Canon PIXMA G3270 Review (2026): Honest Pros, Cons & Who It's Really For
Last Updated:Heads up: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, Castle Ink may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend printers we have personally researched and that have strong, long-running owner feedback on Amazon. Pricing and availability change frequently — always check the current price on Amazon before buying.
How we evaluate printers: This review is based on Castle Ink's printer ranking methodology, which weighs aggregated customer reviews, professional review cross-checks, total cost of ownership, and specs/feature fit. Read our full ranking and recommendation methodology.
Quick verdict
The Canon PIXMA G3270 is Canon's entry-level MegaTank printer, and it undercuts most tank-based competitors on price while still including roughly two years of ink in the box. It's a strong fit for households that print mostly documents with occasional photos and want to permanently escape cartridge costs, without paying extra for auto-duplex or a document feeder, neither of which this model has.
→ Check the current price of the Canon PIXMA G3270 on Amazon
At a glance
- Price: Around $205.92
- Rating: 4.1/5 from nearly 5,000 Amazon ratings
- Functions: Print, scan, copy
- Print speed: Up to 11 ipm black, 6 ipm color
- Paper capacity: 100-sheet single tray
- Duplex: No automatic duplex (single-sided only)
- Cartridges: Cartridge-free MegaTank system, refillable ink bottles (up to 6,000 pages black / 7,700 color per set)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
Who this printer is for
- Budget-focused buyers who want tank-printer economics at one of the lowest entry prices Canon offers.
- Home users who print a steady mix of documents and photos and are comfortable with a basic 1.35-inch LCD display and no touchscreen.
- Anyone replacing a cartridge printer where ink costs have become the bigger ongoing expense.
What people love about it
- Exceptionally high page yield per ink set — up to 6,000 black-and-white pages or 7,700 color pages before needing a refill.
- Straightforward, mess-free ink filling process that most owners describe as quick and satisfying rather than fiddly.
- Print quality for both text and photos is regularly praised as sharp and vividly colored for the price.
- Compact footprint compared to larger MegaTank and EcoTank siblings.
What buyers complain about
- No automatic duplex printing, so two-sided documents must be flipped manually.
- No automatic document feeder, meaning multi-page scans and copies are done one sheet at a time.
- The small 1.35-inch LCD display is basic compared to touchscreen competitors.
- As with any inkjet, a portion of owners report print head clogs if the printer sits unused for long stretches.
Cheaper alternative: Canon PIXMA TR4720
If tank-based printing is more than you need for occasional light-duty use, our Canon PIXMA TR4720 review covers a smaller, cartridge-based option that costs less upfront, though you'll spend more on ink over time.
Upgrade pick: Brother MFC-J4335DW
If you need automatic duplex printing, an automatic document feeder, and fax capability, our Brother MFC-J4335DW review covers a more feature-rich home-office all-in-one for a similar price.
Ink costs: what you're really saving
Canon estimates up to two years of ink included in the box for average use, and the G3270's included ink bottles are rated for roughly 6,000 black-and-white or 7,700 color pages per set — among the highest page yields we've seen in this price tier. Replacement GI-21 ink bottle sets typically run $30–$40 for a full four-color set, working out to a fraction of a cent per page, which is dramatically cheaper than standard Canon ink cartridges over the life of the printer.
Setup tips that prevent the most common complaints
Follow the included ink-charging sequence exactly and don't skip the initial print-head priming step — most reports of streaky or faded print quality trace back to an incomplete initial ink charge. If Wi-Fi setup fails on the first attempt, try connecting via USB first to complete the initial software setup, then switch to wireless afterward. And like all inkjets, print something at least weekly to prevent the print head from drying out if the printer will be idle for extended periods.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Canon PIXMA G3270 come with ink already installed?
Yes, it ships with a full set of GI-21 ink bottles that you pour into the internal tanks during setup, which is included in Canon's "up to two years of ink" estimate.
Can the G3270 print on both sides of the paper automatically?
No, it only supports manual duplex printing — you'll need to flip and reinsert pages yourself for two-sided documents.
Does it have an automatic document feeder?
No, the G3270 uses a flatbed scanner only, so multi-page scans and copies need to be done one page at a time.
Is genuine Canon ink required?
Canon designs the G3270 around its GI-21 ink bottles, and we'd recommend sticking with genuine ink to protect print quality and avoid potential warranty issues.
Bottom line
The Canon PIXMA G3270 is one of the most affordable ways into tank-printer economics, backed by strong page yields and thousands of positive Amazon reviews. It's a smart choice for budget-conscious households that don't need auto-duplex or a document feeder — if you do need those features, see our upgrade pick above.
→ Check the current price of the Canon PIXMA G3270 on Amazon
Heads up: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, Castle Ink may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend printers we have personally researched and that have strong, long-running owner feedback on Amazon. Pricing and availability change frequently — always check the current price on Amazon before buying.