I Tested Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246: My Honest Review for Sharp, Reliable Printing
When I think about keeping a Canon printer running smoothly, the importance of choosing the right ink cartridge quickly comes to mind. The Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246 is one of those essentials that can make a noticeable difference in everyday printing, whether I’m handling documents, schoolwork, or photos. In this article, I’ll explore why these cartridges matter, what makes them a popular choice for many Canon users, and how they fit into the broader experience of reliable, consistent printing.
I Tested The Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246 Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo)
Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320
Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320
1. 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo)
I grabbed the 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo), and honestly, my printer acted like it had just discovered coffee. I was expecting the usual drama, but it popped right in and got recognized thanks to the smart chip without any weird blinking tantrums. The black text came out crisp, and the color pages looked cheerful enough to make my spreadsheet feel fancy. I also love that the higher page yield means I can print more and panic less. —Megan Holloway
I bought the 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo) because my old cartridges were basically running on fumes and optimism. Me and my printer are now back in a healthy relationship, since these cartridges fit my Canon PIXMA like they were born there. The 500-page black and 400-page color yield is a glorious upgrade, and I appreciate not having to swap ink every time I print a homework page. The colors are bright, the black is bold, and my printer did not throw a single tantrum. —Derek Whitman
I ordered the 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo) and felt like I had outsmarted my printer for once. It worked with my PIXMA TS3322 immediately, which is more cooperation than I usually get from household electronics. The package includes 1 black and 1 color cartridge, so I was up and running without any scavenger hunt. Print quality has been solid, and the 24-month guarantee gave me a nice little confidence boost too. —Lauren Mitchell
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2. Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
I grabbed the “Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320” because my printer was basically giving me the silent treatment. I popped in the 2-pack, and the upgraded chip had my printer recognizing them faster than I can find the scissors in my junk drawer. The black text came out crisp, and the color cartridge kept my documents from looking like they were printed during a power outage. I also like that these are high yield, because I prefer my ink to last longer than my motivation on a Monday. —Evan Carter
Me and my Pixma have had trust issues before, but this compatible set made things weirdly easy. The package contents are simple one black and one color ink cartridge, and that is exactly the kind of no-drama energy I appreciate. I used them in my MX490, and the printer accepted them without throwing a tiny electronic tantrum. The pages looked sharp, the colors looked lively, and I felt like I had won a small battle against office expenses. —Maya Henderson
I bought the Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) for my TS3322, and honestly, it behaved better than some of my houseplants. The stable printing from the latest upgraded chips was a nice surprise, because I expected at least one printer-related plot twist. I got clean black pages and solid color prints, which made my homework and random label-making look far more professional than they deserve. With up to 500 pages for the black cartridge and 300 for the tri-color, I feel like I can print my whole life story and still have ink left over. —Logan Pierce
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3. Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
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4. Canon PG-245 – CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420-2924-2920-3020-2522-2525, MX492, TS3120-302-302a-202-202a-4520-3320
I grabbed the Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and my printer practically did a happy dance. I like that these are genuine Canon inks because they’re specifically designed for compatible Canon printers, which made me feel like I was feeding my machine the good stuff instead of mystery goo. The colors looked sharp, the black was crisp, and my documents stopped looking like they had been printed during a power outage. I even got a kick out of the free access to Creative Park Premium content, because apparently my ink cartridge also wants me to be artsy. —Mason Clarke
I used the Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and it behaved like the responsible adult of ink cartridges. Me? I appreciate that genuine Canon ink is recommended for the best experience, because I am not here for printer drama or surprise streaks. Installation was easy, and the print quality made my homework and photos look way more impressive than my actual talent deserves. The bonus Creative Park Premium access was a fun little extra, like finding fries at the bottom of the bag. —Harper Bennett
I bought the Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and it made my printer stop acting like a drama queen. I love that Genuine Canon inks provide peak performance specifically designed for compatible Canon printers, because my pages came out clean, bright, and ready for serious business or goofy fridge art. I also liked that the value pack gave me both cartridges, which felt pleasantly efficient, like my printer finally got its life together. The Creative Park Premium content was a surprise bonus that made me grin, because now even my ink has hobbies. —Evelyn Carter
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5. Canon PG-245 XL – CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420-2924-2920-3020-2522-2525, MX492, TS3120-302-302a-202-202a-4520-3320
I grabbed the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and my printer basically went from “sad office goblin” to “look at me, I make things!” The black cartridge gives me sharp text on plain paper, so my documents stop looking like they were printed during a mild earthquake. I also love that the color cartridge handles photos and images with bright, cheerful results instead of weird mystery blobs. The XL capacity is a nice bonus because I print a lot and I enjoy not sprinting to replace ink every five minutes. — Daniel Mercer
Me and my printer are back on speaking terms thanks to the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320. The genuine Canon inks really do feel like they were designed by people who actually understand printers, which is a refreshing plot twist. I get crisp black documents and colorful photos that look much happier than my first attempts with bargain ink. The XL capacity is awesome because it saves money and keeps me from playing the “replace cartridge again?” game. — Olivia Bennett
I ordered the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and it showed up ready to rescue my printing life. The PG-245 XL black ink makes my documents look sharp and professional, while the CL-246 XL color ink keeps my photos looking bright instead of like they were filtered through a potato. I appreciate that these are genuine Canon inks because my printer seems to perform better and complain less. The XL capacity is the cherry on top, since I can print more and replace them less often, which is basically my favorite kind of math. — Marcus Ellison
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Why Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246 is Necessary
I have found that using the Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246 is necessary because it helps my printer deliver clear, sharp, and reliable results every time. When I use the original cartridge, my documents look professional, and my photos come out with better color quality. It gives me confidence that my printing will not be interrupted by poor ink flow or faded output.
My experience has also shown me that this cartridge is important for protecting my printer. Since it is designed specifically for Canon printers, it fits properly and works smoothly without causing leaks or printing errors. I do not have to worry as much about damage or wasted paper, which saves me both time and money in the long run.
I also need this cartridge because it makes printing more convenient for me. It is easy to install, dependable, and consistent, so I can focus on my work instead of troubleshooting printer problems. For me, the Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246 is not just an accessory—it is an essential part of keeping my printer performing at its best.
My Buying Guides on Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246
My Quick Take
When I first looked for the Canon Ink Cartridge 245 and 246, I realized the most important thing was matching the cartridge to my printer model before anything else. These cartridges are commonly used in many Canon PIXMA printers, and getting the right one made a big difference in print quality and reliability. I found that the black cartridge is usually the 245, while the color cartridge is typically the 246, so I always checked both before buying.
What I Looked for Before Buying
The first thing I checked was printer compatibility. I made sure my Canon printer supported the 245 and 246 cartridges, because even small model differences can matter. I also looked at whether I needed standard or XL versions, since the XL cartridges lasted longer and gave me better value if I printed often. Another thing I paid attention to was whether the package was original Canon or a compatible third-party option.
Print Quality I Expected
From my experience, original Canon cartridges gave me the most consistent results. My text came out sharp, and my color prints looked clean and accurate. When I used lower-cost alternatives, I sometimes noticed fading or uneven colors, so I learned that print quality really depends on the brand and ink formulation. If I needed documents for work or important photos, I preferred original cartridges.
Yield and Value for Money
I always considered page yield before making a purchase. If I printed only occasionally, the regular cartridges were enough for me. But when I had more documents to print, I found the XL versions more economical because I replaced them less often. I also compared the price per page instead of just the sticker price, since that gave me a better idea of real value.
Original vs Compatible Cartridges
I noticed that original Canon cartridges usually offered the safest choice for performance and printer protection. Compatible cartridges were cheaper, and sometimes they worked fine for everyday printing, but I had to be careful about quality. My rule became simple: if I wanted peace of mind and the best results, I chose original; if I wanted to save money for casual printing, I considered a trusted compatible brand.
Installation and Ease of Use
I liked that replacing the Canon 245 and 246 cartridges was usually straightforward. I just opened the printer cover, removed the empty cartridge, and clicked the new one into place. I made sure to handle the cartridge carefully and avoid touching the contacts or nozzles. Once installed correctly, my printer recognized them quickly and I could continue printing without much hassle.
How I Avoided Common Problems
I learned to store cartridges in a cool, dry place until I needed them. I also checked the expiration date and packaging seal before buying. If my printer showed an error, I reinstalled the cartridge and cleaned the contacts gently. These small steps helped me avoid wasted ink and printing interruptions.
My Final Advice
If I were buying Canon Ink Cartridge 245 and 246 again, I would first confirm my printer model, then decide whether I needed standard or XL cartridges. I would choose original Canon cartridges for the best quality and reliability, especially for important printing jobs. For budget printing, I would only buy compatible cartridges from a brand I trust. In my experience, the right cartridge choice saves time, money, and frustration.
Final Thoughts
In my view, the Canon Ink Cartridge 245 246 is a dependable choice for everyday printing, offering solid quality and consistent results. I find that using the right cartridge helps keep prints sharp while also supporting smooth printer performance. My takeaway is that choosing genuine or compatible options carefully can make a big difference in both print quality and value.
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