There’s a certain kind of modern-day frustration that only a dead printer can induce. It usually happens at the worst possible moment. For me, it was 10 PM on a Sunday, with a signed contract that needed to be scanned and emailed by morning. My decade-old behemoth of a printer, which had served me faithfully, chose that exact moment to flash an incomprehensible error code, refusing to do anything but make a sad grinding noise. The panic set in. In an increasingly digital world, we’ve forgotten how much we still rely on these physical devices for life’s essential paperwork—shipping labels, homework assignments, concert tickets, and yes, last-minute contracts. The search for a replacement is daunting; you’re faced with a wall of technical jargon, ink subscription models, and prices ranging from surprisingly cheap to shockingly expensive. All I wanted was a simple, compact, and reliable machine that could print from my phone without a fuss, scan a document clearly, and not cost a fortune in ink. This is the exact predicament that leads so many to consider a printer like the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer.
- 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...
- Easy Setup Office Supplies: Get this wireless printer for home use up and running in just a few minutes with the streamlined and easy out-of-the-box setup process; connect and print through high-speed...
What to Consider Before Buying an Inkjet Printer
An Inkjet Printer is more than just an item to tick off a home office shopping list; it’s a key solution for bringing digital creations and documents into the physical world with vibrant color and detail. For many households, it’s the central hub for school projects, photo printing, and administrative tasks. The main benefit of an inkjet, compared to its laser counterpart, is its superior ability to blend colors, making it the undisputed champion for printing high-quality photos and graphics. They are typically more affordable upfront and more compact, fitting neatly into home environments where space is at a premium. The versatility of an all-in-one inkjet, which combines printing, scanning, and copying, consolidates three essential office functions into a single, efficient footprint.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the need for casual, varied printing. This includes students who need to print essays and research papers, families printing photos and creative projects for kids, or home office workers who print a moderate volume of documents and occasionally need to scan receipts or copy forms. It’s for the person who values color quality and versatility over raw printing speed. Conversely, an inkjet might not be suitable for those who run a business that requires printing hundreds of black-and-white pages daily. In that high-volume scenario, the cost-per-page and faster speeds of a monochrome laser printer would be a more economical and efficient choice. For those users, the long-term cost of ink cartridges for an inkjet would quickly outweigh the lower initial purchase price.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Printers, even “compact” ones, can have a surprisingly large footprint once you account for the paper trays and the space needed to open the scanner lid. Measure your intended desk or shelf space carefully. The Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is designed with a small footprint in mind, but always double-check the dimensions (43.7 x 32.8 x 14.7 cm) against your available area.
- Capacity/Performance: Look at two key metrics: print speed and paper capacity. Print speed, measured in pages per minute (ppm), tells you how quickly it handles jobs. Speeds like 7.7 ppm for black and 4 ppm for color are typical for budget models and are fine for home use but would be a bottleneck in a busy office. Paper tray capacity (e.g., 60 sheets) determines how often you’ll need to reload paper, a crucial convenience factor.
- Materials & Durability: Most consumer-grade printers are constructed from plastic. While this keeps them lightweight and affordable, feel the quality of the plastic, the hinges on the scanner lid, and the paper support trays. A flimsy build might not withstand the rigors of a busy household with kids, whereas a more robust construction suggests a longer lifespan.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: In 2024, setup should be seamless, especially wireless setup. Check for intuitive mobile apps that guide you through the process. Maintenance primarily involves replacing ink cartridges. Consider how easy it is to access and replace them and, crucially, investigate the cost and page yield of replacement cartridges, as this is the biggest long-term expense of owning an inkjet printer.
While the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is an excellent choice for its target audience, 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.
First Impressions: Compact, Simple, and Ready to Work
Unboxing the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer, the first thing we noticed was its weight—or lack thereof. At just under 4 kg, it’s incredibly lightweight, making it easy for one person to unpack and place on a desk. The design is utilitarian and compact, with a textured black plastic finish that resists fingerprints. It’s not a statement piece, but it’s not meant to be; it’s designed to blend in and occupy as little space as possible, which it does admirably.
Inside the box, we found the printer itself, a power cord, and the two starter ink cartridges: a PG-275 Pigment Black and a CL-276 Dye Color. There’s also a setup guide, but as many users have noted, the real key is the Canon PRINT app. Canon has wisely streamlined the process to be mobile-first. The control panel on the printer is minimalist, featuring a simple 1.5″ segmented LCD screen and physical buttons for basic functions like power, copy, and Wi-Fi connect. It feels robust enough for its price point. Getting it ready involved removing a few strips of orange protective tape, plugging it in, and installing the ink cartridges, which click into place satisfyingly. From out-of-the-box to ready-for-setup, the physical preparation took less than five minutes, setting the stage for what we hoped would be an equally smooth wireless connection experience. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of its straightforward design.
Key Benefits
- Extremely simple setup process via the Canon PRINT mobile app
- Impressive print quality for text and photos at this price point
- Compact and lightweight design fits easily in small spaces
- Versatile all-in-one (print, scan, copy) functionality
- No forced ink subscription service required
Limitations
- Setup can be difficult for some users without the app, with limited paper instructions
- Starter ink cartridges have a very low yield, a common user complaint
- Slow print speeds are not suitable for high-volume tasks
- No automatic two-sided (duplex) printing
A Deep Dive into the Canon PIXMA TS3720’s Performance
A printer’s value is ultimately determined not by its spec sheet, but by how it performs day-to-day. Does it connect easily? Is the output quality good enough? Is it a pain to maintain? We put the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer through its paces to answer these questions, focusing on the core experiences that matter most to a home user.
Setup and Connectivity: A Tale of Two Experiences
The setup process for a modern wireless printer can make or break the entire user experience, and with the Canon PIXMA TS3720, we found this to be a polarizing issue. Our own experience, and that of many satisfied users, was incredibly smooth. Following the on-screen prompts of the Canon PRINT app on an iPhone, the entire process was remarkably fast. As one user happily reported, “Very easy to set up, took less than 5 minutes on my iPhone (download app, connect to wifi, put cartridges in). First test print worked perfectly!” This was our reality. We scanned the QR code, the app found the printer, we entered our Wi-Fi password, and within minutes we were printing a test page directly from our phone. For those who embrace the app-based approach, it’s a shining example of how setup should be.
However, we can’t ignore the significant number of users who had a much harder time. One reviewer mentioned, “I had an awful time trying to get it paired up with my phone and PC. But I went on YouTube and managed to figure it out.” This highlights a key weakness: the included paper instructions are sparse. If you deviate from the app-guided “happy path” or have an unusual network configuration, the printer offers little help. The physical buttons and small LCD screen aren’t intuitive for manual Wi-Fi setup. Our advice is unequivocal: use the Canon PRINT app. It is the intended and, by far, the easiest method. The printer’s connectivity, once established, was stable in our testing, holding the Wi-Fi signal reliably and responding quickly to print jobs sent from both a laptop and multiple smartphones (iOS and Android).
Print, Scan, and Copy Quality: Exceeding Its Weight Class
For a budget-friendly printer, the output quality is the most pleasant surprise. The Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer uses a FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) Hybrid Ink System. In simple terms, this means it uses a pigment-based black ink for text and dye-based inks for color. This is a fantastic combination for home use. When printing a standard black-and-white document, the text was crisp, sharp, and dark, with no smudging, closely rivaling the clarity of more expensive machines. It’s more than adequate for essays, reports, and shipping labels.
Where it truly impressed us was with color output. We printed a few 4×6 photos on standard office paper, and like one user noted, “I tested picture printing with just regular paper, and it looks great.” The colors were vibrant and the detail was solid. On proper glossy photo paper, the results are even better, producing prints that are certainly worthy of a picture frame. The 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution pays dividends here. The flatbed scanner is equally competent. We scanned old family photos and important documents, and the digital copies were clear and color-accurate. The copy function works as a standalone feature, quickly producing a duplicate of a document without needing a computer. The primary trade-off for this quality is speed. At 7.7 ppm for black and 4 ppm for color, it feels leisurely. Printing a 10-page document requires a bit of patience, reinforcing that this printer is built for occasional tasks, not marathon print sessions. The impressive output quality is a feature that really sets it apart in the budget category.
Design, Usability, and Long-Term Costs
Living with the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is an exercise in simplicity. Its compact design is a huge plus, tucking away neatly on a bookshelf or a small desk corner. The 60-sheet rear paper tray is modest but sufficient for home use, and it handles various media types, including envelopes and different sizes of photo paper, up to legal size. One feature we appreciated was the Auto Power On/Off setting, which puts the printer to sleep when inactive and wakes it automatically when a print job is sent, saving a bit of energy and the hassle of manually turning it on and off.
The most critical aspect of long-term ownership is the cost of ink. This is where the user reviews reveal a significant pain point. We saw numerous complaints like, “Installed the software on my phone and the indicator showed that the black cartridge was already near empty!” and “First time using printer and it says ink low.” It is standard industry practice for new printers to come with “starter” or “setup” cartridges that contain less ink than the full retail versions. The cartridges included with the TS3720 seem to be particularly sparse. Expect to be buying your first set of full-size PG-275 and CL-276 cartridges sooner rather than later. On the plus side, and this is a major advantage over some competitors, Canon does not force you into an ink subscription. You buy ink when you need it, giving you full control over your running costs. For anyone who prints infrequently, this is a far more appealing model than a monthly fee. Checking the current price of replacement ink is a wise step before purchasing.
What Other Users Are Saying
After thoroughly testing the printer, we delved into a wider pool of user feedback, and a clear consensus emerged. The positive sentiment overwhelmingly centers on ease of use and value. Many echo the sentiment of one user who said, “Awesome printer/scanner. Fast set-up with easy step by step through mobile app. Pretty decent printing quality and speed for the price.” Another confirmed our findings, stating it’s “great so far for what I need (casual at home printing for shipping return labels and kid stuff).”
On the negative side, the feedback is just as consistent and focuses on two main issues. The most prevalent complaint is about the included ink cartridges. Multiple users reported receiving units where the ink was either nearly empty upon installation or, in some cases, missing entirely. One frustrated buyer wrote, “Rec’d printer with 2 empty ink boxes,” while another noted, “The used that I bought the black color ink cartridge was almost empty.” This issue seems to be a combination of small starter cartridges and potential quality control or return-reshipment problems. The second common issue is hardware failure out of the box. A user reported receiving a unit with a “P2 error” on startup, rendering it completely non-functional. While these DOA (Dead on Arrival) units are likely a small percentage, they are a significant source of frustration for those affected.
How Does the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Compare to Alternatives?
The Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer offers incredible value, but it exists in a competitive market. Depending on your specific needs and budget, one of its rivals might be a better fit.
1. HP Smart Tank 7602 Wireless All-in-One Printer
The HP Smart Tank 7602 represents a completely different philosophy of printer ownership. Its main selling point is the “supertank” system and the inclusion of “up to 2 years of ink” in the box. This is the ideal choice for a family or home office that prints frequently and wants to minimize the long-term cost per page. While its initial purchase price is significantly higher than the Canon’s, the savings on ink over time can be massive. It also includes features the Canon lacks, like an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning and fax capabilities. If your print volume is high and your budget can stretch, the HP Smart Tank is a superior long-term investment.
2. Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Wireless Color Photo Printer
The Epson XP-7100 is geared towards the photo enthusiast and the more demanding home user. It uses a five-color ink system for superior photo quality and boasts dedicated trays for photo paper and regular paper, adding convenience. Like the HP, it also features an ADF for scanning and copying multiple pages at once, a huge time-saver. It’s a step up from the Canon in almost every respect—features, speed, and photo fidelity—but this comes with a corresponding step up in price. If printing high-quality photos is your primary reason for buying a printer, the Epson XP-7100 is a worthy contender.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a direct competitor to the HP Smart Tank and another excellent alternative for those tired of buying ink cartridges. Like the HP, it uses large, refillable ink tanks that dramatically lower the cost per page. The ET-2800 is positioned as a basic, entry-level supertank model, making it more affordable upfront than the more feature-rich HP. It’s a fantastic middle ground: you get the incredible long-term ink savings of a tank printer without some of the advanced office features (like an ADF) of higher-end models. For a user who prints regularly but doesn’t need office-centric features, the ET-2800 offers a compelling argument against the traditional cartridge model of the Canon.
Final Verdict: An Unbeatable Value for Casual Home Printing
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is clear: it is an exceptional choice for a specific user. If you are a student, a parent, or someone working from home who needs a reliable, compact machine for occasional printing, scanning, and copying, this printer delivers outstanding value. Its print quality, especially for color documents and photos, punches well above its price tag, and its app-based setup is a breeze for most users. It offers the core functionalities of an all-in-one without the expensive frills or a confusing interface.
You must, however, be aware of its limitations. The print speed is slow, it lacks automatic duplexing, and the included starter ink cartridges will need to be replaced very quickly. But for the price, these are reasonable trade-offs. It successfully liberates you from pricey ink subscription models and gives you a dependable tool for all those essential, everyday tasks. For anyone looking to solve their basic home printing needs without breaking the bank, the Canon PIXMA TS3720 offers a compelling package. We highly recommend it as a top contender in the budget all-in-one category. If you’re ready for a simple, effective printing solution, you can check the latest price and get yours here.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API