Canon PIXMA G6020 All-in-One Supertank Wireless (Megatank) Printer, Copier and Scan with Mobile Printing, Black, Works with Alexa

I needed to replace an old Canon PIXMA printer that had failed with a cryptic error. My criteria for a new printer were: "mega" tanks -- even though my ink cost wasn't terrible high, but the individual price of cartridges was irritating Both a front cassette and a rear feed for paper. It is a mistake to assume that a printer has both. Suggestions that envelopes and photo paper would be put in the cassette seemed ridiculous for my needs. A flatbed scanner. I own a separate autofeed scanner. WIFI connections, and compatability with Apple AirPrint, and Chromebook printing. The Canon G6020 had all of those items plus: Two sided printing, auto "off" with network wake up, a 250 sheet cassette, and USB and LAN cable connectors. It also seems to have sensors for everything; for example, when either the cassette is inserted, or paper is added to the rear feed, the printer prompts for paper size verification. (Fortunately, the prompt for paper size and type can be turned off.) The printer also comes with what must be an almost a lifetime's supply of black ink. Photo printing is very good, though slow on "best" photo mode. The printer has can present a net "home page" for many setup and status functions; the default password is its serial number. Cons: The LCD screen is tiny and dark. At the very least, it should have a back light. I found the LCD Menus are confusing. Setup can be a little confusing. I ended up using the manual mode for configuring the WIFI connection. (Thank goodness for WPS, entering a password on the LCD would have been problematic) There is a cautionary notice warning to transport the printer upright lest some ink were to spill. The tanks seem well capped, and probably wouldn't leak, but I am not about to test it. Summary, Once setup and connect, the printer is great. It is definitely fast enough for home use and all of the printing that I have done has been sharp and unbanded. The black ink is pigment based and seems to be waterproof; the color, dye based, and will bleed slightly when water is applied. A major consumer magazine down-rated this model compared to others costing significantly more, and oft times having fewer features; most of the magazine's quibbles seem simply wrong in this case. Replacement ink from Canon on Amazon seems extremely reasonably priced ($17 for 170ml / 5.75oz of black ink, $11 for the 70ml of color ink.) Added Note: Others had complained, and I encountered... I had an issues with the printer's wifi connection, which I believe that I have resolved. My router was set to use a "smart" choice between 2.4 & 5Ghz (both using the same SSID) for device communication. I suspect that this was causing problems with the printer's 2.4Ghz only network chip. The problem seemed to clear up when I disabled the "smart" feature on the router; nonetheless, I decided to run a cable from the router to the printer and change the printer's LAN setting to use that. I have had no problems since. Though I am not using a mesh router, I could see this being a problem with some of those too.

I received this printer recently. It was extremely well packaged. Set up was a breeze except I found the method of entering the password to grant it access my wireless network to be pretty laborious. Fortunately my 28 character password only contains a mix of numbers and upper case letters it made it somewhat easier. The printer came with one each bottle of cyan, magenta and yellow ink, as well as three bottle of black ink, of which only one is needed to fill that tank. Each tank is designed to hold the full contents of each bottle, so no worries about over filling and having ink run all over the printer. Care should be taken when lifting the empty bottle up from the tank to ensure no ink drips onto the printer. I did have a problem with the Canon printing program that came with the printer. When using it to print photos, both the version that came with the included CD as well as one I downloaded from Canon's web site refused to print a photo. Each time I tried I got an error message saying "A problem occurred while printing". That's it. No error code, no clue to help track down the problem, nothing. Fortunately my graphic editing programs work with the printer so I can print photos. The photos are excellent. To my eye the colors are true to form. I've printed on 8x11 photo paper with no problem. I didn't bother to time how long they took to print, let's just say less then a minute each. Text documents come out nice and crisp. Photo paper is loaded into a feed tray on the back of the printer. I think it holds about 10 sheets at a time. I really can't recall. The front Control panel does flip up and must be in this position in order for the printer to work. The printer has a relatively small foot print and doesn't take up much room on my computer desk. Over all I'm very happy with this choice. I had a Kodak ESP3 printer that worked fine until I upgraded my operating system to Windows 10. After that Windows no longer detected my printer and Kodak stopped supporting that series so I could find no new drivers for the printer. As soon as I connected the Canon to my network, Windows hit on it right away. A word of warning. If you intend to connect this printer to your computer via USB, it does NOT come with the required cable, so be sure to order that at the same time.

I've historically been a big fan of Canon's printers. I bought a Pixma model printer back in 2007, and it lasted until a few months ago. I loved the idea of this model's ink tanks. I purchased this particular Pixma in May 2022. I carefully followed each step of the instructions for setting up the wifi link between my laptop and the printer, and it all worked great. I haven't done a ton of printing since then, so I can't say too much about the print quality. It seems like I'm seeing some lines in the printed pages that my old printer didn't have. Also, the photos I printed seemed to be muted in color compared to my old printer. But I would need to do more printing and comparing to say too much. It basically was working good enough for the small uses I had put it to so far. Fast toward to this last Sunday when I replaced my wifi (because Comcast made me--the threat being to replace or lose my internet service). With the new wifi device, the laptop could not send jobs to the printer. So, I once again carefully followed the instructions to connect my laptop to the printer. This process involves downloading Canon software and running it. I did got the software again, and I followed the instructions exactly. As part of the process, at one point, Canon disables the internet access on the computer. It's supposed to be temporary while the software finds the printer. Only what ended up happening is that the software couldn't find the printer, told me to consult the manual, then closed WITHOUT RESTORING INTERNET. What I mean by not restoring the internet is that the router device no longer appeared anywhere on my computer. The router was still working and my computer could find all my neighbor's wifi's, but Windows did not even include my wifi router in the list of possible options to pick. Of course, I tried to call Canon support and they REFUSED TO EVEN TALK TO ME. They will not even put an agent on the phone unless you have a Canon web account. Requiring anyone to turn over personal data to provide support for their own defective device is completely unacceptable--even if I could have created such an account. But I could not create such an account. I did not have ANY internet access. (I don't own a cell phone.) Their automated system just hung up on me no matter what I said or tried. So I had to call local technical support, who could only fix this type of problem in my home. Which means paying a higher fee for an in-home visit. Canon broke my computer, and it cost me $125 to get it fixed. And the fix only cost $125 because I had a really good tech person come out. This was such a tough problem that I think it would have taken someone else a lot longer to figure out. Canon owes me that $125. Who thinks they will pay it? Bad Canon. Bad. Bad software. Zero support. Zero willingness to fix their mistakes. So-so printer.

Great Printer but found it 20.00 cheaper the week after I received it. The print quality is laser sharp. Just amazed at how fast it works in BW mode. Only complaint is the display screen is cheap and simple and difficult to read. A more colorful larger screen would really improve the product.

UPDATE TWO YEARS LATER: Continues to work flawlessly. I still have not had to add ink after two years of frequent usage! One small problem was that the black ink quit printing three days ago. After doing two deep cleanings using the maintenance option, selecting the black ink only option, it finally printed perfectly in black again. I have only had it a day, so here are my immediate impressions: THE BAD STUFF #1-The manual they give you with this is so ridiculous you can just throw it away and go on Youtube. The teensy weensy pictographs are so impossible to see any details. I had to go on Youtube to see how those C&B printer heads snapped into place. Those universal wordless manuals are such a pain. Why not make them in printed English? And make the pictograph instructions bigger and more detailed for clarity for heaven's sake! #2- It's nowhere near as luxurious as my ten-year-old plus Canon Pixma MG5300 with the indispensable auto-flip-out print tray to catch my printouts when they are finished. The G6000 has a cheap manual pull-out tray not much wider than a horse's tongue. Because of the manually extended paper catcher, the printer takes up a lot of space, so I cannot leave it sticking out for fear of someone brushing against it as they pass by and breaking it. Since the printer sits across the room, I have to run to the printer to pull out the paper catcher, wait for it to finish, then close the paper catcher so it won't get bumped. With my (very old) MG5300, which still works perfectly by the way, all I had to do was close the front door which is the paper catcher, after retrieving the printout. #3- Tiny LCD screen that is not backlighted and very difficult to see. THE GOOD STUFF #1- It was easy connecting it wirelessly. I did it from the printer's control panel in less than 45 seconds. #2- The ink is so darn cheap in comparison. I just spent $95.00 for the color (CMY) and black ink cartridges for my MG5300, and that's every 5 months, and I don't do much printing. #3- It prints very nicely. For the price, it is well worth it. If it lasts as long as my old Canon MG5300 I bought in 2012 I will be happy. Eleven years of flawless work and still going in another office! Canon builds them strong.

I just received a PIXMA G6020 from Amazon and wanted to provide some information given the disparity of reviews I saw prior to making the purchase. This review is only about the initial process of setting up and printer performance. Set up Some of the reviews mentioned difficulty in setting up wirelessly, and I thought I might provide some details for potential consumers. First, Canon still provides a hard copy step-by-step instruction booklet which is helpful. Within the booklet are scan codes that can be followed or a web address to see a sequence of photographs that walk you through the setup process. I used this because some of the pictures in the manual were difficult to discern, but the photographs were very clear. Once the machine is set up and plugged in (no cables attached to any computers), Canon provides a web address which is very clean and easy to negotiate. A clearly marked “set up” button takes you to a page where you select the kind of machine you have. You’re supposed to enter some letters, but none of these are PIXMA. That was a bit confusing, but scrolling down you can see a G020 button and clicking on that opens up a window with a start button and a picture of the printer so there can be no confusion. Clicking on the start button begins the process of setting up from the pictures I mentioned above to downloading the drivers and joining the printer to the wireless network available in your home. The process went very smoothly with little input from me until an error message appeared which was associated with my Internet security system blocking the printer from the network. Importantly, there is a window from Canon during the setup process that warns you of this before it happened. As a quick aside, the hard copy manual was clearly adjusted to include anticipated problems people might have because there are several places where warnings about problems (both Windows and Mac) occur with suggested resolutions. I was impressed by that because often a set of documents are prepared and released without any consideration of problems consumers might have on their different systems. Anyhow, clearing the security issue, the download completed, and the printer was available on my computer already set up as the default. The wireless connection to my home network worked great. As I headed downstairs away from the printer and our router to our second computer, the process went equally well and again the printer was available for function on the second machine. Scanning Canon provides “IJ Scan Utility” as a rudimentary scanning software that allows you to direct the printer to scan documents or photographs. If you are scanning documents, multiple sequential scans are permitted (no document feeder, so you have to change the scanned pages yourself). These are combined into the same PDF when you save them. Both documents and images are by default loaded into a default Windows temporary documents folder which gratefully pops open when you are done. Otherwise, you would have no idea where your documents or images went. That’s a bit of a drawback because I could not find a way to change the default download folder, but since it opens, a quick drag-and-drop remedies the situation. Printing and copying I agree with the other reviewers that the panel on the printer should’ve been backlit because it’s hard to read. Printing quality is good and fast, although I did not try any pictures. The copying function is simple as well. Just put the document on the scanner and click either the “black” or “color” button on the panel of the printer itself to produce a copy of the document. Bottom line At least initially, this machine was exactly as advertised. It was straightforward and easy to set up, contained warnings and resolutions where they expected you might have trouble and then produced high quality printed documents. Some may not like that you have to interact with Canon via the web to get everything set up wirelessly, but to me it seemed like a really good way to ensure the process went smoothly which was the case for me. Hope this helps everyone if you’ve been on the fence about what printer to buy given the many bad reviews that this and less expensive printers have. So far, this one completely met my expectations. If the machine fails in the future, I will update the review.

Review: Canon PIXMA G6020 MegaTank – A High-Value, Low-Cost Printing Solution Quick Summary The Canon PIXMA G6020 is a robust "supertank" printer that trades the convenience of cheap up-front costs for incredible long-term savings. The initial setup requires patience—specifically regarding tape removal and print head installation—but the payoff is a machine that prints at a fraction of the cost of a laser printer. With sharp text, quality photo output, and a massive ink supply included in the box, it is an ideal choice for those who want to stop worrying about the high price of replacement cartridges. Detailed Experience & Technical Observations Unboxing and Setup Caution When you first open the box, pay close attention to the inner lids; they contain vital diagrams for locating all the components. The setup requires some manual assembly: • Print Heads: The printer uses two print heads that resemble standard inkjet cartridges. One is tucked near the power cord in the top styrofoam, and the other is located underneath near the ink bottles. • Critical Tape Removal: There is a significant amount of protective tape. Most importantly, when you lift the top to access the print head carriage, there is a strip running the length of the interior. You must remove this very slowly. Pulling too fast can leave a fiberglass-like residue behind, which can interfere with the orange plastic piece that must be fully removed. Ink System and Long-Term Value The "MegaTank" system is impressively clean and easy to fill. Each tank is designed to hold exactly one full bottle of ink. • Capacity: The black tank is larger than the color tanks. Canon includes three bottles of black ink; you will use one for the initial fill, leaving two spares. All three color bottles (CMY) are used entirely during the first fill. • Cost Analysis: Based on my calculations over a projected 4-year period, this printer operates at one-half the cost per page of my laser printer. Even if I were to use only the included ink and then dispose of the printer, it would still be more economical than maintaining a laser printer or a traditional cartridge-based inkjet. Operational Quirks and Software • Control Panel Angle: The control face is adjustable, arching from horizontal to about 45 degrees. A key quirk is that the printer will not function unless the face is tilted at an angle or positioned horizontally; it cannot be left flat/closed during operation. • Power Management: It is important to press the power button and let the printer complete its shutdown cycle before unplugging it. While it can be left on for instant printing, those who print infrequently (like me) may prefer to power it down between uses. • Windows 11 Integration: The software installation was quick and non-intrusive. Unlike many modern printers, the software has not "nagged" me to sign up for subscription services or buy replacement ink—at least not yet. Print Quality and Duplexing • Sharpness: The native print quality is very sharp. Test pages show extremely thin lines with clear white space between them. • Scanning/Copying: Note that while the print engine is high-resolution, the scanner has limits. In my tests, ultra-thin lines that were visible on the original print appeared as solid blocks on the copy. This is expected unless using a specialized high-resolution scan mode. I used the copy feature on the printer. It might have done better if I used the scanner software in the computer where I could choose the resolution. • Auto-Duplex (Two-Sided): The printer handles two-sided printing by feeding the paper, printing one side, then rolling it back in to flip it. In my observations, it appears to print the second page first before finishing with the first page and ejecting the sheet. Paper Handling The front tray 250 sheets of standard paper up to 8.5" x 11" as well as envelopes and odd sizes of paper. For legal paper or heavier media, there is a standing rear feed. This is perfect for cardstock, postcards, and envelopes. Pros and Cons Pros: • Massive Ink Savings: Includes enough ink for roughly 2 years of moderate use (or 3-4 years of low use). • Clean Refills: The bottle-to-tank design prevents spills and messes. • Sharp Output: Excellent clarity for both text and photos. • Non-Intrusive Software: No aggressive sales pitches or "ink-as-a-service" pop-ups (at least not yet.) • Flexible Media: Rear tray allows for thick cardstock that usually jams in front-loading printers. • Large Paper Capacity: The 250-sheet drawer is much larger than typical home inkjets. Cons: • Tedious Setup: Numerous pieces of tape and a delicate internal removal process. • Interface Requirements: The control panel must be angled correctly or the printer throws an error. • Scan Resolution: The default copy/scan mode may not pick up the finest details that the print engine is capable of producing. • No ADF: Lacks an automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning. • The Display: The small, 2-line LCD screen is not backlit, making it very hard to read without a flashlight or bright overhead light. • WIFI: Setting up the WIFI is a bit tricky. I got mine to work, but after a failed attempt or two. I recommend looking for a YouTube video that walks you through step-by-step if you have trouble. Technical Specifications • Print Resolution: Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi for both black and color documents. • Print Speed (ISO): Up to 13.0 ipm (images per minute) in black and 6.8 ipm in color. • First Print Out Time: Approximately 9 seconds for black and 14 seconds for color documents. • Ink System: 4-color Continuous Ink Supply System (CISS) using GI-20 pigment black and dye-based color ink bottles. • Paper Capacity: Total capacity of 350 sheets (250-sheet front cassette plus 100-sheet rear tray). • Scanner Type: Flatbed Contact Image Sensor (CIS) with an optical resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi. • Maximum Document Size: Flatbed scanner supports up to 8.5" x 11.7"; printing supports up to 8.5" x 14" (Legal). • Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Ethernet (100/10 Base-T), and Hi-Speed USB. • Mobile Support: Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, and the Canon PRINT app. • Physical Dimensions: Approximately 15.9" (W) x 14.6" (D) x 7.7" (H) with a weight of 17.8 lbs. • Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 5,000 pages. • Paper Weight Support: Plain paper from 17 to 28 lb; specialty paper up to 53 lb (approx. 200 g/m²). These official specifications from Canon detail the print speed, resolution, ink compatibility, and paper handling of the PIXMA G6020 printer.

UPDATE: 14 weeks after purchase 23373 pages later - The printer died. Coincidentally the Warranty was for 1 year or 20000 pages which ever came first. Not bad I suppose. At about 23000 pages I started getting warnings that the Ink Absorbers were almost full and then I started getting paper jams and 6004 errors. Eventually the 6004 error became permanent and nothing I do will clear it. Factoring in the Printer, Ink, and paper it was about 850 dollars with tax, thats about $0.0363 per page to print. I could have also done it a lot cheaper if I used 3rd party ink and amazon basics paper. 3-star rating still stands as even if it didnt die from 6004, the infamous Ink Waste Absorber 5B00 error was right around the corner. I bought this printer to print a large number of PDFs of old D&D books I bought from DriveThruRPG. This was to basically make my own reprints of books that are now expensive collector items. I've printed just over 4000 pages in the 11 days since I've bought this printer. Its easy to setup using the included CD disk, although a USB cable WAS NOT INCLUDED! You will need to buy or provide your own. I did not use or test the Scanning or Copying capabilities of this printer. I mostly used 20lb or 24lb paper but did experiment with 30lb paper and 100lb card stock. I recommend only using 100lb card stock with the rear loader. The print quality is not too far off of a 6K USD Ricoh laser printer my office has though this Canon printer is obviously much slower. You need to tune the color settings for every picture if you want it to look like it does on screen. Also Inkjet printers are much more sensitive to paper quality and weight compared to laser printers so if you plan to print a lot of nice pictures or art you will need to spend way double on higher quality paper compared to Color Laser printers, though color laser printer toner(ink equivalent) is about 2-3 times more expensive so it balances out a bit. Speaking of Ink, This printer is advertised to get 6K pages per bottle of Black Ink and 7700 pages of color for a set of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow Ink. I went through about 3.25 bottles of Black Ink, 1 bottle of Cyan Ink, 1.3 bottles of Magenta Ink, and 1.1 bottles of Yellow Ink over the course of 4000 pages, This is to say I've needed to refill every Ink in well under the stated claims. You get about HALF(0.5x) the page count or color prints and about one FIFTH(0.2x) the black page prints that is advertised. For most people this printer is fine at $200, but understand the 6020's limitations and look over the print specifications very carefully before buying. The only jams I had were strictly due to not unloading the output tray and were fixed within 5 minutes or less. If you print heavier paper or light paper that warps from being over saturated with ink with pictures or heavy borders, you will want to empty the output tray after 30-40 pages. If you are printer mostly text or things that dont warp paper and are using 20 or 24lb paper you can get away with around 60 to 80 pages in the output tray before it jams up. This is very important to consider when you are printing like a 300 page document. You cannot just print it and walk away for 6 hours unless you dont mind it jamming up and canceling the print after 30-80 pages depending on what you are printing.