Canon MG5420 Ink
PIXMA MG5420 Ink Cartridges

Canon MG5420 Printer Review

With the Canon PIXMA MG5420 all-in-one inkjet, the manufacturer raised the bar for output quality in an inexpensive model, with very few features sacrificed. It lacks wired networking and a document feeder, but ESAT print speeds are up to 15 images per minute in black and 10 images per minute in color. The 5-color Canon MG5420 ink system can be a little expensive, however.

A few tradeoffs were made for the MG5420's low price. It doesn't include an ethernet port, for example, but its wireless networking is stellar. It also lacks faxing or an automatic document feeder, two features that the average home user probably won't miss. Added features like Apple's AirPrint and Google Cloud Print add functionality that may help make up for the missing features.

The unit can handle a wide variety of media such as glossy photo paper, matte photo paper, and more, and it can even print on CDs and DVDs to create custom, full-color labels for discs. Automatic duplexing makes two-sided printing quick and easy, and the main paper tray can hold an adequate 125 sheets or plain paper, and even 20 4x6-inch photo sheets. Draft modes can help conserve PIXMA MG5420 ink with a slight reduction in quality.

The addition of pigment black printer ink means one more Canon MG5420 ink cartridge to replace, but the additional cost isn't terrible. Overall, PIXMA MG5420 ink cartridges are fairly affordable, and the high-quality output will be worth it for buyers who want excellent photo printing results. Third-party printer ink is somewhat difficult to find, thanks to Canon's microchip protection.

For an affordable all-in-one inkjet printer, the MG5420 has more features than one might expect. Its output quality is sharp, print speeds are fast, and the cost of Canon MG5420 ink won't break small budgets.