There’s a familiar story in many homes and small offices. You buy a bulky, all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier, promised a single device that can do it all. Yet, when it comes time for the most critical task—printing a high-quality document or a vibrant, frame-worthy photograph—it falls short. The colors are muted, the text is slightly fuzzy, and the whole process is agonizingly slow. We’ve been there. We’ve wrestled with paper jams, confusing software, and ink cartridges that seem to run dry after printing a dozen pages. The frustration is real. This cycle of compromise leads many to believe that exceptional print quality is reserved for professional print shops. But what if you could have that specialist quality in a compact, dedicated machine at home? That’s the question that led us to take a closer look at a printer that unabashedly focuses on one thing: printing, and printing well. We set out to find a solution, which led us to test the highly-regarded Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer.
- PIXMA TS702a features
- A large paper capacity of up to 350 sheets
What to Consider Before Buying a Dedicated Inkjet Printer
An Inkjet Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for transforming digital creations into tangible reality. Whether it’s a student printing a final thesis, a photographer producing a portfolio, a small business creating marketing materials, or a family preserving memories, the printer is the final, critical step. The primary benefit of a high-quality inkjet like the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer is its ability to produce stunningly detailed and color-accurate prints, especially on specialized media like photo paper or card stock. Unlike laser printers, which excel at high-volume text, inkjets are the masters of nuance, blending microscopic droplets of ink to create smooth gradients and rich, deep tones that bring images to life. Forgoing the extra scanner and copier functions allows manufacturers to invest more heavily in the core printing technology—the print head, the ink system, and the paper handling mechanisms—delivering superior results for the machine’s primary purpose.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitations of a general-purpose machine. This includes photographers, graphic designers, crafters, and small business owners who prioritize print quality above all else. If your work depends on sharp text, accurate color representation, and the ability to print on various media, a dedicated printer is a wise investment. However, it might not be suitable for those who run a busy office where scanning and copying documents daily is a core part of the workflow. For those users, a multifunction or all-in-one device, even with a slight compromise on print quality, would be more efficient. If your printing needs are purely for high-volume, black-and-white text documents, a monochrome laser printer might be a more cost-effective alternative in the long run.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A “compact” printer is relative. Measure your intended space carefully. While the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer is designed to have a smaller footprint than most all-in-ones, you still need to account for the paper trays being extended and sufficient room for ventilation and cable access. Consider both its storage footprint and its operational footprint.
- Capacity/Performance: Look beyond just pages per minute (PPM). Consider the paper capacity; a larger tray means less frequent refilling, which is a significant convenience for larger jobs. Also, investigate the ink system. Printers with individual ink tanks (like this Canon model) are more efficient, as you only need to replace the specific color that runs out, whereas tri-color cartridges waste the remaining ink. Models that offer high DPI and individual ink tanks, a feature the TS702a proudly boasts, are often superior for quality work.
- Materials & Durability: A printer is a mechanical device with many moving parts. While most consumer-grade printers use high-quality plastics for their housing, pay attention to the feel of the paper trays, access doors, and buttons. A sturdy, well-constructed chassis suggests more durable internal components, promising a longer lifespan and fewer issues with paper handling.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: In today’s connected world, setup should be simple. Look for straightforward wireless setup, intuitive mobile apps, and support for standards like AirPrint. For maintenance, consider how easy it is to access and replace ink cartridges and whether the printer has automated maintenance cycles, like print head cleaning, to ensure consistent quality over time.
Understanding these factors will ensure you select a printer that not only meets your quality standards but also fits seamlessly into your workspace and workflow.
While the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. 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.
Unboxing and First Impressions: A Sleek, No-Nonsense Design
Upon opening the box, our first impression of the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer was one of purposeful design. It’s refreshingly compact and understated. The matte black, subtly textured finish resists fingerprints and gives it a professional look that blends into an office environment without drawing unnecessary attention. Lifting it from its packaging, we were struck by its dense, solid feel; it doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. Assembly was a breeze. It involved removing a few strips of protective tape, plugging in the power cord, and installing the five individual ink cartridges—a straightforward process where each cartridge clicks satisfyingly into its color-coded slot in the print head.
Compared to the hulking all-in-one devices that dominate the market, its single-function focus allows for a much more streamlined and efficient design. The front paper cassette and rear paper feed tray are well-integrated, and the small LCD screen and simple button layout on the front panel are intuitive enough for basic operations without needing to consult the manual. It feels like a premium device, and you can see the full specifications and dimensions online to confirm it fits your space. The initial setup, guided by on-screen prompts, walked us through connecting to our Wi-Fi network in just a few minutes, getting us ready for our first test print with minimal fuss.
What We Like
- Exceptional 4800 x 1200 dpi print resolution for sharp text and photos
- Massive 350-sheet total paper capacity reduces refilling frequency
- Flexible connectivity with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB options
- Cost-saving automatic duplex (2-sided) printing
- Efficient 5-color individual ink system
Limitations
- Single-function device with no built-in scanner or copier
- Standard cartridge system can be more costly over time than ink tank models
In-Depth Performance Analysis: Where the Canon PIXMA TS702a Shines
A printer’s true worth is measured not by a list of features, but by the quality and reliability of its output. This is where we spent the bulk of our time, putting the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer through a gauntlet of tests, from dense multi-page reports to high-resolution, full-bleed photographs. Over weeks of use, we pushed its capabilities to understand precisely who this machine is built for and where it truly excels. The results were, in a word, impressive.
Print Quality and Color Accuracy: The Heart of the Machine
The headline feature of any dedicated printer has to be its output quality, and the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer delivers in spades. The specified maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi isn’t just a number on a spec sheet; it translates into tangible, stunningly sharp results. We began with standard text documents on plain paper. The black text was razor-sharp and deeply saturated, with clean edges that rivaled laser printer output, even on fine print. There was no feathering or bleeding, making it perfect for professional reports, resumes, or any document where clarity is paramount.
Where the printer truly comes alive is with color. The 5-color individual ink system, which includes a pigment-based black for crisp text and four dye-based inks (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) for photos, is the key to its versatility. We printed a series of business graphics—charts, graphs, and presentations—and the colors were vibrant and punchy without being oversaturated. Gradients were smooth and seamless, without the distracting banding we’ve seen on lesser printers. This performance aligns perfectly with feedback from users who praise its ability to produce “sharp text and vibrant color prints.”
The ultimate test, however, was photo printing. Using Canon’s own glossy photo paper, the results were breathtaking for a printer at this price point. Skin tones were natural and nuanced, landscapes showed incredible depth and detail in both shadows and highlights, and the overall color reproduction was faithful to the original digital images on our calibrated monitor. This confirmed our belief that this printer is an excellent choice for amateur photographers or anyone looking to create high-quality prints at home. One user review even mentioned using it for an unconventional purpose: a baking business with edible inks. While we didn’t test that specific application, the fact that it produces “really nice” prints in such a demanding, food-grade context speaks volumes about the precision of its print head and its ability to handle different media. The level of detail we achieved on glossy photo paper was genuinely impressive, making it a fantastic option for amateur photographers and creators.
Speed, Efficiency, and Paper Handling: The Productivity Powerhouse
While print quality is king, performance in a home office setting also hinges on speed and paper handling. A beautiful print isn’t much good if it takes forever to produce or if you’re constantly having to reload a tiny paper tray. Here, the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer again punches well above its weight class. Canon claims speeds of up to 15 pages per minute (PPM) for black and white and 10 PPM for color. In our real-world testing with a 20-page mixed text and graphics document, we clocked speeds that were very close to these official figures, which is a pleasant surprise. It’s certainly fast enough for demanding home use or a small business workflow.
The standout feature in this category is unquestionably the paper capacity. The printer boasts a total capacity of 350 sheets, split between a 250-sheet front cassette and a 100-sheet rear paper tray. This is a massive advantage. It means you can load a hefty stack of plain paper in the front cassette for everyday document printing while keeping the rear tray free for specialty media like envelopes, card stock, or photo paper. This dual-feed system is incredibly versatile, and the sheer volume of paper it holds drastically reduces the frequency of refills, minimizing interruptions during large print jobs. This massive capacity is a game-changer for productivity, a feature you can read more about in the detailed product description.
Adding another layer of efficiency is the automatic duplex printing feature. The ability to print on both sides of a page without manually flipping it over is a feature we now consider essential. It cuts paper consumption in half, saving money and reducing environmental impact. It worked flawlessly in our tests, properly aligning the front and back sides and producing professional-looking double-sided reports and booklets. This combination of speed, high capacity, and duplexing makes the TS702a a true workhorse.
Connectivity and Smart Features: Printing from Anywhere
A modern printer must be easy to connect to and print from, regardless of the device you’re using. The Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer excels here by offering a robust trio of connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and traditional USB. While most home users will opt for the convenience of Wi-Fi, the inclusion of an Ethernet port is a significant bonus for office environments, offering a more stable and secure wired network connection. This flexibility ensures the printer can adapt to virtually any setup.
We found the wireless setup to be painless. Using the on-screen menu, the printer quickly found our network, and after entering the password, it was online in under two minutes. From there, printing was seamless across all our devices. On our Mac and PC, the standard print dialogues immediately recognized the printer. On our iPhone and Android tablet, it was just as easy. Thanks to its support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, we could print directly from emails, web pages, and photos without needing to install any extra apps. Printing directly from a smartphone was seamless, and this level of wireless convenience is a major selling point.
For those who want more control, the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app is quite powerful. It allows you to check ink levels, perform maintenance tasks, and access cloud services to print documents and photos directly from platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive. The app interface is clean and easy to navigate, adding a layer of smart functionality that enhances the overall user experience. This comprehensive suite of connectivity options ensures that sending a job to the printer is always a simple, hassle-free process.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our positive experience with the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer is largely echoed by the broader user community. The prevailing sentiment is that this printer delivers on its promise of high-quality, dedicated printing. Many users specifically praise its compact design, noting how it provides professional-grade output without occupying the large footprint of a multifunction device. This makes it a popular choice for those with limited desk space who refuse to compromise on print quality.
One of the most interesting pieces of feedback we found came from a small business owner who uses the printer for their baking business, employing edible inks to print designs for cakes. Their enthusiastic report that the “prints come out really nice” is a powerful testament to the printer’s mechanical precision and its ability to handle non-traditional media effectively. While most users focus on its performance with text and photos, this creative application highlights its underlying versatility. While direct negative reviews were scarce, a common consideration for any cartridge-based inkjet printer is the long-term cost of ink. Some users of printers in this category, in general, weigh this against the higher initial cost but lower per-page cost of ink tank models, making it a crucial factor in the purchasing decision.
Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer vs. The Competition
The Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer carves out a specific niche, but it’s important to see how it compares to popular alternatives, especially those that offer a different set of features. The market is dominated by all-in-one devices, particularly ink tank models that promise lower running costs.
1. HP Smart Tank 5102 Wireless All-in-One Printer
- FROM CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The Smart Tank 5102 is perfect for families printing a variety of color documents in high volumes. Print up to 12 pages per minute black and 5 pages per...
- FULLY LOADED WITH SAVINGS – Best for low-cost, high-volume printing—up to 2 years of Original HP Ink included; get up to 6,000 black or colour pages right out of the box
The HP Smart Tank 5102 is a direct challenger from the all-in-one, ink-tank world. Its primary advantage is its incredibly low cost-per-page, thanks to the large, refillable ink reservoirs that come with up to two years of ink in the box. It also includes scanning and copying capabilities, which the Canon lacks. However, the trade-off is often in specialized print quality. While great for general documents and casual photos, it may not match the nuance and sharpness of the Canon’s 5-color dye-and-pigment system on glossy photo paper. This HP is the better choice for a family or office with high-volume, varied needs (scan, copy, print) that prioritizes running costs over achieving the absolute best photo quality.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 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)
Similar to the HP, the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is another cartridge-free all-in-one that focuses on economy. It also offers scanning and copying and boasts extremely low printing costs due to its EcoTank system. It’s positioned as an ideal basic home printer for everyday tasks. When compared to the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer, the ET-2800 is the more versatile day-to-day machine for a household. However, the Canon holds the edge in pure print speed (both color and B&W), paper capacity (350 sheets vs. 100), and specialized photo output. A user who primarily prints text and the occasional photo and needs a scanner would prefer the Epson.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 All-in-One Cartridge-Free Printer
- Innovative cartridge-free printing high-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; epsons exclusive ecofit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Dramatic savings on replacement ink save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs ink cartridges (1) thats enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 color (2), equivalent to about 90 individual...
The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is a step up from the ET-2800 and presents a more direct challenge to one of the Canon’s key features: automatic 2-sided printing. Like the Canon, it can print duplex automatically, saving paper and time. It combines this efficiency with the benefits of an all-in-one (scan, copy) and the low running costs of the EcoTank system. This makes it a compelling package for a busy family or home office. The choice between the ET-2850 and the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer comes down to a single question: do you need to scan and copy? If yes, the Epson is the logical choice. If your workflow is 99% printing and you demand the highest possible photo quality and larger paper capacity, the specialized Canon remains the superior option.
Final Verdict: Is the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer the Right Choice for You?
After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer is an exceptional machine for its intended audience. It is a specialist in an age of generalists. It deliberately sheds the extra weight of scanning and copying to focus all its engineering prowess on delivering outstanding prints. Its combination of superb 4800×1200 dpi resolution, a versatile 5-color ink system, massive 350-sheet paper capacity, and essential modern features like auto-duplexing and seamless wireless connectivity makes it a productivity workhorse.
This is not the printer for someone who needs an all-in-one office hub. It is the printer for the creator, the photographer, the student, and the small business owner who is tired of compromising on the quality of their printed work. It’s for the user who understands that sometimes, doing one thing perfectly is better than doing three things adequately. If you prioritize pristine print quality above all else and need a reliable, dedicated machine for your home or small office, the Canon PIXMA TS702a Wireless Printer is an outstanding choice that earns our strong recommendation. Check its current price and get ready to elevate your printing game.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API