Canon MAXIFY MB5420 Review – Best Ink Tank Printer?
Comprehensive review of the Canon MAXIFY MB5420 wireless all-in-one printer, exploring features, benefits, performance, and cost-effectiveness for small businesses.
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced business environment, reliable and efficient printing is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Many small businesses struggle with high ink costs, slow print speeds, and limited connectivity – bottlenecks that can hinder productivity and eat into profits. The Canon MAXIFY MB5420 aims to tackle these challenges head-on, offering a blend of speed, affordability, and smart features designed for the modern small office.
Whether you’re printing contracts, marketing materials, or handling customer correspondence, the MB5420’s blend of high-volume capacity, duplex scanning, and mobile connectivity promises a streamlined printing experience. This review will delve into its key features, benefits, and real-world performance to help you decide if it’s the right printer for your needs.
Overview
The Canon MAXIFY MB5420 is a wireless all-in-one printer tailored for small businesses and home offices with up to nine users. It combines printing, scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities into a single device, offering a versatile solution for various office tasks. Its standout feature is its ink tank system, which significantly reduces printing costs compared to traditional cartridge-based printers. The quick first print time of just 6 seconds, coupled with respectable print speeds of 24 ipm in black and white and 15.5 ipm in color, ensures documents are ready when you need them.
Designed with productivity in mind, the MB5420’s single-pass duplex scanning capability allows for fast copying and scanning of two-sided documents. The intuitive controls and mobile printing capabilities through the Canon PRINT app further enhance user convenience. The printer is built to handle a substantial workload, boasting a 500-sheet paper capacity and a 30,000-page peak monthly duty cycle, making it a reliable workhorse for demanding office environments.
Features
500-Sheet Paper Capacity: Handle large print jobs without interruption! The MB5420 boasts a generous 500-sheet paper capacity, allowing you to print large documents without frequent paper refills. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that print reports, marketing materials, or other high-volume documents.
Single-Pass Duplex Scanning: Say goodbye to manually flipping pages! The MB5420’s single-pass duplex scanning technology allows you to scan both sides of a document simultaneously, significantly speeding up copying and scanning tasks. This feature is invaluable for businesses that routinely handle multi-page documents, saving you time and effort.
Quick First Print & Respectable Print Speeds: The ability to get a printed document quickly is essential in today’s fast-paced environment. The MAXIFY MB5420’s 6-second first print time and print speeds of up to 24 ipm (black & white) and 15.5 ipm (color) ensure you don’t have to wait long for your documents.
Wireless Smart Connectivity: Stay connected and in control with the MB5420’s robust wireless connectivity options. Built-in Wi-Fi allows for easy printing from laptops and mobile devices. The Canon PRINT app enables printing from the cloud, mobile scanning directly to your smartphone, and remote printer management – enhancing flexibility and convenience.
High-Yield Ink Tank System: The MAXIFY MB5420’s ink tank system is the cornerstone of its cost-saving capabilities. Unlike traditional cartridge printers, the MB5420 uses refillable ink tanks, dramatically reducing the frequency of replacements and lowering your overall printing costs. This translates to substantial savings over time, especially for businesses with high printing volumes.
Benefits
Enhanced Convenience with Wireless Printing: The wireless connectivity and Canon PRINT app provide unparalleled flexibility and convenience. Print from anywhere, scan directly to your mobile device, and manage your printer remotely – all from the palm of your hand.
Streamlined Workflow with High-Capacity Paper Tray: The 500-sheet paper tray minimizes interruptions and allows for uninterrupted printing of large documents, improving workflow efficiency and preventing delays.
Fast Print Output for Time-Sensitive Tasks: The swift 6-second first print time and respectable print speeds mean your documents are ready when you need them, ensuring you never miss a deadline or opportunity.
Increased Productivity with Duplex Scanning: The single-pass duplex scanning saves valuable time and reduces manual effort when copying and scanning double-sided documents. This streamlined process allows your team to focus on more important tasks.
Reduced Printing Costs: The ink tank system drastically lowers the cost per page compared to cartridge printers, saving your business significant money over time. Less frequent ink replacements and lower ink costs translate to a healthier bottom line.
Usages
Ideal for Small Businesses: Designed for businesses with up to nine users, the MB5420’s ink tank system, duplex scanning, and wireless connectivity make it a productivity powerhouse.
Great for Frequent Document Printing: If your business routinely prints contracts, invoices, marketing materials, or other documents, the MB5420’s ink tank system and high-capacity paper tray will significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Perfect for Home Offices: The MAXIFY MB5420 provides a cost-effective and feature-rich solution for home offices requiring high-volume printing and occasional scanning needs.
Useful for Copying and Scanning Multi-Page Documents: The single-pass duplex scanning feature will be a lifesaver for anyone who frequently handles multi-page documents.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cost-effective ink tank system
- Fast print speeds
- Single-pass duplex scanning
- Wireless connectivity with mobile app
- Large paper capacity
Cons
- Initial printer cost may be higher than cartridge-based models
- Color print quality is good, but not exceptional for professional photographers
- Can be slightly bulky
FAQs
What is the printer’s duty cycle?: The MB5420 has a peak monthly duty cycle of 30,000 pages, indicating its ability to handle a substantial printing workload.
Are third-party ink bottles compatible?: While Canon recommends using genuine MAXIFY ink bottles for optimal performance and warranty coverage, some third-party inks are compatible. However, using non-genuine inks may void the printer’s warranty.
How easy is the wireless setup?: The wireless setup is straightforward. The printer provides on-screen prompts, and the Canon PRINT app simplifies the process of connecting to your Wi-Fi network.
How much does it cost to refill the ink tanks?: Refilling the ink tanks is surprisingly affordable. A full set of ink bottles costs approximately $50, and they yield a significant number of pages, resulting in a very low cost per page.
What is the printing speed?: The MAXIFY MB5420 prints at speeds of up to 24 ipm in black and white and 15.5 ipm in color. The first print time is a quick 6 seconds.
Product Specifications
| Ink Type | Ink Tank |
| DPI Resolution | 600 x 600 dpi |
| Print Technology | Inkjet |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Print Speed | 24 ipm (B&W) / 15.5 ipm (Color) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 18.1″D x 18.3″W x 13.9″H |
| Duty Cycle | 30,000 pages |
| Page Yield | 2500 B&W / 1500 Color |
| Weight | 28.4 pounds |
Ratings
| Technical Performance | 4.3 |
| Printing Quality | 4.1 |
| Cost-Effectiveness | 4.8 |
| Overall Value | 4.5 |
| Usability | 4.6 |
Recommendation
The Canon MAXIFY MB5420 is an excellent choice for small businesses and home offices that require high-volume printing at a low cost. Its ink tank system, duplex scanning, and wireless connectivity make it a productivity powerhouse.
If you’re tired of constantly replacing ink cartridges and looking for a reliable printer that can handle large print jobs, the MAXIFY MB5420 is a worthwhile investment.
Conclusion
The Canon MAXIFY MB5420 delivers on its promise of providing a cost-effective and feature-rich printing solution for small businesses. Its ink tank system significantly reduces printing costs, while its duplex scanning and wireless connectivity enhance productivity and convenience.
With its impressive page yield, fast print speeds, and user-friendly design, the MAXIFY MB5420 is a long-term value proposition that can save you time and money while improving your overall printing experience.
