Canon PIXMA TR160 Review (2026): Honest Pros, Cons & Who It's Really For
Last Updated:Disclosure: Castle Ink sells compatible ink and toner cartridges. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases through links on this page, including Amazon links. This doesn't affect our opinions or conclusions.
Our review process is explained in our printer testing methodology. For more options in this category, see our Best Printer for College Students guide.
Quick Verdict
The Canon PIXMA TR160 is a battery-ready, wireless portable printer built to travel with you rather than sit on a desk. Its 50-sheet tray and small 1.44-inch display make it genuinely mobile without feeling like a toy, and it prints from a phone, tablet, or laptop over Wi-Fi just as easily as a full-size all-in-one. The tradeoffs are the ones you'd expect from a portable machine: no scan or copy function, a higher cost per page than a full-size printer, and a battery that's sold separately from the base unit in some bundles. At around $199.99 on Amazon, it's a niche but well-built pick for anyone who genuinely needs to print away from a desk.
At a Glance
- Functions: Print only (no scan or copy)
- Paper handling: 50-sheet paper tray
- Display: 1.44-inch screen
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, wireless printing from phone, tablet, or laptop
- Power: AC adapter, with optional battery for fully cordless printing
- Ink: Canon PGI-35 (black) and CLI-36 (color) cartridges
- Rating: 4.3/5 from over 680 Amazon ratings
- Price: Around $199.99
Who This Printer Is For
This is built for people who genuinely print away from a desk: real estate agents printing documents on-site, delivery drivers printing labels or paperwork, or anyone who travels frequently and occasionally needs a hard copy without hunting for a business center. Its compact size and optional battery make it realistic to toss in a bag, and Wi-Fi printing means you're not tied to a cable. If portability is the priority over cost per page or extra functions, it delivers on that promise.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you just want an affordable printer for a home desk — a standard desktop all-in-one like the Canon PIXMA MG3620 will cost less upfront, print more cheaply per page, and add scanning and copying you'd otherwise be missing entirely. It's also not a fit if you print in any real volume, since the 50-sheet tray and portable-printer ink costs are built around occasional, lower-volume use rather than daily heavy printing.
What People Love
Owners consistently highlight how genuinely portable this printer is compared to older "portable" printers that were still bulky. The wireless setup and print quality for text and simple documents get solid marks, and several buyers specifically mention using it for real estate, field service, or travel work where printing on location matters. The compact 50-sheet tray is seen as reasonable for a portable device rather than a real limitation, given the use case.
The Legitimate Complaints
The most common complaint is cost per page — ink for a small, portable cartridge costs more per printed page than a full-size printer's cartridges, which adds up if you print more than occasionally. Some buyers also note that the battery is sold separately in certain bundles, so it's worth checking whether a listing includes it before buying if cordless use matters to you. A smaller number of owners mention the small display can be fiddly to navigate for anyone with larger hands or vision difficulty.
How It Compares
- Canon PIXMA MG3620 (Desktop Alternative, ~$104): Print, scan, copy at a lower cost per page — best if you don't actually need portability.
- Canon PIXMA TR160 (This Model, ~$200): Print-only, battery-ready, and genuinely pocketable — best for on-the-go printing needs.
- Canon SELPHY CP1500 (Photo Alternative, ~$175): A compact dye-sublimation photo printer built specifically for prints and photo paper rather than documents.
Desktop Alternative: Canon PIXMA MG3620
If you don't need to print away from a desk, our Canon PIXMA MG3620 review covers a budget desktop all-in-one with scanning and copying built in, at a lower cost per page.
Ink and Supplies
The TR160 uses a Canon PGI-35 black cartridge and a Canon CLI-36 color cartridge. Castle Ink stocks compatible PGI-35 cartridges at a discount to genuine Canon pricing, making replacement ink cheaper for this portable model than buying genuine Canon cartridges alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the TR160 scan or copy documents?
No, it's a print-only device. If you need scanning and copying in a portable form factor, you'll need to pair it with a separate mobile scanning app or a full-size all-in-one.
Do I need to buy the battery separately?
It depends on the bundle. Some listings include the battery for fully cordless use, while others sell the base unit with just an AC adapter, so check the listing details before buying if cordless printing matters to you.
How much paper does it hold?
The built-in tray holds up to 50 sheets, which is designed for occasional printing on the go rather than high-volume jobs.
Bottom Line
The Canon PIXMA TR160 does exactly what it promises: genuinely portable, battery-ready printing for people who need documents away from a desk. It's not the right printer if you just want an affordable home all-in-one, but for real estate, field service, or frequent travel, it's a well-built, purpose-specific tool worth its higher cost per page.
Where to Buy
Shop Compatible Ink at Castle Ink
Castle Ink stocks compatible Canon PGI-35 ink cartridges at a discount to genuine Canon pricing. Browse our Canon ink cartridges collection to find the right cartridges for this printer.