🖨️ Review: The Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer – A Compact Workhorse for the Home Office
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer is designed for the modern home or small office environment, offering a versatile 4-in-1 solution that handles printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. The specific bundle—often packaged as the Black 5074C002 with added essentials like a DGE USB Connection Cable and a Small Business Software Kit—aims to provide a complete, plug-and-play setup for users needing immediate productivity. But does this budget-friendly all-in-one truly deliver on its promise of convenience and performance?
This in-depth review breaks down the features, performance, and overall value of the Canon PIXMA TR4720, assessing its suitability for the low-volume user who demands both utility and high-quality photo output.
 |
| Review: The Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer – A Compact Workhorse for the Home Office |
🛠️ Design and Core Features
The PIXMA TR4720 is commendably compact for a machine that includes an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and fax capability, making it an excellent choice for desks with limited space. Its 4-in-1 functionality is the main draw, consolidating several devices into one sleek black unit.
All-in-One Utility
Printer: Uses a 2-Cartridge Hybrid Ink System (one pigment black, one tri-color dye) which is easy to install. It supports a print resolution of up to $4800 \times 1200$ dpi, a key factor in its excellent photo quality.
Scanner/Copier: The flatbed scanner offers up to $600 \times 1200$ dpi optical resolution. Crucially, the inclusion of a 20-sheet Auto Document Feeder (ADF) is a significant productivity boost for multi-page documents, although it is manual-duplexing only for scanning/copying.
Fax: The built-in fax capability, a feature often omitted in entry-level printers, makes it a true "small office" machine, with a 50-page memory capacity.
Connectivity and Ease of Use
Connectivity is a clear strength. The printer is designed for modern wireless environments, supporting Wi-Fi networking and a host of mobile printing options, including AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, and the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY App. Initial setup is facilitated through the Canon app, which guides the user step-by-step. The bundle's inclusion of a DGE USB Connection Cable ensures connectivity even when wireless setup is difficult or unavailable.
The main control panel features a 2-Line LCD display and physical buttons, including a numeric keypad for faxing. While functional, the small, non-backlit LCD screen has been a point of critique, often requiring good room lighting or a "flashlight" to read easily, according to many users.
🚀 Performance: Speed and Quality Analysis
A printer's value is ultimately defined by its output quality and speed, areas where the TR4720 presents a mixed but compelling profile for its target audience.
Print Quality: Excellent Photos, Decent Text
This PIXMA model adheres to Canon's reputation for superior photo output.
Photo Printing: The TR4720 excels here, producing prints with rich, vibrant colors and impressive detail. It handily outperforms many competitors in its price class, making it a fantastic choice for families or hobbyists who frequently print 4"x6" or 5"x7" borderless photos.
Document Printing (Text): Text quality is generally clear and legible, good enough for most everyday documents, reports, and school assignments. However, expert testing suggests that black text can sometimes appear less sharp or slightly gray compared to laser or more business-focused inkjet models.
Speed: The Trade-Off
Speed is the main area where the TR4720 reveals its entry-level positioning.
ISO Speeds are rated at approximately 8.8 ipm (black) and 4.4 ipm (color) for documents. This is considered sluggish for high-volume office tasks.
Photo Speed is also slow, with a 4"x6" borderless photo taking around 65 seconds.
While it features Auto 2-Sided (Duplex) Printing to save paper, the overall pace means the TR4720 is best suited for environments with low-to-moderate printing volumes (e.g., under 100 pages per month), where quality is prioritized over rapid production.
💰 Operating Costs: The Ink Cartridge Catch
The biggest consideration for any user looking at the PIXMA TR4720 is the cost of ownership, driven by its ink system. The printer uses a two-cartridge system: one for pigment black (PG-275) and one for all three color dyes (CL-276).
High Running Costs: Using only a Tri-Color cartridge means that if you deplete just one color (e.g., Yellow), you must replace the entire cartridge, often leading to wasted ink. Per-page costs for text and color prints, even with the high-yield 'XL' cartridges, tend to be significantly higher than competitor models using individual ink tanks or supertank systems.
Ink-Efficient Use Case: The high running cost means the TR4720 is not economical for high-volume printing. It's ideal for the user who prints infrequently but still needs the full feature set (ADF, Fax, high-quality photos) for those occasional tasks. Canon does offer subscription plans (like PIXMA Print Plan) which can help manage costs.
🎁 Bundle Value: The DGE USB Cable and Software Kit
The inclusion of the DGE USB Connection Cable and Small Business Software Kit adds genuine value to the 5074C002 bundle:
USB Cable: A simple but essential addition. While Wi-Fi is standard, a wired connection is invaluable for initial setup or troubleshooting connection issues, ensuring immediate out-of-the-box functionality.
Small Business Software Kit: This type of kit often includes tools for document management, basic accounting, and template creation, enhancing the TR4720's utility in a home office setting by adding a layer of professional software capability.
✅ The Verdict: Who Should Buy the Canon PIXMA TR4720?
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer is a clear choice for a specific type of consumer.
| Aspect | Summary |
| Best For | Low-volume home or small office users who prioritize photo quality and need the versatility of an ADF and Fax. |
| Pros | Excellent Photo Print Quality; Compact Design; Auto Document Feeder (ADF); Auto Duplex Printing; Full 4-in-1 (Print, Copy, Scan, Fax); Excellent Wireless/Mobile Connectivity. |
| Cons | High Cost Per Page (due to 2-cartridge system); Slow Document Print Speeds; Small, difficult-to-read 2-Line LCD Screen. |
If your primary need is a printer that can occasionally print beautiful photos and offers the rare combination of an ADF and Fax in a compact size, and you won't be churning out hundreds of text pages every month, the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is an excellent, feature-rich, and affordable device. However, high-volume users or those prioritizing the absolute lowest running costs should look towards Supertank (EcoTank) or laser alternatives.
The 5074C002 bundle, with its practical cable and software additions, solidifies the TR4720's position as a truly all-in-one starter kit for the efficient, low-key home office.