After months of watching pricey ink cartridges chip away at our budget, we finally gave the Canon G3270 MegaTank printer a shot. The whole refillable ink tank concept seemed promising—could it really handle thousands of pages on just one set of bottles? That’s what we wanted to find out.
Getting it up and running was mostly painless, though fiddling with the tiny LCD screen to connect to WiFi took a bit of patience. Once it was set, though, the print quality honestly surprised us: crisp text, colors that pop, and better than what we expected from a budget printer.
- Wireless Print/Copy/Scan
- Up to 2 years of ink included (2)
- Print up to 6,000 black & white / 7,700 color pages using a single set of inks! (1)
The real highlight is the ink tank system. After hundreds of pages over several months, the ink levels barely budged. Refilling instead of swapping cartridges means you’re not scrambling for ink mid-project, and it’s a huge relief.
Print speeds are fine for home use, though big jobs sometimes slow things down. Scanning and copying are reliable, so it ticks the boxes for basic home office needs.
There are a few quirks: it’s a bit noisy, and there’s no automatic duplex printing. The LCD is functional but feels cramped when you’re poking through menus.
Overview of Canon MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer
Testing this all-in-one, we found it delivers solid performance for homes and small offices. The G3270 packs printing, scanning, and copying into a compact 13.2-pound frame.
Key Features:
- Print speeds: 11 ppm (black), 6 ppm (color)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi and USB
- Display: 1.35″ LCD screen
- Print resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi
That MegaTank system is the star here. Those refillable tanks churn out up to 6,000 black and 7,700 color pages per set. That’s a big drop in cost per page compared to classic cartridge printers.
Setup is a breeze via the mobile app. The 100-sheet tray fits a range of paper sizes, though you’ll have to flip pages yourself for double-sided prints.
Print quality held up well—text looks sharp, colors are lively, but expect things to slow down with graphics-heavy stuff.
Wireless Printing and Mobile Connectivity
Wireless setup was less of a hassle than we expected, thanks to built-in Wi-Fi. The 1.35″ LCD walks you through it, but you’ll need some patience with the tiny screen.
Connectivity Options:
- Wi-Fi – Once it’s on the network, it’s solid
- USB – For a direct, old-school connection
- Mobile App – Works with phones and PCs
Wireless printing worked smoothly across our devices. The printer responded quickly to jobs from laptops and phones, although the initial setup on the little screen can be fiddly if you’re used to touchscreens.
Canon’s mobile app does its job—printing from your phone is easy enough. The connection stays stable, but we did have to reconnect now and then after the network changed or if the printer slept for a while.
MegaTank Refillable Ink System
The refillable ink tank system is what really sets this Canon apart. The included bottles lasted us for what felt like forever—Canon claims 6,000 black-and-white or 7,700 color pages per refill, and that seems about right from what we saw.
You get four bottles—black, cyan, magenta, yellow—that pour straight into clear tanks. It’s a bit nerve-wracking the first time, but it’s fast and you can see ink levels at a glance.
Most folks rave about the savings, and honestly, so do we. The main catch? Refilling can get a little messy if you’re not careful, but the savings make it easy to shrug off.
All-in-One Functionality: Print, Scan, and Copy
We ran the G3270 through its paces and it handled the basics without drama. Wireless printing worked reliably from phones and computers.
Print quality is strong—4800 x 1200 resolution gives you clean text and good color. We hit 11 ppm for black-and-white, but color jobs slow to 6 ppm.
The flatbed scanner is decent, matching the print resolution. Scanning is easy enough, though we kept wishing the LCD was bigger.
Copying is straightforward and matches the quality of prints and scans. The 100-sheet tray is fine for most home tasks, though not ideal if you’re churning out big batches.
No duplex printing, so double-sided jobs mean flipping pages yourself.
Cost Savings and Ink Efficiency
This refillable tank system really does save money in the long run. The included ink bottles lasted through thousands of pages before we even thought about refilling.
Key Cost Benefits:
- Potentially saves up to $1,000 on ink (if you print a lot)
- Enough ink for about two years, depending on usage
- No more constant cartridge shopping
The upfront cost is steeper than barebones inkjets, and there’s still no duplex printing, so you’ll use more paper if you print double-sided. Still, per-page costs are way lower than cartridge printers, so if you print regularly, it’s a no-brainer.
User Interface and LCD Display
The controls are refreshingly simple. The 1.35-inch LCD isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done for checking ink levels and basic settings.
You can see ink levels right on the screen, which is super handy. The navigation is all buttons—no touchscreen here—but we didn’t have to dig out the manual to figure things out.
Key Interface Features:
- Tiny but clear LCD
- Simple buttons
- Easy ink monitoring
- Basic status messages
The display is small, so you might squint in low light. It responds quickly, though, and everything important is easy to find. Some folks might miss a touchscreen, but the buttons are reliable and straightforward.
Everyday Usability for Home and Home Office
Connecting to WiFi via the little LCD doesn’t take long, and once it’s set, the printer just works. We didn’t see any drops from computers or phones.
The MegaTank system means you’re not constantly anxious about ink costs. Even after months of heavy printing, ink levels barely moved. It’s a relief not having to ration color prints or worry about running out mid-job.
Daily Performance Highlights:
- Print Speed: 11 ppm for black text
- Quality: Crisp text, vivid color
- Capacity: 100-sheet tray fits most home office needs
On big print jobs, the printer sometimes pauses for a breather. At 13.2 pounds, it’s not something you’ll want to move around a lot. For regular home printing, scanning, and copying, it’s consistent and doesn’t hit you with surprise ink expenses.
Pros and Cons
After living with this printer, here’s what really stood out:
Pros
Cost-effective printing is the big win. The refillable tanks last ages—even after hundreds of pages, the ink barely budged.
Setup is easy if you follow the instructions. WiFi connects fine, though the small LCD means you need a bit of patience.
Print quality is solid—text is sharp, colors look good, and it handles both documents and photos well.
All-in-one versatility is handy. Having print, scan, and copy in one small box saves space and covers most needs.
Cons
Performance dips show up with big jobs. Sometimes it stalls or needs a restart when handling lots of pages.
Speed isn’t amazing. It’s fine for regular home use, but not for high-volume printing.
It’s a bit noisy, though nothing too distracting.
No duplex printing means you’ll flip pages yourself for double-sided jobs.
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Value | Excellent |
| Setup | Good |
| Print Quality | Good |
| Speed | Fair |
| Reliability | Good |
If you want to save on ink and don’t mind slower speeds, the G3270 is a solid pick. Heavy users may hit the occasional hiccup, but the cost savings are tough to beat.
Customer Reviews
Digging through customer feedback, the G3270 gets a lot of love for its cheap ink system. People mention printing hundreds of pages without making a dent in the tanks—finally, a solution to the classic inkjet headache.
Common Positives:
- Setup: Most people find it easy enough
- Print quality: Good text and color on various paper
- Long-term savings: Big drop in ongoing costs
Notable Concerns:
- Occasional jams: Some report issues with big print batches
- WiFi setup: The small screen can be a pain
- Speed: Not the fastest, but noise is manageable
Those switching from expensive cartridge models seem happiest. The anxiety of running out of ink is pretty much gone, which is a big plus for anyone who prints a lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
After spending time with this MegaTank printer, we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions buyers ask. These insights come from real-world testing and user experiences.
What are the key features of the Canon G3270 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer?
The G3270 is all about its refillable ink tank system—honestly, that’s the main attraction here. The tanks are generous, letting you print up to 6,000 black and white pages or 7,700 color pages before you even think about refilling.
There’s a 1.35-inch LCD screen, which is small but gets the job done for basic tasks. It covers the usual trio: print, scan, and copy. Wireless connectivity worked fine for us after setup, though it took a bit of fiddling at first.
Key specifications:
- Print resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi for both color and black
- Print speeds: 11 ppm for black, 6 ppm for color
- Paper capacity: 100 sheets in, 100 sheets out
- Weight: 13.2 pounds
How does the print quality of the Canon G3270 compare to other printers in its class?
Print quality turned out better than expected. Text is crisp—no smudging or fuzziness. Colors pop enough for most uses, though they’re not wildly saturated.
Photos look detailed on proper photo paper, thanks to that 4800 x 1200 resolution. We did spot some faint banding on big blocks of color, but honestly, that’s pretty standard for this price point.
Stacked up against other tank printers, the G3270 holds its ground. It’s right up there with Epson EcoTank models we’ve tried. Regular cartridge printers might be a hair sharper with photos, but for everyday stuff, you probably won’t notice.
Can the Canon G3270 handle high-volume printing tasks efficiently?
We pushed the G3270 through a range of print jobs. For typical home or light office use, it keeps up just fine. The big ink tanks mean you won’t be refilling every week.
When we tried longer, heavy-duty runs, though, the printer did start to slow down or pause here and there. It’s clear this isn’t built for marathon business printing.
Volume considerations:
- Best for: Daily docs, homework, the odd photo
- Limitations: Not ideal for constant, high-volume tasks
- Tip: Give it a breather between big batches to avoid hiccups
What connectivity options are available with the Canon G3270?
Wireless setup took us around 10 minutes with the LCD—could’ve been faster, but it worked. The Wi-Fi connection stayed solid during our tests.
There’s a USB port if you want to plug straight in. We also tried the Canon app for phone printing, which was pretty straightforward after the initial install.
Connections:
- Wi-Fi (main option)
- USB (one port)
- Mobile app for iOS and Android
Wireless range seemed decent—we printed from across the house without losing connection.
How user-friendly is the Canon G3270 for setup and daily operations?
Getting everything ready took about half an hour, mostly because of the ink filling and that first priming cycle. It’s not hard, just a bit tedious the first time.
Once you’re set up, daily use is easy enough. The LCD is tiny, so navigating menus can be a little slow, but all the main features are there. The buttons are responsive and clearly marked.
Setup steps:
- Unbox and fill the ink
- Run the priming cycle (plan for 15-20 minutes)
- Connect to Wi-Fi
- Install the software and print a test page
The compact screen does slow things down a bit, but you won’t get lost—the basics are all within reach.
What are the ongoing ink costs associated with the Canon G3270?
This is where the G3270 really stands out. Replacement ink bottles are way cheaper than those old-school cartridges. We worked it out to about $0.001 per black page and $0.005 per color page—pretty wild, right?
Cost breakdown:
- Black ink bottle: Usually $13-15 (gets you around 6,000 pages)
- Color ink bottles: About $10-12 each (together, roughly 7,700 pages)
- Annual savings: Could be a few hundred bucks if you print a lot
The ink that came in the box lasted us three months with moderate use. Folks who print heavily say they can go 6-12 months before needing a refill. Honestly, compared to the cartridge printers we’ve tried, the savings are hard to ignore.
