For years, my home office has been a revolving door of printers, each promising the world and delivering a unique set of frustrations. I remember an old behemoth of a machine that weighed a ton, guzzled five different ink cartridges, and seemed to require a complex ritual of driver reinstalls every other Tuesday. When it finally gave up the ghost, my search began anew. I needed a true all-in-one: something that could print crisp work reports, scan multi-page contracts without me feeding each sheet by hand, handle the occasional school project in vibrant color, and not demand a king’s ransom in ink. The reality of the modern home office, a chaotic blend of professional and personal life, demands a device that is versatile, reliable, and affordable. The quest for this perfect balance led me directly to the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer, a machine that packs an impressive feature list into a compact, budget-friendly frame.
- Wireless 4-in-1 (print | copy | scan | fax)..Power Consumption: 7W (0.8W Standby / 0.3W Off)
- 8.8 / 4.4 ipm print speed.
What to Consider Before Buying a Home All-in-One Printer
A home all-in-one printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for bridging our digital and physical worlds. It’s the command center for turning a business proposal into a boardroom-ready document, a digital photo into a cherished memory for the mantelpiece, and a signed contract into a secure digital archive. The main benefit is consolidation: instead of separate devices for printing, scanning, copying, and even faxing, you have one machine that handles it all, saving space and money. The ideal customer for this type of product is someone running a home business, a student navigating coursework, or a family managing everything from tax documents to creative projects. It’s for those who need versatility without the industrial capacity—and cost—of a large office machine. However, it might not be suitable for those who exclusively print high-volume text documents, where a monochrome laser printer might be more cost-effective per page, or for professional photographers who require specialized, wide-format photo printers with more advanced ink systems.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A home office is often a shared space. Before you buy, measure your designated area. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 measures 11.7″D x 17.2″W x 7.5″H, a relatively compact footprint. Remember to account for the space needed to open the scanner lid, extend paper trays, and access the ink cartridges, ensuring it fits comfortably without overwhelming your desk.
- Capacity/Performance: Look beyond just the price tag at the performance specs. Print speed, measured in images per minute (ipm), tells you how quickly it handles jobs; the TR4720’s 8.8 ipm for black and 4.4 ipm for color is standard for this class. Features like a 20-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and automatic two-sided (duplex) printing are huge time-savers for multi-page jobs, and a 100-sheet paper tray means less frequent refilling for moderate use.
- Materials & Durability: At the budget-friendly end of the market, printers are typically constructed from plastic. While this keeps them lightweight and affordable, it’s important to manage expectations. Some users note that components like the scanner lid and paper trays can feel a bit flimsy. This is a common trade-off for the price, but it’s fine for typical home use where it won’t be subjected to the heavy-handed treatment of a busy corporate office.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A printer’s biggest test is how simple it is to set up and maintain. Look for seamless Wi-Fi setup, intuitive mobile apps for printing from your phone or tablet, and a straightforward ink replacement process. The TR4720 uses a two-cartridge system (one black, one tri-color), which is simpler than multi-cartridge systems but can be less efficient if you use one color heavily. Consider the cost and availability of replacement ink, as this is the primary ongoing expense.
While the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is an excellent inkjet choice for many, those with high-volume, text-heavy printing needs might find a laser printer more economical in the long run. For a broader look at that technology and its top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide.
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First Impressions: Feature-Packed and Ready for Work
Unboxing the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer was a straightforward affair. It arrived well-packed and, at just under 13 pounds, was refreshingly lightweight and easy to position on my desk—a welcome change from my previous boat anchor of a printer. The initial setup is guided by on-screen instructions on the small LCD display. It involves removing some shipping tape, installing the two ink cartridges (one black, one color), and loading paper. The most crucial step, connecting to my home Wi-Fi network, was surprisingly painless. Many users echoed this sentiment, calling the wireless setup “SEAMLESS.” Within minutes, I was connected and able to print directly from my laptop and iPhone using the Canon PRINT app. The build is undeniably plastic, and as some have noted, components like the scanner lid and ink access door don’t have the robust, satisfying click of a premium machine. However, for its price point, the design is smart and functional, folding up into a tidy, compact box when not in use. It feels designed specifically for the realities of a modern, multi-device home environment, and you can see its full feature set and user reviews online.
Key Benefits
- Comprehensive 4-in-1 functionality (Print, Scan, Copy, Fax).
- Includes time-saving Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and auto duplex printing.
- Seamless wireless setup and excellent mobile app integration.
- Affordable initial purchase price and simplified two-cartridge ink system.
Potential Drawbacks
- Build quality feels flimsy and lightweight in some areas.
- The LCD screen is small and not backlit, making it hard to read in low light.
A Deep Dive into the Canon PIXMA TR4720’s Performance
A printer’s value isn’t just in its spec sheet; it’s in how it performs day-to-day. After putting the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer through its paces—printing everything from dense text documents and spreadsheets to color photos and scanning multi-page agreements—I’ve developed a clear picture of its strengths and weaknesses.
Setup and Wireless Freedom: A Mixed Bag
For me, and for many users, the initial setup was a highlight. The process of connecting the printer to a Wi-Fi network can often be a source of immense frustration, but Canon has refined this experience considerably. The printer quickly found my network, I entered the password using the control panel buttons, and it was online. From there, downloading the Canon PRINT app on my iPhone and iPad was all it took to start printing wirelessly. One user perfectly captured this experience, noting it was “beautifully connected to my iPhone 13, IPad and obsolete iMac from 2007!! It’s an absolute pleasure to navigate.” This is the modern printing experience we all crave: the ability to print a document from the couch with just a few taps on a phone. However, it’s not a flawless victory for everyone. Some users reported difficulties, needing to restart the printer or their router to establish a connection, and a few mentioned having to call customer support for assistance with scanning software. My advice is to be patient and follow the on-screen prompts carefully. Once connected, though, the wireless stability is solid. I never experienced a dropped connection during my testing, and print jobs sent from any of my devices started promptly.
Print, Scan, and Copy Quality: Exceeding Expectations for the Price
The ultimate test of any printer is the quality of its output. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer utilizes a hybrid ink system with a pigment-based black for sharp, smudge-resistant text and dye-based colors for vibrant images. For everyday documents—reports, recipes, homework, shipping labels—the quality is excellent. Text is crisp and highly legible, even at smaller font sizes, rivaling what you’d expect from a more expensive machine. This was confirmed by users who found the text prints “perfect.” When it comes to color printing and photos on plain paper, the results are very good for general use. Colors are well-saturated and accurate, making graphs, charts, and school project images pop. I printed a few 4×6 photos on glossy photo paper, and while it won’t replace a dedicated photo printer for a professional photographer, the quality is more than sufficient for family albums and casual display, thanks to the high 4800 x 1200 DPI resolution. However, one user noted that for work requiring “finer details,” it might not be the best choice, which is a fair assessment. It’s a fantastic generalist, not a specialist. The flatbed scanner and copier function equally well, producing clear and accurate reproductions of documents and photos. The quality is a real strong point for a printer available at this price point.
The Workhorse Features: ADF and Auto Duplexing
What truly elevates the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer from a basic home printer to a genuine home office tool are its Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and automatic duplex printing. These are features once reserved for much larger, more expensive office machines. The 20-sheet ADF is a game-changer. I needed to scan a 15-page contract, and instead of lifting the lid and placing each page one by one, I simply put the stack in the feeder and let the machine do the work. It fed smoothly and created a single PDF file effortlessly. This feature alone saves an incredible amount of time and tedium for anyone who regularly handles multi-page documents. Similarly, the automatic duplex printing is a fantastic paper and money saver. Being able to print on both sides of a page without having to manually flip and re-feed the paper is a convenience that’s hard to live without once you’ve had it. While one user reported an issue with their ADF feeding paper slightly skewed, my unit performed perfectly. These two features are the core of the printer’s value proposition, transforming it into a highly efficient productivity machine for home use.
Ink Consumption and Long-Term Costs
The Achilles’ heel of any budget inkjet printer is often the cost of ink. The TR4720 uses a two-cartridge system: one black (PG-275) and one tri-color (CL-276). Canon also offers XL high-yield versions, which I highly recommend for better long-term value. One user, replacing an older Canon, found this new system “much more affordable” than their previous five-cartridge setup. The simplicity is nice, but the tri-color cartridge has a downside: if you run out of just one color (say, cyan), you have to replace the entire cartridge, which can feel wasteful. My testing was done with the included “starter” cartridges, which have a notoriously low page yield. As one frustrated user pointed out, the “low ink” warning can come on shockingly fast, sometimes after as few as 30 pages. This is a common industry practice designed to get you buying full-size cartridges sooner. To get a true sense of the printer’s running costs, you must factor in the price of full-size or XL cartridges. For moderate home printing, the costs are reasonable, but if you print hundreds of color pages a month, a printer with individual ink tanks might be a more economical choice in the long run. You can easily check the latest price on replacement ink cartridges online to factor this into your budget.
What Other Users Are Saying
Scouring user feedback reveals a consistent narrative that aligns with my own findings. The overwhelming majority of positive reviews praise the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer for its easy setup and excellent wireless connectivity. One happy customer stated it was “exceptionally helpful for my personal and professional needs,” highlighting the seamless printing from their laptop and mobile phone. Another student found it to be a “very very very affordable, classy and works very good” device, emphasizing that the print quality was “hellagood” for their needs.
On the other hand, the criticisms are just as consistent. The most common complaint centers on the build quality, with one detailed review noting how the “whole unit flexes and shakes from flimsy components.” Another recurring issue is the unlit LCD screen, which is difficult to read without direct light. Finally, ink consumption, particularly with the starter cartridges, is a frequent point of frustration, with users feeling that the low ink warnings appear far too quickly. One user found themselves in a quirky situation where the printer would generate error codes that required unplugging the machine, which would then delete stored fax info, highlighting a potential software annoyance for power users.
Understanding the Ink Ecosystem: Costs & Alternatives
The initial purchase of a printer is only part of the story; the real long-term cost lies in its consumables. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is built around a specific two-cartridge system. To make an informed decision, it’s wise to understand this system in the context of other common technologies on the market, represented here by popular cartridges.
1. HP 65XL Black High-yield Ink Cartridge
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- This cartridge works with: HP AMP 100, 105, 120, 125, 130; HP DeskJet 2622, 2624, 2625, 2628, 2635, 2636, 2640, 2652, 2655, 2680, 3720, 3722, 3752, 3755,...
This cartridge is a direct parallel to Canon’s own XL offering. It represents the ink ecosystem for HP’s popular DeskJet and ENVY printer lines, which are major competitors to the PIXMA series. Like the Canon system, it’s designed for users who want good quality text and occasional color from a straightforward two-cartridge setup. Opting for the “XL” or high-yield version is almost always the more economical choice, offering a lower cost per page for those who print regularly. If you’re comparing a PIXMA to a similar HP model, looking at the price and page yield of their respective XL cartridges is the best way to estimate long-term running costs.
2. HP 134A Black Toner Cartridge
- HP Toner is engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- This cartridge works with: HP LaserJet M209dw, M209dwe; HP LaserJet MFP M234dw, M234dwe, M234sdw, M234sdwe
This is not ink; it’s toner. This cartridge is designed for monochrome laser printers, like HP’s LaserJet M209 series. This represents a completely different approach to printing. A user who primarily prints text-based documents—essays, reports, invoices, shipping labels—in high volume would be much better served by a laser printer using a cartridge like this. While the upfront cost of the printer and the toner cartridge is higher, the cost per page is significantly lower, and a single toner cartridge can print thousands of pages. It’s the ideal choice for efficiency and economy in black-and-white printing, but it cannot produce color.
3. HP 64 Tri-color Ink Cartridge
- Print high-quality documents with Original HP ink cartridges designed to deliver worry-free performance and consistent results you can count on. Original...
- What's in the Box: 1 New HP 64 Tri-Color Original Ink Cartridge (N9J89AN)
This cartridge highlights the core design of the Canon TR4720’s color system. It’s a single cartridge that contains all three colors (cyan, magenta, and yellow). This design is common in entry-level and mid-range all-in-ones because it simplifies the printer’s mechanics and the replacement process for the user. The major drawback, as mentioned earlier, is wastefulness. If your work involves printing a lot of blue logos, you’ll deplete the cyan ink long before the magenta and yellow, but you’ll be forced to replace the entire cartridge. More expensive, photo-centric printers often use individual ink tanks for each color, which is more efficient but adds to the complexity and upfront cost of the machine.
Final Verdict: An Impressive Value for the Modern Home
After extensive testing, it’s clear that the Canon PIXMA TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer is a formidable contender in the budget home office market. It successfully packs premium features like an Automatic Document Feeder and auto duplex printing into a package that is both affordable and easy to use. While it makes compromises in build quality and print speed to hit its attractive price point, the core performance is solid. The print quality is excellent for text and more than adequate for everyday color documents and photos, and the wireless connectivity is, for the most part, seamless and reliable.
I would confidently recommend this printer to students, families, and anyone running a small home-based business with moderate printing needs. If you regularly need to scan or copy multi-page documents, the value proposition here is outstanding. However, if you are a high-volume printer or demand professional-grade photo output, you should look at more specialized models. For everyone else, this is a versatile, feature-rich machine that punches well above its weight. If you’re looking for a do-it-all printer that balances features, performance, and price, the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is an excellent choice worth checking out.
Last update on 2025-10-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API