- Outstanding photo quality for the price
- Fast photo printing
- Direct printing from PictBridge cameras
- Auto-duplex printing
- Two paper trays hold 150 sheets each
- Uses ink at a reasonable rate
- Ink costs
- Can't print from memory card or flash drive
- No LCD preview screen
- No wireless networking
Despite its budget price, the Canon Pixma iP4820 prints crisp, vibrant photos in tests, and it prints them quickly. In this way, it outclasses even some pricier printers like the HP Officejet 6000 Wireless (*Est. $80), although some experts still pick the HP printer because it accepts wireless print commands and charges less for ink. However, the HP printer does have a reputation among users for wasting ink, even prompting a class-action lawsuit that HP settled in late 2010. We found far fewer owner complaints about the Canon, ink-related and otherwise.
The Canon iP4820 offers several of the same features as the HP printer, including an auto duplexer (so you can print on both sides of the paper) and Energy Star compliance. The Canon printer also adds a second paper tray (convenient if you want to keep both plain and photo paper loaded) and the ability to print directly from PictBridge-compatible cameras, camcorders and phones. Overall, reviews recommend the Canon Pixma iP4820 as the best choice for the average student or home user who wants to print both photos and text documents.
Experts at PCMag.com, ConsumerReports.org, PC World and CNET all test the Canon Pixma iP4820 and compare it with other inkjet printers -- although CNET prefers multi-function printers, and downgrades the iP4820 because it doesn't fax or scan. We found plenty of helpful user reviews at Amazon.com.
| Canon PIXMA iP4820 Premium Inkjet Photo Printer (4496B002) | |
(122 reviews) |
|
Our Sources
1. PCMag.com
"An impressive combination of speed, output quality and paper handling" makes the Canon Pixma iP4820 the best Canon inkjet in a long time, M. David Stone says. It can't accept print commands wirelessly, but Stone says the iP4820 delivers better text quality, photo quality and speed than the Editors' Choice HP Officejet 6000 Wireless.
Review: Canon iP4820 Photo Printer, M. David Stone, Oct. 8, 2010
2. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org tests nine inkjet printers, including the Canon Pixma iP4820. Editors rate each printer's photo, text and graphics quality, and their power consumption. They also note how fast each printer can produce a 4-by-6-inch photo, 8-by-10-inch photo and five-page documents, as well as the approximate cost for each.
Review: Regular Printer Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, As of May 2011
3. PC World
Quick, quiet, high-quality printing earns the Canon Pixma iP4820 a spot on PC World's list of the top five inkjet printers. The printer also includes an automatic duplexer at a low price. The only real con is that photos look faded and orangey when printed on plain paper, although "Canon's own photo paper solved all the problems."
Review: Canon Pixma iP4820, Melissa Riofrio and Jon L. Jacobi, Aug. 25, 2010
4. CNET
Justin Yu isn't as happy with the Canon Pixma iP4820 as other reviewers are, giving it a middling score of 3 stars (out of 5). Photos and documents are "presentation-quality," he says, but the iP4820 lacks a scanner, fax function and wireless connectivity, and it can't print from a USB flash drive. Yu says he prefers a couple of Canon and Epson printers that offer these features for a similar price.
Review: Canon Pixma iP4820, Justin Yu, Dec. 2, 2010
5. Amazon.com
The Canon Pixma iP4820 printer is well-liked at Amazon.com, with more than 60 reviews posted. Three-fourths of users give it 4 or a perfect5 stars, especially praising its high photo quality. Reviews say it uses ink at a reasonable rate, but refills are costly.
Review: Canon Pixma iP4820 Premium Inkjet Photo Printer (4496B002), Contributors to Amazon.com
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