There’s a familiar feeling of dread that sinks in when you realize you need to print something urgently. It might be a last-minute school assignment for your child, a crucial tax form, or a shipping label for a package that has to go out today. You hit “Print,” and… nothing. Or worse, a cryptic error message flashes, the ink is suddenly empty despite minimal use, or the Wi-Fi connection has mysteriously vanished. For years, my home office was a graveyard of bulky, unreliable printers that promised convenience but delivered only frustration. The search for a compact, wireless, and affordable all-in-one printer that *just works* is a modern-day quest for many of us, and it’s what led me to take a hard look at the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer, a device that aims to be the simple solution for all our home printing, scanning, and copying needs.
- 4800 x 1200 maximum colour dpi produces incredible quality and detail
- Print documents and web pages with fast speeds of 9.9 images per minute (ipm) for black and 5.7 images per minute (ipm) for colour.
What to Consider Before Buying an Inkjet Printer for Your Home
An Inkjet Printer is more than just an item on your desk; it’s a key solution for bridging the digital and physical worlds. In an increasingly remote-first environment, it’s the tool that turns a digital file into a signed contract, a downloaded worksheet into a tangible learning tool, or a cherished photo into a permanent memory. The primary benefit is versatility. Unlike single-function devices, an all-in-one like this one can handle printing, high-resolution scanning, and quick copying, consolidating multiple office functions into a single, space-saving footprint. For families, students, and small home offices, this consolidation is not just convenient—it’s essential for maintaining an organized and efficient workspace.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing occasional but varied printing needs. Think of the university student who needs to print essays, scan textbook chapters, and copy research notes. Or the home-based professional who prints invoices, scans receipts for expense reports, and copies contracts. It’s for the family that needs to print school projects, vacation photos, and concert tickets. However, this type of cartridge-based inkjet printer might not be suitable for those who print in high volume, such as a busy office or a small business that produces hundreds of marketing flyers a week. For them, the recurring cost of ink cartridges can quickly become prohibitive, and a laser printer or a supertank inkjet model would be a more economical alternative in the long run.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Home office real estate is precious. The Canon PIXMA MG3620 boasts a compact footprint (30.5 x 45 x 15.2 cm), designed to fit on a small desk or shelf. Before buying any printer, measure your intended space, ensuring you leave enough room for paper loading at the front and for the lid to open fully for scanning.
- Performance & Connectivity: Performance isn’t just about speed; it’s about reliability. Look at print speeds (measured in ipm, or images per minute), but also consider the wireless connectivity. Does it support stable Wi-Fi? Can you easily print from your phone, tablet, and laptop? The MG3620’s wireless capability is a major selling point, but its reliability is a critical factor we tested extensively.
- Ink System & Long-Term Cost: This is arguably the most important factor. The MG3620 uses a two-cartridge system (one black, one tri-color). While the upfront cost of the printer is low, the cost-per-page is determined by the price and yield of its replacement cartridges (PG-245 & CL-246). Contrast this with ink tank systems, which have a higher initial cost but drastically lower long-term running costs.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A printer should simplify your life, not complicate it. How intuitive is the setup process? Is the software user-friendly? Does the device have a clear display for error messages? The MG3620 forgoes a display screen, relying on blinking lights and app notifications, which can be a significant point of frustration for some users.
Understanding these factors will help you decide if a budget-friendly model like the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is the right fit or if your needs demand a different class of machine entirely.
While the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer is an excellent choice for a certain type of user, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition, especially models designed for lower running costs. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- 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...
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- FROM CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The DeskJet 2855e is perfect for homes printing to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes. Print speeds up to 5.5 ppm colour, 7.5 ppm black.
First Impressions: Compact, Simple, and Deceptively Minimalist
Unboxing the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer, the first thing we noticed was its sleek, compact design. Finished in a simple black plastic, it feels lightweight (5.4 kg) yet reasonably sturdy for its price point. It’s a far cry from the beige, hulking office machines of the past. Canon includes everything you need to get started: the printer itself, a power cord, and a set of starter PG-245 black and CL-246 color ink cartridges. Notably, a USB-B cable is not included, a clear signal that Canon is pushing users towards a completely wireless experience from the get-go. This minimalist approach extends to the control panel—or lack thereof. There is no LCD screen, only a few physical buttons and a series of LED indicator lights. This design choice is a double-edged sword: it keeps the aesthetic clean and the cost down, but as we would soon discover, it places a heavy reliance on the Canon PRINT app for setup and troubleshooting, a point of contention for many users. The paper tray is a simple fold-out flap at the front, which doubles as the output tray, holding up to 100 sheets. It’s a functional, if not particularly robust, design that underscores the printer’s target market: light, occasional home use. You can see its full specifications and compact design here.
What We Like
- Excellent print quality for both text and photos for the price
- Automatic duplex printing saves paper and time
- Compact and lightweight design fits easily in small spaces
- Affordable upfront purchase price
Drawbacks
- High ink consumption and expensive proprietary cartridges
- Wireless setup can be confusing and frustrating without a display
A Deep Dive into the Canon PIXMA MG3620’s Real-World Performance
A printer’s value is ultimately determined by how well it performs its core functions day in and day out. We put the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer through its paces, moving beyond the spec sheet to understand the real user experience. We focused on the areas that matter most: the initial setup, the quality of its output, the true cost of its ink, and the utility of its all-in-one features.
Setup and Connectivity: The First Hurdle
The setup process for the MG3620 is where users will either breeze through or hit a significant wall. Canon directs you to use their app or web portal to guide you. The first steps are simple: plug it in, turn it on, and install the two ink cartridges. Getting the cartridges in requires lifting the scanner unit and waiting for the carriage to center itself, a process that one user noted took them an hour to figure out due to unclear manual instructions. Once the hardware is ready, the wireless connection begins. This is the make-or-break moment. Without an LCD screen, you must rely entirely on the app to find the printer and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Our experience was mixed; on a standard home network with a modern router, the app found the printer within a minute. However, we could easily replicate the frustrations seen in user feedback. One user mentioned struggling to connect via a mobile hotspot, and another noted they had to find a YouTube video to complete the process. This is a common theme: if the standard path fails, troubleshooting becomes a matter of interpreting blinking orange and green lights, which feels archaic. The key advice we echo from another user is to install the ink cartridges *before* attempting the Wi-Fi pairing. Once connected, however, printing from a MacBook Pro and an iPhone was seamless via AirPrint, confirming its compatibility with modern Apple devices.
Print Quality and Speed: Punching Above Its Weight
Once you clear the connectivity hurdle, the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer truly begins to shine in its core competency: printing. For a budget device, the output quality is genuinely impressive. We tested it with a variety of documents, from simple text-heavy reports to mixed-media school projects. The FINE cartridge system, which uses pigment black ink, delivered exceptionally sharp, crisp, and water-resistant text that could easily be mistaken for a laser printer’s output at a glance. This makes it fantastic for resumes, official letters, and academic papers. Where it surprised us was in color and photo printing. The dye-based color inks produce vibrant and well-saturated images. We printed several 4×6 and 8.5×11 borderless photos on glossy photo paper, and the results were stunning for a sub-$100 printer, with a maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi. One user who tested prints of their paintings found they “turned out great,” a sentiment we strongly share. This makes the MG3620 a surprisingly capable machine for creative projects and photo enthusiasts on a tight budget. Print speed is adequate for home use—rated at 9.9 ipm for black and 5.7 ipm for color. While you won’t be churning out 100-page reports in minutes, it’s perfectly responsive for typical daily tasks. The inclusion of automatic duplex (2-sided) printing is a standout feature at this price point, helping to reduce paper consumption and add a professional touch to documents.
Ink Consumption and Long-Term Costs: The Hidden Catch
Herein lies the fundamental trade-off of the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer. The low initial purchase price is highly attractive, but the ongoing cost of ink is a significant concern that cannot be overstated. Our testing, corroborated by a mountain of user feedback, confirms that this printer is thirsty. The included “starter” cartridges have a very low yield, designed to get you up and running and not much else. One user reported going through the first cartridge while just printing their son’s schoolwork. Another expressed deep dissatisfaction, stating, “after a couple weeks of very light printing, it’s somehow empty.” This experience is common with budget cartridge printers. The business model is to sell the hardware at a low margin and make a profit on the consumables. The replacement PG-245 (black) and CL-246 (color) cartridges are not cheap, and their standard-yield page count is modest. While higher-yield XL cartridges are available and offer a better cost-per-page, they still represent a significant ongoing expense. Furthermore, a user update highlighted a critical issue: “You cannot use generic ink – it literally won’t let you print.” This forces you into Canon’s ecosystem, removing the option of more affordable third-party inks. This is the printer’s Achilles’ heel and the most important factor for any potential buyer to consider. If you print more than 20-30 pages a month, the long-term cost of this printer will likely exceed that of a more expensive but efficient ink tank model. You can check the price of genuine Canon ink cartridges to factor them into your budget.
All-in-One Functionality: A Capable Scanner and Copier
Beyond printing, the MG3620 serves as a competent scanner and copier. The flatbed scanner on top is simple to use via the Canon PRINT app or desktop software. It offers a good resolution for digitizing documents, receipts, and old photos. We used it to scan several invoices and a child’s drawing, and the digital copies were clear, color-accurate, and perfectly suitable for record-keeping or sharing. One user successfully navigated a tax review using the device, highlighting its real-world utility for essential home office tasks. The copy function works standalone without needing a computer. You can make black-and-white or color copies with the press of a single button. It’s quick and effective for simple jobs, like duplicating a form or a recipe. The main limitation here is the lack of an automatic document feeder (ADF). If you need to scan or copy a multi-page document, you’ll have to place each page on the flatbed individually. This is a standard omission on printers in this price category and reinforces its suitability for light, single-page tasks rather than heavy-duty office work. For the occasional scan or copy, however, it performs its job reliably.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing the broad spectrum of user feedback reveals a device that people either find perfectly adequate for the price or deeply frustrating. There’s very little middle ground. On the positive side, many users, like one who upgraded from an older Canon model to use with their new MacBook Pro, praise its seamless compatibility with modern devices and its mobile printing capabilities. “This MG3620 printer works for both the new MacBook Pro and works with printing from my iPhone 12 mini. No USB cable needed,” they noted. Another user found it to be the “best I’ve had in a long time” after struggling with other awkward home printers, praising its ease of setup (for them), decent speed, and relatively inexpensive ink compared to other brands.
However, negative feedback is plentiful and centers on two key themes: difficult setup and staggering ink costs. One user’s review evolved from initial satisfaction to total frustration: “Easy to set up… good print quality… UPDATE: after a few months I get constant errors… You cannot use generic ink – it literally won’t let you print. Absolute scam. Hate this printer.” This sentiment is echoed by another who warned, “Runs out of ink quickly and sends an error message stating low on ink even when you just installed a new ink cartridge.” These reviews paint a clear picture of a printer whose long-term ownership experience can be marred by operational quirks and a costly, restrictive ink system.
How Does the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Compare to the Alternatives?
The Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer operates in a crowded market. While its low upfront cost is a major draw, it’s crucial to see how it stacks up against competitors, particularly those with different ink technologies that might offer better long-term value. Let’s look at three popular alternatives.
1. Epson EcoTank ET-4800 Wireless All-in-One Printer
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 colour (3)
The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 represents a completely different philosophy. Its upfront cost is significantly higher than the Canon’s, but its key feature is the “Supertank” system. Instead of cartridges, you fill reservoirs with low-cost bottles of ink, which can last for thousands of pages. This drastically reduces the cost-per-page and is the better choice for anyone who prints regularly. The ET-4800 also includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) and fax capabilities, making it a more complete home office solution. If your primary concern is long-term running costs and you can afford the initial investment, the Epson is a far more economical choice over the life of the printer.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (4)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 colour (3)
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 takes the supertank concept to the next level. It’s aimed at prosumers, hobbyists, and small businesses who need more versatility. Its standout feature is the ability to print wide-format documents up to 13 x 19 inches, making it ideal for printing large photos, spreadsheets, or marketing materials. Like the ET-4800, it offers incredibly low running costs thanks to its ink tank system, along with robust features like an ADF, scanner, copier, and fax. For a creative professional or anyone needing to print beyond the standard letter size, the ET-15000 is in a different league entirely, though its price reflects its advanced capabilities.
3. HP Envy Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer
- HIGH-QUALITY PRINTING: The HP ENVY Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer delivers exceptional print quality with up to 1200 x 1200 rendered dpi for black and up to 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi for color...
- PRODUCTIVITY AND CONVENIENCE: Designed for both work and play, this all-in-one printer features a built-in photo tray and automatic document feeder for seamless printing. With a duty cycle of up to...
The HP Envy Inspire 7955e sits in a middle ground. It’s a cartridge-based printer like the Canon, but it’s a more premium device with a better user experience. It features a color touchscreen for easy setup and operation, eliminating the guesswork of blinking lights. It also includes an ADF for multi-page scanning and is eligible for HP’s Instant Ink subscription service. This service can lower ink costs for users with predictable monthly print volumes. Someone might prefer the HP Envy if they want a more user-friendly interface than the Canon MG3620 and are open to an ink subscription model to manage costs, while still wanting a stylish and feature-rich device.
Our Final Verdict: Is the Canon PIXMA MG3620 the Right Printer for You?
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Printer is clear: it is a budget printer with a very specific ideal user. If you are a student, a senior, or someone who prints fewer than 20 pages a month and prizes a very low initial purchase price above all else, this printer can be a great value. When it works, it delivers print quality that far exceeds its price tag, especially for text and photos. Its automatic duplexing and compact, wireless design are definite highlights.
However, we cannot recommend it for anyone with moderate to heavy printing needs. The frustrating, screen-less setup can be a significant barrier, and the brutally high long-term cost of its proprietary ink cartridges will quickly negate any upfront savings. The “razor-and-blades” business model is in full effect here. For most families and home offices, investing more upfront in an ink tank printer like the Epson EcoTank models will save a considerable amount of money and frustration in the long run. If you understand its limitations and your printing needs are genuinely infrequent, the MG3620 can serve its purpose. If you’re ready to accept the trade-offs for that low entry price, you can check the latest price and get yours today.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API