If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a document that needed scanning or a file that desperately needed printing, you understand the frustration. In a world increasingly reliant on digital workflows, the need for a physical touchpoint – whether it’s a printed report, a copied form, or a scanned signature – is still remarkably common. Without a reliable device to handle these tasks, simple processes can become time-consuming hurdles, potentially delaying important deadlines or requiring inconvenient trips to a print shop. Having a versatile Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer, or at least a solid all-in-one printer from this category, would have definitely streamlined things considerably.
- With wireless connect and the Canon Print app, Use your smartphone to quickly and easily set up your printer and Print right from your smartphone or tablet.
- With features like Air Print, Morea Print service, auto power on/off, A built-in ADF, and Wi-Fi - it's easy to see why PIXMA printers are so simple to use.
- Connectivity Technology: USB. Printer technology: inkjet
What to Keep in Mind Before Purchasing an All-in-One Printer
Seeking out an all-in-one printer usually stems from a need for convenience and versatility within a confined space, whether that’s a home office, a student’s dorm room, or a small business setting. These devices are designed to consolidate printing, scanning, copying, and often faxing into a single unit, saving valuable desk real estate and potentially reducing costs compared to buying separate machines.
The ideal customer for a wireless all in one printer is typically someone with light to moderate printing needs, primarily focused on documents, occasional copies, and maybe scanning. They value the ability to print wirelessly from various devices – laptops, smartphones, tablets – and appreciate features that automate simple tasks like scanning multi-page documents. This category is excellent for general home use, school projects, or managing basic paperwork for a small operation.
However, an all-in-one printer isn’t the right fit for everyone. If you require high-volume printing on a daily basis, the slower speeds and potentially higher per-page ink costs of many inkjet all-in-ones might become prohibitive. Professionals needing extremely high-quality photo prints or colour accuracy for design work should look into dedicated photo printers or professional-grade machines, as general-purpose all-in-ones often compromise on photo output vibrancy and detail. Similarly, if your primary need is heavy-duty scanning with advanced features, a dedicated scanner might be a better investment.
Before purchasing, consider your primary usage: mostly text documents, photos, or a mix? How frequently will you print? Do you need wireless connectivity or is USB sufficient? What operating systems and devices (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) do you use? Are features like an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) or automatic duplex printing essential? Don’t forget to research the cost and availability of replacement ink cartridges, as this is often the most significant long-term expense. Finally, consider the physical size of the printer and where it will fit in your workspace.
- The sleek and modern design of the selphy cp1500 is reflected in how easy it is to use even with powerful features such as wi-fi and smartphone connectivity
- Print, Copy, Scan: The PIXMA TS3720 is a true colour printer scanner copier all in one that is compact, versatile and easy-to-use with a 60 sheet rear tray that reduces the need to refill paper as...
- Print & Charge: With the Kodak Dock Plus photo printer, you can dock and charge your phone and print your favorite photos instantly. Kodak Dock Plus is compatible with Apple iPhone, iPad & Android...
Introducing the Canon PIXMA TR4520
The Canon PIXMA TR4520 presents itself as a compact and affordable all in one printer designed for the modern home or small office. This inkjet device in white promises straightforward setup and operation, particularly emphasizing its wireless capabilities and compatibility with mobile devices and smart assistants like Alexa. When you purchase the Canon PIXMA TR4520, it typically includes the printer unit, a set of starter ink cartridges (PG-243/CL-244), a power cord, a setup CD, and sometimes sample photo paper.
Compared to high-end or professional printers, the Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer positions itself as an entry-level, budget-friendly option. It’s not competing with robust office workhorses or photo lab quality printers but rather aims to provide essential multi-functionality without breaking the bank. It’s specifically tailored for users who need basic printing, copying, scanning, and occasional faxing, with a strong leaning towards convenience via wireless and mobile connections. It is generally *not* recommended for users requiring high-quality photo output, vibrant colour printing for creative projects, or those with extremely high printing volume demands.
Here’s a quick look at its pros and cons:
Pros:
* Wireless connectivity and mobile printing options (Canon Print app, AirPrint, Mopria).
* Compact design makes it suitable for small spaces.
* Includes an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning/copying.
* Automatic duplex (two-sided) printing saves paper.
* Works with Alexa for voice commands.
* Affordable initial purchase price.
Cons:
* Subpar photo print quality and colour vibrancy.
* Can be prone to paper jams, especially with thicker or specialty media.
* Small, unlit LCD screen is difficult to read.
* Setup, particularly wireless, can be frustrating for some users.
* Starter ink cartridges have low yield, and replacement ink can be relatively expensive for printing volume.
Digging Into Features and Performance
Having spent considerable time utilizing the capabilities of the Canon PIXMA TR4520, I can speak to how its features translate into real-world performance for everyday tasks.
Wireless Connectivity and Mobile Printing
One of the headline features of this wireless printer is its promise of easy connectivity. The PIXMA TR4520 offers Wireless Connect and standard Wi-Fi, alongside a traditional USB port. The idea is that once connected to your home or office network, you can print from virtually any compatible device on the same network without needing physical cables tethering each device to the printer. This is incredibly convenient, allowing you to place the printer in a central location and print from your laptop in another room, or send documents directly from your smartphone or tablet.
Canon promotes setup via their Canon Print app, which ideally guides you through connecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network using your smartphone. When this works smoothly, it’s a breeze, living up to the promise of quick setup. However, based on user experiences, including my own initial struggles, this process isn’t always seamless. Multi-band routers, network security settings, or simply finicky connections can turn setup into a frustrating ordeal. It often requires ensuring your computer or mobile device is connected to the printer’s temporary setup network, then configuring it to join your main network, and potentially troubleshooting band compatibility (the printer prefers the 2.4 GHz band). For someone without much technical savvy, getting this Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer online can take significant time and even require contacting support. While connectivity *after* setup is generally stable, the initial hurdle is a notable downside for a feature meant to simplify things.
Beyond basic wireless printing, the TR4520 supports mobile printing services like Apple’s AirPrint and Mopria Print Service for Android. This means if your device supports these standards, you can often print directly from apps without needing the specific Canon Print app installed, which adds another layer of convenience. The integration with Alexa is a novel touch, allowing you to initiate printing tasks using voice commands, which can be handy for quick prints if you’re already integrated into the Alexa ecosystem.
All-in-One Functionality: Print, Scan, Copy, and Fax
As an “All in One” unit, the Canon PIXMA TR4520 aims to be a jack-of-all-trades for common office tasks.
Printing: Utilizing inkjet technology, it prints both colour and black and white documents. The advertised print speeds are 8.8 images per minute (ipm) for black and white and 4.4 ipm for colour. In practice, these speeds are suitable for light use but are noticeably slower than laser printers or higher-end inkjets, particularly for multi-page colour documents. The maximum print resolution is a respectable 4800 x 1200 dpi, which sounds impressive on paper. For standard text documents on plain paper, the quality is generally good – crisp and clear enough for reports, emails, and forms. However, where the high resolution falls short is with photos. Despite “Photo Printer” being in the name, the Canon PIXMA TR4520 struggles with photo quality. Colours can appear washed out, and details aren’t as sharp as you’d expect from a dedicated photo printer. Some users also report issues with streaking, even after running cleaning cycles, which further degrades image quality. A useful feature is automatic duplex printing, which allows the printer to automatically print on both sides of the page, saving paper without manual intervention.
Scanning: The TR4520 includes both a flatbed scanner and an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). The flatbed is useful for single pages, delicate items, or scanning books, while the 20-sheet ADF is a significant convenience for scanning or copying multi-page documents efficiently without having to manually feed each sheet. The scanner type is listed as Photo and Sheetfed. The copy resolution matches the print resolution at 4800 x 1200 dpi for colour. Scanning quality for documents and basic images is generally adequate for digital archiving or emailing. However, as with printing, scanning photographic prints can result in washed-out colours compared to the original, as noted by some users.
Copying: Copying functionality works in conjunction with the scanner. You can make up to 99 copies of a document. The quality of copies is generally acceptable for everyday use, mirroring the print quality for text and suffering similar limitations for colour images.
Faxing: The PIXMA TR4520 also includes fax capabilities, which is becoming less common but can still be essential for certain home office or small business needs. While not a primary feature for many modern users, its inclusion contributes to the “All in One” versatility.
Design, Usability, and Handling
Physically, the Canon PIXMA TR4520 is quite compact, measuring 29.7cm deep, 43.7cm wide, and 19.1cm high, and weighing 5.9 kg. Its white finish is clean and blends into most home environments. The size is definitely one of its strong points for users with limited space.
The presence of an ADF is a major plus for productivity, making quick work of multi-page scanning or copying jobs that would be tedious on a flatbed alone. The auto power on/off feature is also convenient, allowing the printer to power up automatically when a print job is sent and shut down after a period of inactivity to save energy.
However, usability isn’t without its drawbacks. The control panel includes a small LCD screen, which unfortunately is not backlit. This makes navigating menus difficult in poorly lit conditions, sometimes requiring external light just to see the options. The paper tray, as noted by some users, feels somewhat lightweight and potentially flimsy. While it holds up to 100 sheets, its durability might be a concern with frequent use or rough handling. Paper handling itself can be temperamental. Standard plain paper usually feeds fine, but loading photo paper correctly can take multiple attempts and sometimes leads to jams. More concerning are the reports from users attempting to print on thicker media like cardstock (though one user had success here) or, significantly, specialty papers like sticker paper. Frequent jamming with these media types is a recurring issue, leading to wasted expensive paper and frustration.
Ink System and Running Costs
The Canon PIXMA TR4520 uses a two-cartridge system: one black (PG-243) and one colour (CL-244). The printer comes with starter versions of these cartridges. A common point of frustration across many budget printers, and echoed in reviews for this model, is the low yield of these initial cartridges. They are often not filled to standard capacity and can run out surprisingly quickly, especially if you perform multiple print head cleaning cycles (which consumer-grade inkjets sometimes require to address streaking issues).
For long-term use, buying standard or XL replacement cartridges (PG-245/PG-245 XL for black, CL-246/CL-246 XL for colour) is necessary. While the XL versions offer a better page yield, the cost per page can still be relatively high compared to printers using individual colour cartridges or laser printers, especially if you print colour frequently. The cost of replacement ink is a critical factor to consider, as it quickly surpasses the initial affordable purchase price of the Canon PIXMA TR4520 if you have anything more than very light printing needs. This is particularly true if you encounter issues like jamming or streaking that force you to reprint pages, effectively doubling or tripling your ink usage for those jobs.
Performance with Different Media
The printer’s performance varies significantly depending on the type of paper used. For standard 8.5″ x 11″ plain paper, printing text documents is generally reliable and the quality is crisp enough for professional or academic purposes. The automatic duplex printing works well with this media.
However, printing on photo paper is where the “Photo Printer” designation feels misleading for the Canon PIXMA TR4520. Users report difficulty loading photo paper correctly, frequent jams, and, most significantly, poor image quality with washed-out colours and lack of vibrancy, even when using Canon’s recommended ink. If high-quality photo output is a primary need, this printer will likely disappoint.
Performance with specialty media is mixed. One user had surprisingly good results printing on 92lb cardstock for wedding materials without jams. This suggests it can handle thicker stock to some extent, though its general propensity for jamming means this isn’t guaranteed for everyone or all types of thick paper. On the other hand, users specifically printing on sticker paper (whether matte or glossy vinyl) for crafting businesses consistently report significant jamming issues (every 2-3 attempts) and poor print quality characterized by streaking and faded, dull colours that lack saturation. For crafters relying on vibrant, consistent prints, the TR4520 appears ill-suited and can lead to considerable waste of expensive materials and ink.
What Users Are Saying
Looking around the internet, user feedback for the Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer appears quite mixed, reflecting many of the points discussed. Many users praise its affordability, compact size, and convenience for basic wireless document printing, copying, and scanning. They find it easy to set up for simple tasks and appreciate the mobile connectivity for quick prints. However, a significant number of reviews highlight frustrations, particularly regarding the difficulty of initial wireless setup on complex networks, the poor quality when printing photos or using specialty media like sticker paper (with frequent jamming), and the high cost and fast depletion of ink, especially the included starter cartridges. The small, unlit display is also a common complaint. Overall, the consensus seems to be that it’s a decent, budget-friendly option for very light, general document use, but it falls short for more demanding tasks like photo printing or crafting applications, and initial setup can be challenging for some.
Final Verdict
The need for a reliable printer in today’s digital world is undeniable; tackling paperwork, assignments, or quick copies without one can create unnecessary friction and delays. The complications of not having easy access to printing, scanning, or copying – from rushing to libraries or print shops to missing deadlines – highlight the importance of a functional home setup. The Canon PIXMA TR4520 can be a great fit to solve this problem for a specific type of user. Its compact size, wireless capabilities, and affordable price make it an attractive option for individuals or families needing a basic all-in-one for occasional document printing, copying, and scanning. Its inclusion of an ADF and automatic duplex printing adds valuable convenience features often found on more expensive models. If your needs align with light document printing and the convenience of wireless connectivity without demanding high-quality photo output or consistent performance with specialty media, this Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer could serve you well. To check out the product and see pricing, click here.
Last update on 2025-06-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API