Review: Canon PIXMA TR7020a All-in-One Wireless Color Inkjet Printer – A Compact Workhorse for the Home Office
🤩 Introduction: The All-in-One for the Modern Home
In today's hybrid work and learning environment, a reliable, multi-functional printer is an essential piece of equipment for any home or small office. The Canon PIXMA TR7020a All-in-One Wireless Color Inkjet Printer steps up to this challenge, promising a compact design without sacrificing key features like duplex printing, mobile connectivity, and an Auto Document Feeder (ADF). Marketed as a versatile solution for printing documents, homework, and family photos, the TR7020a also boasts modern convenience with its "Works with Alexa" compatibility.
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| Review: Canon PIXMA TR7020a All-in-One Wireless Color Inkjet Printer – A Compact Workhorse for the Home Office |
This comprehensive review will delve into the printer's design, features, performance, and overall value proposition, helping you decide if this is the right printing solution for your needs.
🛠️ Design and Setup: Small Footprint, Smart Features
The PIXMA TR7020a presents itself as a compact and stylish all-in-one unit, often available in a sleek black finish. Its dimensions are manageable for placement on a desk or shelf, a significant advantage for users with limited space.
Key Design Highlights:
Compact Form Factor: The design focuses on minimizing desk space.
1.44" OLED Display & LED Status Bar: The small, bright OLED screen and an innovative LED status bar offer intuitive control and quick updates on the printer's status, even from a distance.
Dual Paper Feeding: A major convenience feature, the TR7020a includes both a front paper cassette (100 sheets) and a rear paper tray (100 sheets of plain paper or photo paper). This allows users to load both plain and photo paper simultaneously, eliminating the need to constantly swap media.
35-Sheet Auto Document Feeder (ADF): A critical component for home office productivity, the ADF allows for easy copying or scanning of multi-page documents up to Legal size (8.5" x 14").
Initial setup is generally reported as straightforward, primarily guided through the Canon PRINT app, which uses a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. However, a small minority of users have reported minor difficulties with persistent Wi-Fi connectivity, though Canon provides extensive online support.
🚀 Performance: Speed and Print Quality
The TR7020a balances acceptable speeds with Canon's signature print quality, making it suitable for general household and office tasks.
Print Quality:
Canon's Hybrid Ink System, which utilizes a pigment-based black ink for crisp text documents and a dye-based color cartridge (Tri-Color: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) for vibrant images, is at the heart of its performance.
Documents: Black text documents are consistently sharp and highly legible, which is paramount for professional or academic paperwork.
Color Graphics: Color charts and presentations are rendered with solid fills and appealing colors.
Photos: While photos are good, the TR7020a uses a two-cartridge system (one black, one tri-color) and is not designed for professional photo printing. Serious photo enthusiasts might find the color vibrancy and detail lackluster compared to Canon's higher-end 5- or 6-ink PIXMA models. For casual family photos, however, the quality is certainly adequate.
Print Speed:
Speed is acceptable for a printer in this class, but not blazing fast.
| Task | Speed (Approx.) | Note |
| Monochrome (Black) | 13.0 ipm (Images Per Minute) | Good for text-heavy documents. |
| Color | 6.8 ipm | Average speed for mixed color documents. |
| 4" x 6" Borderless Photo | Approx. 43 seconds | A noticeable wait time for photo output. |
The Auto Duplex Printing feature (automatic two-sided printing) is a key productivity and paper-saving addition, although, as expected, it slightly reduces the overall print speed.
💡 Features and Connectivity: Smart and Versatile
The strength of the PIXMA TR7020a lies in its comprehensive feature set designed for modern wireless use.
Wireless & Mobile:
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Ensures flexible wireless printing from nearly any device.
Canon PRINT App: The central hub for setup, printing, scanning, and monitoring ink levels from a smartphone or tablet.
Seamless Mobile Printing: Supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria® Print Service for easy printing from iOS and Android devices without needing extra drivers.
Copying and Scanning:
Auto Document Feeder (ADF): The 35-sheet ADF is a game-changer for scanning or copying multi-page contracts, invoices, or research papers quickly. This is often cited as a key advantage over similar models without an ADF.
High Scan Resolution: The flatbed scanner offers a good optical resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi, suitable for detailed document and photo scanning.
Voice Activation:
Works with Alexa: This integration allows users to issue voice commands via an Alexa-enabled device to check ink levels or print various documents (like coloring pages or grocery lists) from Canon's template library, adding a unique layer of convenience.
💰 Running Costs: The Ink Consideration
Like many dual-cartridge inkjet printers, the running costs are the main point of contention. The TR7020a uses two FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) cartridges: one PG-260 (Pigment Black) and one CL-261 (Color).
Pigment Black Ink: Excellent for sharp text, but using only one color cartridge means that if one color (e.g., Yellow) runs out, you must replace the entire tri-color cartridge, which can lead to wastage.
Cost per Page (CPP): The CPP is generally higher than models that use individual ink tanks (like Canon's MegaTank line) or most laser printers. This printer is best suited for low-to-moderate volume printing. Users who print frequently should consider the XL size cartridges (PG-260 XL / CL-261 XL) to reduce the overall cost per page.
⚖️ Verdict: Who Should Buy the PIXMA TR7020a?
The Canon PIXMA TR7020a is a well-rounded and feature-rich All-in-One printer that strikes a near-perfect balance for the home office user.
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Auto Document Feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning/copying. | Higher running costs due to the two-cartridge system. |
| Auto-Duplex Printing saves paper. | Photo quality is adequate but not vibrant compared to 5/6-ink models. |
| Compact Design and Dual Paper Trays. | Occasional user-reported Wi-Fi connectivity glitches. |
| Excellent Text Quality and solid color documents. | Sluggish photo print speeds. |
| Alexa Integration for modern convenience. |
The PIXMA TR7020a is highly recommended for:
Students and Families: Excellent for printing homework, documents, and occasional photos with its easy mobile connectivity.
Home Office Users: The ADF and auto-duplexing capabilities are ideal for managing paperwork, scanning contracts, and handling moderate-volume office tasks.
Users with Limited Space: Its compact size is a major selling point.
If your primary need is high-volume, cost-effective printing (thousands of pages) or professional-grade photo printing, you might be better off with a dedicated MegaTank or a higher-end, multi-ink PIXMA model, respectively. For a versatile, reliable, and convenient AIO that handles everyday documents with ease, the Canon PIXMA TR7020a is an excellent choice.