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Canon PIXMA G620 Review

A standout printer for those wanting to print a high volume of quality photos with a very low cost per photo
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Canon PIXMA G620 Review
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Price:  $330 List
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Manufacturer:   Canon
By Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige  ⋅  Aug 23, 2024
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 11
  • Color Prints - 35% 8.0
  • Black and White Prints - 35% 7.0
  • Print Capabilities - 15% 7.0
  • Operating Cost - 10% 10.0
  • Set-up - 5% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Canon PIXMA G620 is one of the best printers we've tested when it comes to value, with a low cost of only 12 cents per photo. This tank printer produced high-quality photos and was relatively simple to set up and use. It can print a max width of 8.5 inches and up to 47 inches long. We would've liked to be able to make prints larger than 8x10, but for many folks, we know this won't be a dealbreaker. Anyone looking to print a high volume of photos will be very satisfied with the operating cost, which is why we crown this model as one of the best photo printers out there.
REASONS TO BUY
High-quality photos
Low cost per print
Ink lasts a long time
REASONS TO AVOID
No enclosed paper storage
Small max paper width
Lacks SD card reader

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canon pixma g620
This Product
Canon PIXMA G620
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Value for High Volume Printing
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Photo Printer
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Best Value for Wide Format Prints
Top Pick Award
Best for Easy 4" x 6" Prints
Top Pick Award
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Bottom Line This printer delivers high-volume, great-quality photos at a delightfully low cost per printIf you're in the market for a full-size printer, this relatively inexpensive unit is a decent option, with the main drawback being the set-upThis printer yields high-quality images at a reasonable priceA compact and user-friendly printer that punches above its weight class, printing clear photosPortable, reliable, and fun to use - this printer delivers in nearly every way
Rating Categories Canon PIXMA G620 Canon PIXMA Pro-200 Epson Expression HD... Canon Selphy CP1500 Canon IVY 2 Mini
Color Prints (35%)
8.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
4.0
Black and White Prints (35%)
7.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
Print Capabilities (15%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
4.0
3.0
Operating Cost (10%)
10.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
Set-up (5%)
7.0
5.0
5.0
9.0
9.0
Specs Canon PIXMA G620 Canon PIXMA Pro-200 Epson Expression HD... Canon Selphy CP1500 Canon IVY 2 Mini
Cost Per Print $0.05 $0.38 $0.45 $0.43 $0.50
Measured Print Time 157 seconds 66 seconds 34 seconds 57 seconds 30 seconds
Max Photo Dimensions 8.5" x 47" 13" x 39" 13" x 44" 4" x 6" 2" x 3"
Print Resolution 4800 x 1200 dpi 4800 x 2400 dpi 5760 x 1440 dpi 300 x 300 dpi 313 x 512 dpi
Printing Technology Inkjet Inkjet (Theromal DOD) Inkjet (Piezo DOD) 4PASS
Dye Sublimation Thermal Transfer
ZINK™ (Zero Ink)
Color Palette (ink cartridges) Gray, Black, Red, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Black, Gray, Light Gray, Cyan, Photo Cyan, Magenta, Photo Magenta, Yellow Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Gray, Red Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, and Laminated coating N/A
Measured Dimensions 17.2" x 12.5" x 5.8" 25" x 14.6" x 7.8" 6.3" x 18.7" x 14.5" 7.2" x 11.6" x 2.3" 5" x 3.3" x 1"
Connectivity Hi-Speed USB
Wi-Fi
Wireless PictBridge
Hi-Speed USB
Wi-Fi
Wireless PictBridge
Ethernet
Hi-Speed USB
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Direct
Ethernet
Wi-Fi
PictBridge (Wireless & USB)
Hi-Speed USB
Memory Card
Bluetooth
Memory cards supported No No No Yes No
LCD screen Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Ink type Dye-based Dye-based Dye-based N/A N/A
Scanner Yes No No No No
Battery No No No Optional - sold separately Yes
Operating system requirements Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 SP1
macOS v10.12.6 - 10.15
Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 SP1, Mac OS X v10.11.6 - macOS v10.15, 14 iOS, Android, Windows 10 Mobile Windows 10 8/8.1/Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Windows Vista (32-bit , 64-bit)
Mac OS X 10.6.8 — macOS 10.12.x6
Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 SP1
Mac OS X v10.10.5 — macOS v10.12
Compatible OS
iOS: 12.0 or later
Android™: 6.0 or later
Touch Screen No No No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Canon PIXMA G620 really shines in its ability to print a lot of photos without breaking the bank. The ink tank design means you don't have to fiddle with ink cartridges and that the ink will last you a long time. This is a great benefit if you plan to heavily use your photo printer.

Performance Comparison


canon pixma g620 - the canon pixma g620 has a very low cost per print and is great for...
The Canon PIXMA G620 has a very low cost per print and is great for high volume printing.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Color Prints


Not surprisingly, the quality of your prints is of utmost importance. In this metric, we're looking at the color accuracy, resolution, and general quality of the print. And to really dive deep, we broke the performance category of our test into color and black and white. During testing, we realized that some printers do a better job with one or the other.


The G620 scored above average in the color print test. Our testers repeatedly remarked that all of the color images displayed “great detail.” The images were generally quite crisp, with beautiful, vibrant colors. A few of the images leaned a bit towards magenta, but all were still acceptable. It is worth noting that photos of people with lighter skin had a yellowish hue, for which we deducted some points.


Compared to the highest-quality printers, the G620 had a bit of fuzziness on large-printed backgrounds. But for the most part, we found that the highlights printed well, and the details were clear.

canon pixma g620 - this printer created some of the best color images in our testing.
This printer created some of the best color images in our testing.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

In order to analyze the exact level of clarity up close, we viewed the various photos printed by the PIXMA G620 through a microscope. Click through the images below to get a close-up view of the finite details produced by the G620.

Taking a closer look.
Taking a closer look.
Light skin was given a warmer hue.
Light skin was given a warmer hue.
The PIXMA is able to detect the smallest of details, such as the...
The PIXMA is able to detect the smallest of details, such as the color of tiny petals on flowers shot from a distance.

Black and White Prints


For this section of the test, we not only look at grayscale accuracy, but overall photo quality, clarity, and how well it matches the image. The G620 still did well here but lost a bit more quality.


For the black and white test, the Canon G620 scored above average, but there were a few models that did as well or better. We found this printer was able to hit a large range of grays, though there was a bit of a magenta hue to some large gray areas. That said, the general quality, clarity, and accuracy were very good, as you can see in the photo below.

canon pixma g620 - the canon pixma creates fairly sharp black and white prints.
The Canon PIXMA creates fairly sharp black and white prints.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Print Capabilities


For the capabilities analysis, we consider the print dimensions, print speed, paper capacity, number of ink cartridges, and diversity of print media that the model will accommodate. The G620 offers a lot of versatility and, thus, does well in this metric.


The Canon G620 can accommodate a variety of paper sizes. It can print on paper up to 47 inches long, but the max width is 8.5 inches. This is okay for most uses, but we were disappointed not to be able to print on something larger than an 8"x10".


The G620 stands out for its snail's pace when it comes to print speed. It was among the slowest printers we tested, with a 4x6" image taking 2.5 minutes. That's more than double what most other printers deliver. Depending on your use, this may not be an issue, but if you need to guarantee a high-volume output in a short period of time, this printer may not be the best pick.

The Canon PIXMA G620 prints at a glacial pace.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Operating Cost


The long-term operating cost, or cost per print, is very important when choosing a printer. And this is where the Canon PIXMA G620 really shines.


Thanks to its tank ink design, it has an incredibly low cost per print. Each print costs just five cents, which is significantly lower than our average of 42 cents. It's also much lower than what you could expect to pay at an online chain. So if high-volume, low-cost is what you're after this printer simply can't be beat.


It also falls in the middle ground for the upfront cost of purchase. That means overall, this is a solid budget pick. And, considering its low cost per print, it won't take too many images before it becomes cheaper in the long run than other similar printers.

The PIXMA was relatively easy to set up.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Set-up


Once you get your new printer you're going to want to use it, and quickly. Here, we look at how long it takes to set up the printer both physically and network connection-wise. The G620 was a solid performer here, and it was relatively easy to set up.


This is an ink tank printer, so you don't need to mess with ink cartridges. Instead, you simply open the fill station and pour ink directly into the reservoirs. The ink bottles are designed to mate snugly to the printer, so you don't have to worry about making a mess or accidentally overfilling. All in all, we actually found this process to be less messy than traditional hand-staining ink cartridges.

Refilling the ink tanks on the Canon PIXMA G620 is a painless process.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Upon unboxing, you will have to install the print heads and fill the ink reservoirs. This is a simple step, but it still takes a few minutes. We appreciated that each color had a unique groove pattern to prevent you from accidentally putting the wrong ink in a given reservoir.

It took about 25 minutes to get this printer set up and ready to roll, plus an additional 10 minutes for the software setup steps to be completed. There is not an app for this printer, but you can connect via WiFi, HiSpeed USB, or Wireless PictBridge.

Should You Buy the Canon PIXMA G620?


The G620 is a notably good printer. It's an absolute standout for a low cost per print and, therefore, an excellent choice for anyone who plans to print a lot of images. We also liked that it can accommodate a large variety of paper sizes and that you don't have to worry about ink running out very often. It may not have the absolute best photo quality, but it reliably delivers very clear and vibrant images that remain accurate to the original.

What Other Photo Printers Should You Consider?


If you want the absolute best photo quality and are willing to pay a higher upfront cost and cost per print, then the Canon PIXMA Pro-200 can't be beat. On the other end of the size spectrum, the Canon Ivy Mini 2 is for those who might like a pocket-sized printer that guarantees cute images and fun memories for your scrapbook or collage.

Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige