# TLDR Review: Canon PIXMA G6020 Printer

*Published: 2025-12-31 | Updated: 2025-12-31 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/canon-pixma-g6020-printer*

---

## Product: Canon PIXMA G6020 Printer
**Brand:** Canon

## Pros
- Exceptional ink efficiency with up to 6,000 pages of black text and 7,700 color pages per tank—significantly reducing replacement frequency and saving roughly $1,175 in ink costs compared to traditional cartridges.
- Produces excellent print quality with sharp black text and vivid colors, particularly for borderless photo printing.
- Wireless connectivity is straightforward to set up (taking less than 45 seconds from the control panel) and works reliably across multiple devices including smartphones, PCs, and laptops.
- Supports automatic 2-sided printing, voice control via Amazon Alexa, and AirPrint compatibility for flexible printing options.
- Includes two bonus black ink bottles in the box, delivering exceptional value out of the gate.
- Copying and scanning functions are intuitive with dedicated buttons, and the scanning software can combine multiple pages into a single PDF.
- Ink refills are significantly more affordable than previous Canon models, making ongoing operation cost-effective.

## Cons
- LCD screen is frustratingly small (mentioned by 23% of reviews) and lacks backlighting, making it difficult to read and navigate menus—and there's no illuminated front dial to help either.
- No automatic document feeder, which means you're manually feeding pages one at a time and constantly retrieving printed output from a small output tray that requires manual operation.
- Reliability deteriorates sharply after the 6-month mark, with multiple users reporting print head clogs, nozzle blockages, and complete printer failures despite light to moderate use.
- Print quality degrades over time with missing lines, zigzag patterns, and color fading appearing even when ink tanks are full.
- Frequent automatic cleaning cycles interrupt printing, waste significant amounts of ink and paper, and only provide minimal improvement to persistent quality issues.
- Setup instructions are inadequate and lack clarity—many users recommend supplementing the official manual with YouTube videos, and the included manual features tiny pictographs that are nearly useless.
- WiFi connectivity setup through the printer's control panel doesn't actually work; the interface lacks a submit button to complete the connection process.
- Scanning functionality is underdeveloped with no dedicated software, no wireless scanning capability (USB only), and disorganized file storage.
- Maintenance is extremely demanding with frequent color calibration requirements, nozzles that clog after just a week of non-use, and overall performance that falls short of competitor models.

## Bottom Line

The Canon PIXMA G6020 is genuinely excellent *if* you prioritize cost-per-page and don't mind high-maintenance operation. The ink efficiency and upfront value are legitimate game-changers for high-volume printing, and when it works well, the print quality is outstanding. However, we can't ignore the reliability red flags: multiple reviewers experienced print head failures within 6 months despite light use, and ongoing maintenance demands are genuinely exhausting. The small, unlit LCD screen and missing document feeder also make this feel dated compared to modern alternatives. If you're willing to accept the maintenance burden and can tolerate the interface quirks, this printer delivers on value—but if you need a reliable workhorse that "just works," you might want to explore other options in the MegaTank lineup that offer better long-term durability and user experience.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Exceptional ink efficiency with up to 6,000 pages of black text and 7,700 color pages per tank—significantly reducing replacement frequency and saving roughly $1,175 in ink costs compared to traditional cartridges. | LCD screen is frustratingly small (mentioned by 23% of reviews) and lacks backlighting, making it difficult to read and navigate menus—and there's no illuminated front dial to help either. |
| Produces excellent print quality with sharp black text and vivid colors, particularly for borderless photo printing. | No automatic document feeder, which means you're manually feeding pages one at a time and constantly retrieving printed output from a small output tray that requires manual operation. |
| Wireless connectivity is straightforward to set up (taking less than 45 seconds from the control panel) and works reliably across multiple devices including smartphones, PCs, and laptops. | Reliability deteriorates sharply after the 6-month mark, with multiple users reporting print head clogs, nozzle blockages, and complete printer failures despite light to moderate use. |
| Supports automatic 2-sided printing, voice control via Amazon Alexa, and AirPrint compatibility for flexible printing options. | Print quality degrades over time with missing lines, zigzag patterns, and color fading appearing even when ink tanks are full. |
| Includes two bonus black ink bottles in the box, delivering exceptional value out of the gate. | Frequent automatic cleaning cycles interrupt printing, waste significant amounts of ink and paper, and only provide minimal improvement to persistent quality issues. |
| Copying and scanning functions are intuitive with dedicated buttons, and the scanning software can combine multiple pages into a single PDF. | Setup instructions are inadequate and lack clarity—many users recommend supplementing the official manual with YouTube videos, and the included manual features tiny pictographs that are nearly useless. |
| Ink refills are significantly more affordable than previous Canon models, making ongoing operation cost-effective. | WiFi connectivity setup through the printer's control panel doesn't actually work; the interface lacks a submit button to complete the connection process. |
|  | Scanning functionality is underdeveloped with no dedicated software, no wireless scanning capability (USB only), and disorganized file storage. |
|  | Maintenance is extremely demanding with frequent color calibration requirements, nozzles that clog after just a week of non-use, and overall performance that falls short of competitor models. |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| littlewoods.com | $123.25  | Check |
| Amazon | $169.00  | Check |
| Bonanza | $169.00  | Check |
| KitchenBath Rehab | $185.99  | Check |
| StorageDKS | $193.08  | Check |
| TechForLess | $193.49  | Check |
| realry.com | $199.99  | Check |
| ATP Depot | $209.25  | Check |
| CKB Depot | $209.25  | Check |
| VIP Outlet | $210.00  | Check |
| B&H | $249.99  | Check |
| Dell Home & Home Office | $249.99  | Check |
| Discount Bandit | $252.52  | Check |
| Office Supply Hut | $274.85  | Check |
| Focus Camera & Lifestyle by Focus | $279.99  | Check |
| tigerdirect.com | $279.99  | Check |
| Woodland Hills Camera & Telescopes | $279.99  | Check |
| Harper Office US | $284.29  | Check |
| BrookPad | $285.00  | Check |
| compsource.com | $291.32  | Check |

---

*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*