Canon PIXMA MG3120 Pro Reviews

The Canon PIXMA MG3120 is a moderately priced all-in-one inkjet with the added bonuses of photo printing and wireless connectivity. One would think that $80 wouldn't get you good quality prints, but with the Pixma MG3120, you can. The average user wouldn't notice much of a difference between this AIO and other, more expensive models that offer photo printing. The difference with the Pixma MG3120 comes with the amount of features on the control panel, the dual-ink system, the lack of a fax capability, and the slower overall print times. Scans also appear somewhat grainy. Still yet, this is a printer you can give to the kids who need to do schoolwork that needs printing out while also being perfect for at-home photo printing and the like. It also comes with a full set of Canon's photo printing software, so you can work on projects like a calendar, photo album, or compile full HD movie prints. During our tests, the Pixma MG3120 proved to be reliable, too. I never once experienced a paper jam, misalignment or misfeed. Other features include Canon's new FastFront system for easy paper loading and ink installation, mobile printing, a high print resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, and it's Energy Star certified so it'll help you keep that electric bill down while being used.

If the Pixma MG3120 printed images as well preceding Pixmas, we'd have no trouble recommending this model as a photo printer, despite its lack of convenience and productivity features, namely an ADF and support for memory devices. But while this model is a decent photo printer at a bargain-basement price, the photo quality just doesn't stand up to other Pixma models. This model's top appeal is its price, so if that's the main driver behind your purchase, we'd recommend this model over the entry-level Pixma MG2120, which is just $10 cheaper. For those few extra dollars, you get automatic duplexing and Wi-Fi, which are most definitely worth the extra bucks. If you want the best photos you can get, though, we suggest an earlier, slightly more expensive Pixma, such as the $149.99 Pixma MG5320, which uses a five-ink cartridge system and prints all-around better photos.

In our years in San Francisco, we've seen multitudes of inkjet printers, including Canons, left on the sidewalk because of their ridiculous ink prices. In some cases, buying a new printer with fresh ink costs no more than buying replacement cartridges for a model you already own. Despite the Canon Pixma MG3120's competence in multiple areas, its high ink prices make it difficult to recommend. Instead, consider the Epson Stylus NX430 or the Brother MFC-J430W.