The Canon Maxify GX2020 is an all-in-one inkjet printer designed for both home and office use, a compelling proposition in today’s hybrid work environment. This review examines the Maxify GX2020’s performance across various tasks, assessing its print quality, speed, features, and long-term value to determine if it truly meets the diverse needs of modern users.
Design and Features
The Canon Maxify GX2020 is compact and looks nice in a home or office.The compact design of the Canon Maxify GX2020 fits seamlessly into any home or office setup.
The Maxify GX2020 boasts a surprisingly compact design for a multifunction printer. Its small footprint (approximately 15 x 15 inches) and lack of rear trays allow for placement in almost any space. Notably, it’s one of the smallest all-in-one printers with an automatic document feeder (ADF). With the output tray extended, the depth increases to 20 inches, while the height remains a modest 10 inches.
The printer’s aesthetic is clean and modern, primarily off-white with dark gray accents. A unique feature is the visible ink tanks, allowing for easy monitoring of ink levels without lifting the lid. The 2.7-inch color touchscreen, with its matte finish to minimize glare, provides intuitive navigation through the printer’s functions. A 250-sheet paper tray adds to the printer’s convenience, though the lack of a dedicated media tray necessitates removing all paper when printing on different stock.
Print Performance and Quality
The Maxify GX2020Despite being an office-oriented printer, the Maxify GX2020 delivers surprisingly good photo prints, even on plain paper.
The Maxify GX2020 delivers impressive speed and quality for a home office printer. While marketed primarily for document printing, its photo printing capabilities are surprisingly good, especially on plain paper. Though it lacks borderless printing, a limitation for photo enthusiasts, the overall image quality is commendable. Print speeds are respectable at 15 pages per minute (ppm) for monochrome and 10 ppm for color documents. Color consistency is excellent, with no noticeable lines or gaps. Duplex printing functionality is reliable and efficient.
Additional Features: Scanning, Copying, and Faxing
Canon gave the Maxify GX2020 a fast scanner that supports up to 600 dpi.The Maxify GX2020 includes a fast and efficient scanner, supporting resolutions up to 600 dpi.
Beyond printing, the Maxify GX2020 offers scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities. Scanning is swift, with resolutions up to 600 dpi from a computer and 300 dpi from mobile devices. While the printer offers a double-sided scanning option for copying, it’s not a true duplex feature, requiring manual refeeding of pages. The copy function can, however, scan single-sided and print double-sided.
Software, Compatibility, and Setup
Set up is quick and CanonSetup is quick and straightforward, with automatic printhead alignment simplifying the process.
Setup is remarkably easy, aided by a clear quick start guide and the printer’s touchscreen. The fully automatic printhead alignment is a significant advantage, streamlining the installation process. The Canon Print app facilitates seamless connection and control from mobile devices, allowing for remote printing, scanning, and ink level checks. Compatibility extends to Windows, Mac, Chromebooks, iOS, and Android devices.
The Canon Maxify GX2020 is fast and reliable, making almost everything easy.The Maxify GX2020 offers a user-friendly experience, simplifying everyday printing tasks.
While testing revealed an issue with envelope printing, which we have reported to Canon, the printer performed reliably in other areas.
Long-Term Value and Running Costs
The Maxify GX2020 has low maintenance costs like most tank printers.The ink tank system contributes to low running costs, making the Maxify GX2020 a cost-effective printing solution.
The Maxify GX2020’s initial price is higher than some budget printers, but its ink tank system offers significant long-term cost savings. The included ink bottles provide a high page yield (estimated at 3,000 pages for both color and monochrome), resulting in a low cost per page. This makes the Maxify GX2020 a cost-effective choice for high-volume printing.
Conclusion: A Solid Choice for Home and Small Office Use
The Maxify GX2020The Maxify GX2020’s pseudo-duplex ADF functionality requires manual page refeeding.
The Canon Maxify GX2020 strikes a balance between home and office printing needs. Its compact design, fast printing speed, good print quality, and low running costs make it a compelling option. While the lack of borderless printing and true duplex copying are drawbacks, its overall performance is impressive. If you prioritize speed, efficiency, and long-term value, the Maxify GX2020 is a solid choice for your home or small office.
