanner Type: Flatbed Contact Image Sensor (CIS) with an optical resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi. • Maximum Document Size: Flatbed scanner supports up to 8.5" x 11.7"; printing supports up to 8.5" x 14" (Legal). • Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Ethernet (100/10 Base-T), and Hi-Speed USB. • Mobile Support: Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, and the Canon PRINT app. • Physical Dimensions: Approximately 15.9" (W) x 14.6" (D) x 7.7" (H) with a weight of 17.8 lbs. • Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 5,000 pages. • Paper Weight Support: Plain paper from 17 to 28 lb; specialty paper up to 53 lb (approx. 200 g/m²). These official specifications from Canon detail the print speed, resolution, ink compatibility, and paper handling of the PIXMA G6020 printer.

I purchased this printer for a project I’m working on for my wife, where I plan to print around 600 photos for three photo albums of our son, spanning from birth to age 3. Here are my initial impressions after one day of use: **Neutral:** This is a full-sized printer. Initially, I had looked at a model designed specifically for 4x6 photos, but I opted for this all-in-one printer without realizing its larger size. This is entirely my own oversight. **Pro:** The setup process was incredibly straightforward. After removing a few pieces of tape and a single plastic cover, I installed the printer heads, filled the ink tanks, plugged in the device, powered it on, and connected it to my preferred device (PC or phone). The printer then ran a test print to prime the ink through the head, and the setup was complete. The entire process was quick and easy. **Neutral:** You will need paper for setup. Since my primary use is photo printing, I didn’t purchase A4 paper, but at least two sheets are required for setup. This isn’t a major issue, as most users will likely be buying the printer for multifunction use. In my case, I used two sheets of paper I had on hand from a previous work onboarding, so it wasn’t an inconvenience. **Pro:** The ink tanks are located at the front of the printer, which is a convenient feature. You can easily monitor the ink levels, which is extremely helpful. **Pro:** The accompanying app is very user-friendly. Once you initiate a print job, you can continue using your phone for other tasks without being tethered to the app. **Neutral:** I have printed 25 photos so far, and they have a distinctive "at-home print" quality. Personally, I prefer this, as the photos are vibrant and clear, exactly as they appear on my phone. However, it’s clear they were printed at home, which some users may not prefer. This does not detract from the printer’s performance, which produces excellent results. **Neutral:** It’s important to pay attention to the orientation of the photos you are printing, especially if you plan to print multiple photos at once (up to 20). Ensure each photo is cropped or rotated as desired before printing. By default, the photos will print in the orientation in which they were taken on your phone. I had two out of the 25 prints where the focus of the image was cropped out because I didn't verify the settings beforehand. Simply make sure the photos are correctly formatted before printing, adjusting the crop, rotation, or zoom as needed. Pro: The button hub and screen are mounted on a hinge, which provides great flexibility. This design allows for easy viewing and access when needed, but you can also leave it down if your operational needs require a more compact setup. This thoughtful feature enhances both usability and convenience. Overall, after just one day of use and 25 photos printed, I am very satisfied with this printer. It’s easy to use and provides great results. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a simple home printer. After completing the full 600 prints and using the printer for a longer period, I will update this review to discuss ink usage, maintenance, and any additional insights I may have. As of now, I am very pleased with its performance. This review has been brought to you in part by ChatGPT used to clean it up however the review is completely me. I wanted to add this for a level of honesty.

I have always used cheap factory refurbished Epson printers most of my life and for the most part had really good luck with them. I wanted a ink tank printer because I hated replacing those ink cartridges so I decided to try this Canon Pixma... My friend had insisted I should buy the Canon so I did...Big mistake! Most of my printing needs are basic which include, shipping labels, and an occasional document or picture so I didn't really need an expensive printer but I decided anyway to shell out the $200 and get what I thought would be a quality printer that would last me for a while. When I first took this Canon out of the box I could see a one major problem...It has this tiny little black and white LED screen that isn't even backlit so every time a message comes up I had to get up really close to this little screen with a flashlight to see what was going on. I have constantly had problems with print errors where you would have to read the tiny messages and most of the time just pressing OK would get it to run again, Almost every time I would print anything there was a 5 to 10 second time delay before it started up, sometimes it would just disconnect from my PC for no reason at all and I would have to do a reboot to get it to print. I very seldom made color copies but I would occasionally run a color print every couple of weeks just to keep it from clogging up, I guess now maybe I should have done this more often with this printer because it has completely lost its ability to make a color copy. Now (The last straw) all the sudden something has caused this printer to stop communicating with my PC. I have tried everything to fix this problem but I'm now at my wits end with this D*MN! printer so I'm going to toss it in the dumpster and get me a Eco-Tank Epson with a nice big backlit screen.

I am feeling very positive about this printer for my own needs--low cost of ink being a major plus--but the printer has its downsides, all mentioned in other reviews, which you should be aware of before you buy one. Downsides: 1. Printing is SLOW. Not a problem for my occasional home use, but you would probably want something faster if you do a lot of printing. 2. The LED screen is not backlit and can be hard to read if light conditions are not just right. It's OK, barely, where I have mine located, but you may need to keep a little flashlight handy. 3. The control panel flops down when you press the buttons. You have to hold the panel up with one hand and press the buttons with the other. The control panel is used mostly for copying, so be aware of this hassle if you intend to use that feature a lot. 4. The printer is configured by default to turn itself off after being idle for a period of time and to not turn itself back on automatically. You can vary that period of time up to 4 hours or disable "Auto Power Off", which means it stays on until you press the power button. However, I recommend that you enable "Auto Power On". Auto Power On puts the printer into standby mode after the Auto Power Off time instead of turning it completely off so that it can wake up when a print request is received. Why is this not enabled by default? 5. The connection between your computer and the printer, if not set up correctly, may be lost when the printer is turned off. Unfortunately, the documentation from Canon is crap, and I could not find anything there that says how to fix the problem. Here's how: FIXING CONNECTION PROBLEMS The setup process provided by Canon worked very smoothly, but the next day I was unable to connect to the printer. It appears that the problem was that the install program set up the printer port using the printer's IP address, which is assigned by my router and can change each time the printer is turned on. The port needs to be set up instead using the printers name, which does not change. I fixed it by deleting the printer from the Windows "Devices and Printers" applet of the control panel and rerunning the Canon install program. Why it used the IP address the first time and the Printer Name the second time is unclear, but it worked. In any case, rerunning the install program is a bit of a hassle, so here is an easier way to fix it on a Windows system. 1. Right-click on the icon for the printer in the Windows "Devices and Printers" option of the Control Panel and select "Printer properties". 2. Click on the "Ports" tab. 3. Select the port for the printer, which is probably labeled "Canon G6000 Series", and click the "Configure Port ..." button. 4. Look at the box labeled "Printer Name or IP Address". If you see four numbers separated by dots such as 192.168.1.12, that is an IP address and needs to be replaced with the printer name. My printer's name is a 12-character code: 915CFC000000. You can find your printer's name from the printer's LED screen: Press the button with the tools icon; press right arrow until "System Information" appears; press OK; press right arrow until printer name appears.

I just received a PIXMA G6020 from Amazon and wanted to provide some information given the disparity of reviews I saw prior to making the purchase. This review is only about the initial process of setting up and printer performance. Set up Some of the reviews mentioned difficulty in setting up wirelessly, and I thought I might provide some details for potential consumers. First, Canon still provides a hard copy step-by-step instruction booklet which is helpful. Within the booklet are scan codes that can be followed or a web address to see a sequence of photographs that walk you through the setup process. I used this because some of the pictures in the manual were difficult to discern, but the photographs were very clear. Once the machine is set up and plugged in (no cables attached to any computers), Canon provides a web address which is very clean and easy to negotiate. A clearly marked “set up” button takes you to a page where you select the kind of machine you have. You’re supposed to enter some letters, but none of these are PIXMA. That was a bit confusing, but scrolling down you can see a G020 button and clicking on that opens up a window with a start button and a picture of the printer so there can be no confusion. Clicking on the start button begins the process of setting up from the pictures I mentioned above to downloading the drivers and joining the printer to the wireless network available in your home. The process went very smoothly with little input from me until an error message appeared which was associated with my Internet security system blocking the printer from the network. Importantly, there is a window from Canon during the setup process that warns you of this before it happened. As a quick aside, the hard copy manual was clearly adjusted to include anticipated problems people might have because there are several places where warnings about problems (both Windows and Mac) occur with suggested resolutions. I was impressed by that because often a set of documents are prepared and released without any consideration of problems consumers might have on their different systems. Anyhow, clearing the security issue, the download completed, and the printer was available on my computer already set up as the default. The wireless connection to my home network worked great. As I headed downstairs away from the printer and our router to our second computer, the process went equally well and again the printer was available for function on the second machine. Scanning Canon provides “IJ Scan Utility” as a rudimentary scanning software that allows you to direct the printer to scan documents or photographs. If you are scanning documents, multiple sequential scans are permitted (no document feeder, so you have to change the scanned pages yourself). These are combined into the same PDF when you save them. Both documents and images are by default loaded into a default Windows temporary documents folder which gratefully pops open when you are done. Otherwise, you would have no idea where your documents or images went. That’s a bit of a drawback because I could not find a way to change the default download folder, but since it opens, a quick drag-and-drop remedies the situation. Printing and copying I agree with the other reviewers that the panel on the printer should’ve been backlit because it’s hard to read. Printing quality is good and fast, although I did not try any pictures. The copying function is simple as well. Just put the document on the scanner and click either the “black” or “color” button on the panel of the printer itself to produce a copy of the document. Bottom line At least initially, this machine was exactly as advertised. It was straightforward and easy to set up, contained warnings and resolutions where they expected you might have trouble and then produced high quality printed documents. Some may not like that you have to interact with Canon via the web to get everything set up wirelessly, but to me it seemed like a really good way to ensure the process went smoothly which was the case for me. Hope this helps everyone if you’ve been on the fence about what printer to buy given the many bad reviews that this and less expensive printers have. So far, this one completely met my expectations. If the machine fails in the future, I will update the review.

I needed to replace an old Canon PIXMA printer that had failed with a cryptic error. My criteria for a new printer were: "mega" tanks -- even though my ink cost wasn't terrible high, but the individual price of cartridges was irritating Both a front cassette and a rear feed for paper. It is a mistake to assume that a printer has both. Suggestions that envelopes and photo paper would be put in the cassette seemed ridiculous for my needs. A flatbed scanner. I own a separate autofeed scanner. WIFI connections, and compatability with Apple AirPrint, and Chromebook printing. The Canon G6020 had all of those items plus: Two sided printing, auto "off" with network wake up, a 250 sheet cassette, and USB and LAN cable connectors. It also seems to have sensors for everything; for example, when either the cassette is inserted, or paper is added to the rear feed, the printer prompts for paper size verification. (Fortunately, the prompt for paper size and type can be turned off.) The printer also comes with what must be an almost a lifetime's supply of black ink. Photo printing is very good, though slow on "best" photo mode. The printer has can present a net "home page" for many setup and status functions; the default password is its serial number. Cons: The LCD screen is tiny and dark. At the very least, it should have a back light. I found the LCD Menus are confusing. Setup can be a little confusing. I ended up using the manual mode for configuring the WIFI connection. (Thank goodness for WPS, entering a password on the LCD would have been problematic) There is a cautionary notice warning to transport the printer upright lest some ink were to spill. The tanks seem well capped, and probably wouldn't leak, but I am not about to test it. Summary, Once setup and connect, the printer is great. It is definitely fast enough for home use and all of the printing that I have done has been sharp and unbanded. The black ink is pigment based and seems to be waterproof; the color, dye based, and will bleed slightly when water is applied. A major consumer magazine down-rated this model compared to others costing significantly more, and oft times having fewer features; most of the magazine's quibbles seem simply wrong in this case. Replacement ink from Canon on Amazon seems extremely reasonably priced ($17 for 170ml / 5.75oz of black ink, $11 for the 70ml of color ink.) Added Note: Others had complained, and I encountered... I had an issues with the printer's wifi connection, which I believe that I have resolved. My router was set to use a "smart" choice between 2.4 & 5Ghz (both using the same SSID) for device communication. I suspect that this was causing problems with the printer's 2.4Ghz only network chip. The problem seemed to clear up when I disabled the "smart" feature on the router; nonetheless, I decided to run a cable from the router to the printer and change the printer's LAN setting to use that. I have had no problems since. Though I am not using a mesh router, I could see this being a problem with some of those too.

Update: April 2023: So far I have used this printer to fill up two 350 5"x7" photo albums and one 600 4"x5" photo album. I have partially filled up a second 600 4"x5" photo album. I have also handed out photos to friends and family and printed large documents. I have refilled the black tank once and still have one black bottle that came with the printer. I have purchased the color bottles twice and still have one of the 3-packs with the magenta bottle used last night. I still have the other two color bottles from the last 3-pack. Needless to say I have paid very little to keep this printer running for over 3 years. I have had absolutely no problems with this printer and the quality continues to be perfect. Update: November 2021: I purchased my Canon G6020 Mega-Tank printer in January 2020 and just replaced the magenta ink. This is the first time I’ve had to add ANY ink. That’s 20 months of cranking out hundreds of photos and a goodly number of very long documents. The black tank still registers about half full and the blue and yellow tanks still have ink in them. This printer, which cost $259.00, came with three large bottles of black ink which should last several years. I purchased an additional three bottles of blue, magenta and yellow ink for $70 to have them handy. Before I bought this printer I used cartridges that lasted 3 or 4 months and cost around $60.00. My Mega-Tank printer has been super dependable and saves me lots of $$$. And photos look wonderful. Update April 2021: I can't run this printer out of ink. It's over a year old and I have filled up a 350 5x7" photo album (plus some additional ones I sent out for Christmas) and it's still half full of ink. I set it up in our guest bedroom and print to it from my office, our iPhones, and an iPad with no problem at all. I have printed out long documents, forms, photos, you name it, and it prints everything wonderfully. I'm sold on the mega-tank printers and will never go back to expensive and short-lived cartridges. Update June 2020 : I have now had the G6020 for several months. I've printed a variety of documents (black and white, color, and duplex) using 24-pound paper, which I prefer. I have had no paper jams and the copies are excellent. I have printed photos using Canon Paper Plus Glossy II which have been very impressive (see photo). Even old color photos from the 1960's look fresh and new. I have had no problem maintaining a Wi-Fi connection and am very satisfied with my purchase. It has been a solid performer and I highly recommend. Original Review: I purchased the G6020 in January 2020 specifically because I was tired of replacing expensive cartridges far too often. I have high hopes that the new tank technology will be successful and I'll have to add my comments about that as time goes by. My experience with setting up this printer was assisted by watching a YouTube video before starting. Everything went smoothly except for one thing. I had to run the setup program twice for each of the four computers I installed it on. For some reason on the first try it would stall. On the second try, it properly asked for my Wi-Fi password and installed just fine. The first try did not ask for my Wi-Fi password. My print jobs have been adequate, but a bit light from time to time. I have bought some higher quality (bright 24 pound) paper which I have as yet not used in hopes that I will see better quality. I have printed a couple of 4x6 photos with good results. More to come.

I am so disappointed with this printer. I’ve had several Canon printers over the years and all but the last 2 have been wonderful. This G6020 is the 2nd worst printer I’ve ever had (the PIXMA TR7020a was the worst but that’s another story). I got this printer especially because it has Megatanks – so I wouldn’t have all those little empty plastic cartridges to try to find a way to recycle – and because it has a 2nd paper tray. The worst problem is that it continues printing even when it “thinks” it’s out of ink, printing blank pages. But it has plenty of ink and a test page comes out fully printed. So, if I’m printing a large document I have to watch the printer or I risk ending up with a lot of blank pages. This has happened several times and I’ve only had this printer 6 months, and I don’t print a whole lot. The Trouble Shooter is useless. I ran it, got message “Problem with printer Detected There might be problems with Canon G6000 series. Windows will take additional steps to further troubleshoot." But then it said “Issue not found” for all the possible issues. Update: 4/11/26 I can't even get it to print any longer. It has ink and paper, but the error light keeps turning on. I open and close the flap for the rear tray and the error light goes off, but when I try to print again it goes back on. And even when I can get it to print, which is rare, all the print comes out green even though I request color and all the tanks are full; if I request black it comes out blank although the black ink tank is full.