🖨️ Review: Canon PIXMA TS9521Ca – The Versatile All-in-One Inkjet for Home and Crafting
The Canon PIXMA TS9521Ca Wireless Home All-in-One Inkjet Printer positions itself as a powerhouse of versatility, designed to meet the demands of both general home users and creative enthusiasts, particularly crafters and scrapbookers. Combining print, copy, and scan functions with wide-format printing capabilities, this machine promises professional-quality output in a relatively compact, stylish package. But does it deliver on all its promises?
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| Review: Canon PIXMA TS9521Ca – The Versatile All-in-One Inkjet for Home and Crafting |
🌟 Key Features and Specifications
The TS9521Ca is a feature-rich AIO (All-in-One) device. Here is a quick look at what makes this printer stand out:
All-in-One Functionality: Print, Copy, and Scan.
Wide-Format Printing: Supports borderless printing up to $11" \times 17"$ (Tabloid/A3) and $12" \times 12"$ (Square).
5-Color Individual Ink System: Utilizes five separate ink tanks (Pigment Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Dye Black) for sharp text and vibrant photos.
Connectivity: Robust wireless options including Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, PIXMA Cloud Link, and support for smart home assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant). It also includes a built-in SD memory card reader and Ethernet/USB ports.
Paper Handling: Features a two-way paper feed—a 100-sheet front paper cassette and a 100-sheet rear tray—ideal for handling plain paper and specialty media like cardstock or photo paper.
Auto Document Feeder (ADF): A 20-sheet ADF for easy scanning and copying of multi-page documents.
Display: A user-friendly $4.3"$ LCD Touchscreen.
Automatic Duplex Printing: Saves paper by printing on both sides automatically.
🎨 Print Quality: Where the TS9521Ca Shines
The consensus among users and experts is clear: the Canon PIXMA TS9521Ca produces excellent print quality.
Photo and Graphics Output
Thanks to its five-ink system, the printer excels at producing detailed, vibrant, and professional-grade photos and graphics. The use of a separate pigment black ink ensures text documents are sharp, while the dye-based color inks and standard black ink deliver impressive color depth and near-continuous tone, making the dots invisible at normal viewing distances. The color gamut is considered good for a five-color machine, especially on Canon's specialty photo papers. This makes it a top choice for photographers, artists, and anyone needing high-fidelity image reproduction.
Crafting and Media Versatility
This printer is often marketed toward "crafters," and its media handling confirms this focus. The rear paper tray is robust and essential for feeding thicker media like cardstock, digital watercolor paper, and iron-on vinyl consistently. Its ability to print on large $11" \times 17"$ and $12" \times 12"$ square media, often used in scrapbooking and graphic design, is a major advantage at this price point. Furthermore, it includes a multi-purpose tray for printing directly onto CD/DVD/Blu-ray discs, a feature rarely seen in modern home AIOs.
🚀 Performance and Ease of Use
Speed
While not designed to be a dedicated office workhorse, the TS9521Ca offers respectable speeds for a home-focused inkjet. It boasts ISO speeds of up to 15 images per minute (ipm) for black-and-white and 10 ipm for color. For photo printing, a $4" \times 6"$ snapshot can be produced quickly, often faster than competing models.
Setup and Connectivity
Setting up the TS9521Ca is generally reported as a quick and easy process. Its wide array of connectivity options makes printing seamless:
Wireless Printing: Users can print from virtually any compatible device (smartphones, tablets, laptops) using popular services like AirPrint and the Canon PRINT app.
Smart Home Integration: Compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant allows for voice-activated printing, a neat feature for a modern smart home.
On-Device Control: The $4.3"$ touchscreen provides intuitive control for walk-up tasks like copying, scanning, and accessing built-in craft templates without needing a PC.
Paper Handling Efficiency
The dual input trays—the 100-sheet cassette and the 100-sheet rear tray—allow users to keep plain paper loaded in the cassette while using the rear tray for demanding specialty media, streamlining the printing process. The 20-sheet ADF simplifies scanning and copying multi-page legal documents, though some users have occasionally reported paper jamming issues, especially with thicker papers or after prolonged use.
⚖️ The Trade-offs and User Concerns
No printer is perfect, and the TS9521Ca has a few notable drawbacks that potential buyers should consider:
Ink Costs: As a cartridge-based inkjet, the long-term running costs for ink may be higher compared to MegaTank/EcoTank models. There is no special ink-savings option.
Longevity and Durability: While many users report years of excellent performance, a noticeable number of reviews express frustration with units failing or encountering mechanical issues (like persistent paper jams or ADF/scanner connection problems) after just a year or two, sometimes just outside the standard warranty period.
Size: While relatively compact for an AIO that supports $11" \times 17"$ printing, it is still a larger machine than standard letter-size home printers.
🎯 Conclusion: Who Should Buy the Canon PIXMA TS9521Ca?
The Canon PIXMA TS9521Ca stands out as an exceptional choice for a very specific market segment: creative home users, crafters, and small businesses that require high-quality, wide-format photo and specialty media printing.
If your main priorities are:
Stellar Photo and Graphics Print Quality.
The ability to print on $11" \times 17"$ or $12" \times 12"$ media and cardstock.
Advanced wireless and smart-home connectivity.
...then the TS9521Ca is arguably one of the best choices available. Its combination of quality, features, and media versatility at a reasonable price point is hard to beat.
However, if your primary goal is high-volume document printing with the lowest possible running cost, you may be better served by a dedicated office printer or a tank-based inkjet model. For the creative individual looking for a reliable, versatile, and high-quality crafting companion, the PIXMA TS9521Ca is highly recommended.