What Toner Does the Canon imageCLASS MF4890dw Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Canon imageCLASS MF4890dw uses Canon 128 toner: the Canon Cartridge 128 (part number 3500B001AA), rated at about 2,100 pages. The imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so there's no separate drum to buy, and Canon never made a high-yield version. Castle Ink stocks a compatible Canon 128 for $31.95.
The MF4890dw was the top model of Canon's MF4700/MF4800 family, above the MF4770n and MF4880dw, and it shares Cartridge 128 with them and with the imageCLASS D530 and D550. In Europe Canon sold the same machine as the i-SENSYS MF4890dw with Cartridge 728; in the U.S., order by the 128 number.
CastleScore · November 2026
79/100 — Recommended
Canon imageCLASS MF4890dw
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No U.S. retailer rating with enough verifiable reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (20%) | 60 | Expert Reviews (UK) 3/5, reviewing the identical i-SENSYS MF4890dw |
| Cost per page (18%) | 94 | About 1.5¢ per page all-in with our compatible Canon 128 toner ($31.95, about 2,100 pages; drum built in). |
| Reliability (18%) | 80 | Recurring complaints: the printer forgetting its Wi-Fi settings after being powered off; a wake-from-sleep button that has to be pressed before it responds; no high-yield cartridge, so toner changes come every 2,100 pages |
| Features (11%) | 85 | Print, copy, scan and fax, all two-sided; duplex document feeder; Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB; up to 26 pages per minute; 250-sheet cassette plus a single-sheet slot; 5-line tilting LCD. |
| Value (5%) | — | Not scored without owner ratings |
Limited data: We could not find enough verifiable owner ratings for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Retired. Canon USA says the MF4890dw has been retired and that product support and driver updates are no longer available. Canon 128 toner is still sold.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked November 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
Canon 128Our own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
Canon imageCLASS MF4890dw Toner at a Glance
| Consumable | Part number | Page yield | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black toner (drum built in) | Canon Cartridge 128 (3500B001AA) | ~2,100 pages | Castle Ink compatible, $31.95 |
| Separate drum unit | None needed | — | — |
| High-yield version | Not made by Canon | — | — |
The yield is Canon's ISO figure. The printer ships with a lower-capacity starter Cartridge 128, so the first replacement usually comes sooner than later ones.
What Does MF4890dw Toner Cost per Page?
About 1.5¢ a page all in with our compatible Canon 128 ($31.95 for about 2,100 pages), and because the drum is inside the cartridge, there's no drum cost to add on top. That's one of the lowest running costs of any printer we cover, and it's the main reason this retired model is still worth keeping.
How to Replace the Toner
- Lift the scanner unit and open the toner cover underneath it.
- Pull the used cartridge out by its handle, keeping it level.
- Take the new cartridge out of its bag and rock it gently side to side five or six times to spread the toner.
- Pull the sealing tape straight out in one steady motion.
- Slide the cartridge in along the guides until it seats, close the toner cover and lower the scanner, then print a test page.
Work over a desk rather than carpet. If you spill toner, clean it up with cold water; hot water sets it into fabric.
Which Other Printers Use Canon 128?
The imageCLASS MF4770n, MF4880dw, D530 and D550, and the FAXPHONE L100 and L190. The larger Canon 120 (imageCLASS D1100 and D1300 series) does not fit.
What MF4890dw owners ask
These come from Canon's support pages, owner reviews at Adorama and Expert Reviews' test of the identical European model, answered in our words.
Does it print, copy and scan on both sides automatically?
Yes. Canon calls it all-mode duplex: two-sided printing, copying, scanning and faxing, with a duplex document feeder. Canon rates two-sided copying at up to 16 pages a minute against 26 one-sided.
Why does it keep losing its Wi-Fi connection?
Owners report it forgetting the network after being switched off, which makes long passwords painful to re-enter. Using WPS push-button setup, or connecting it by Ethernet, avoids most of the trouble.
Is there a high-yield cartridge?
No. Canon only made the 2,100-page Cartridge 128 for it; Expert Reviews listed the lack of an XL option as a drawback. Cartridges sold as high-yield 128s are aftermarket overfills.
Are the drivers still updated?
No. Canon USA says the MF4890dw has been retired and that driver and content updates have stopped. Keep a copy of the driver installer you use now.
MF4890dw quirks worth knowing
- It connects by Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB, though the USB cable isn't in the box.
- Paper comes from a 250-sheet cassette plus a single-sheet slot, up to legal size.
- The control panel is a 5-line backlit LCD on a tilting panel, not a touchscreen.
- Fax includes a 33.6 Kbps Super G3 modem, memory for up to 256 pages and PC fax sending.
- Canon rates it for up to 10,000 pages a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the Canon imageCLASS MF4890dw use?
Canon Cartridge 128 (3500B001AA), a black toner cartridge rated at about 2,100 pages with the drum built in.
Does the MF4890dw need a separate drum unit?
No. The drum is part of the Canon 128 cartridge, so every new cartridge comes with a fresh drum.
Does Canon 128 fit the MF4880dw and MF4770n too?
Yes. The MF4770n, MF4880dw and MF4890dw all take Cartridge 128, as do the imageCLASS D530 and D550.
Other printers that use Canon 128 toner
Canon imageCLASS MF4770n · Canon imageCLASS D530 · Canon imageCLASS MF4550d
More Canon ink guides: Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw · Canon imageCLASS MF465dw · Canon imageCLASS MF455dw · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother HL-L2460DW — CastleScore 90
- Canon imageCLASS LBP246dw II — CastleScore 86
- Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II — CastleScore 85
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on November 8, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Canon toner cartridges? Shop Canon toner cartridges at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.