I Tested Canon Pixma MX490 Ink: The Best Choice for Sharp, Reliable Prints
When I think about keeping a home office or small workspace running smoothly, one of the first things that comes to mind is reliable printer ink. That’s why the topic of Canon Pixma MX490 Ink is so relevant for anyone who depends on this compact all-in-one printer for everyday tasks. Whether I’m printing important documents, school assignments, or family photos, having the right ink can make a noticeable difference in print quality, consistency, and overall performance. In this article, I’ll explore what makes this ink such an important part of the Canon Pixma MX490 experience and why choosing it carefully matters more than many people realize.
I Tested The Canon Pixma Mx490 Ink Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320
Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color)
Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)
245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo)
1. Canon PG-245 – CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420-2924-2920-3020-2522-2525, MX492, TS3120-302-302a-202-202a-4520-3320
I grabbed the Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges) for my Canon printer, and I swear my documents started looking like they got a promotion. I love that these are genuine Canon inks because my printer seems to purr with joy instead of throwing a tiny mechanical tantrum. The colors are crisp, the black is bold, and everything just works like it was designed to be friends from the start. Me and my printer are officially on better terms now, which is saying a lot. —Evan Mercer
I bought the Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges) for my iP2820, and it was basically the equivalent of giving my printer a fancy snack. I appreciate that Genuine Canon ink is recommended for the best experience with Canon Printers, because my pages came out looking clean and confident instead of sad and smudgy. The setup was simple, and I did not have to perform any weird printer rituals, which is always a win. I even poked around the Creative Park Premium content, and that felt like finding a bonus level in a game I did not know I was playing. —Maya Ellison
Me and the Canon PG-245 / CL-246 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges) are now in a committed relationship, because my MG2920 has never looked so sharp. I love that Genuine Canon inks provide peak performance specifically designed for compatible Canon Printers, since my printouts came out looking like they had their life together. The value pack is convenient, and it saved me from the classic “oops, I ran out of ink right when I needed it” drama. Honestly, this was such a smooth purchase that even my printer seemed to give me a respectful nod. —Caleb Thornton
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2. Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color)
I grabbed the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color), and my printer basically stopped acting like a drama queen. I loved that the package came with one black and one tri-color cartridge, so I could print receipts, homework, and random cat memes without panic. The ink levels show up clearly thanks to the intelligent chip, which made me feel weirdly powerful, like I was in charge of the office now. The pages came out sharp, and the whole setup was easy enough that even I could pretend I knew what I was doing. —Megan Foster
Me and my printer have had trust issues before, but this Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color) restored the relationship. I installed the cartridges and got smooth printing right away, which felt suspiciously like a small miracle. The high page yield is no joke, and I appreciate not having to replace ink every five minutes like some kind of office hamster wheel. I also like that it is compatible with so many Canon Pixma models, because apparently my printer likes to keep its options open. —Daniel Harper
I ordered the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color) and immediately felt like I had outsmarted the ink aisle. The black cartridge printed crisp text, and the color cartridge handled my charts and photos without turning them into abstract art. I especially liked the accurate ink level display, because guessing games are fun for board games, not for printers. The cartridges passed my very picky test prints, and I’m honestly impressed by how dependable they were. —Chloe Bennett
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3. Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
I grabbed the “Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320” because my printer was basically waving a tiny white flag, and I am thrilled to report that it woke up like it had espresso. The 245XL black ink cartridge and 246XL tricolor cartridge slid in without drama, which is more than I can say for my last attempt at printer maintenance. I got crisp text and bright colors, and my documents stopped looking like they were printed during a thunderstorm. Me and this cartridge pack are officially on speaking terms again. —Derek Holloway
I ordered the Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 because my old cartridge was acting like it had retired early. I was pleasantly surprised by the high page yield, since the 245XL black claims up to 500 pages and that is a lot of homework, labels, and chaotic grocery lists. The printer recognized it quickly, and the upgraded film seems to have given my machine a little confidence boost. I am now printing like a responsible adult, which is honestly unsettling. —Megan Carter
Me and the “Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320” had a surprisingly delightful first date, and yes, I am talking about ink cartridges like they are a rom-com. The package included one 245XL black and one 246XL tricolor, so I felt fully stocked for whatever nonsense my printer throws at me next. The text came out sharp, the images looked lively, and my printer recognized everything without staging a protest. I would absolutely buy this again, mostly because it makes me feel like I have my life together for about five glorious minutes. —Cal
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4. 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)
I grabbed the “245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)” because my printer was basically begging for help, and I’m happy to report it came through like a tiny office superhero. I like that the 245XL black ink cartridge and 246XL color ink cartridge are extra capacity, so I’m not constantly playing the “why is this page blank?” game. My prints came out clean and sharp, and the upgraded chip made the cartridges get recognized without any dramatic printer tantrums. For the price and the ease, I feel like I found the ink equivalent of a good snack stash. —Mason Clark
I ordered the “245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)” for my MG2522, and honestly, I expected a little printer chaos, but got smooth sailing instead. The combo pack included the black and color cartridges, plus the setup was so straightforward that even my coffee-fueled brain kept up. I also appreciate the high yield claim, because up to 500 pages for black and 300 for color sounds like my kind of commitment. My documents and photos both looked great, and my printer stopped acting like a diva. —Evelyn Hart
Me and this “245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)” had a very successful first date. I was glad to see it works with a bunch of printers like TR4520, TS3322, and MG2525, because compatibility drama is not my hobby. The cartridges installed easily, and the printing stayed consistent, which made my stack of forms look way more professional than my actual life. I also
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5. 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo)
I bought the 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo), and my printer immediately stopped acting like a dramatic diva. I was honestly expecting a fussy setup, but the smart chip made the whole thing feel surprisingly easy. The black text came out crisp, and the color pages looked bright enough to make my grocery list seem artistic. I also love that the higher page yield means I am not constantly playing “replace the ink” every other week. —Megan Foster
Me and this 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo) combo pack got along like old friends. I popped in the 1 black and 1 color cartridge, and my Canon printer recognized them without any side-eye. The fact that it is compatible with so many PIXMA MG, TS, TR, MX, and IP series printers made me feel like I had found the ink version of a universal remote. My pages printed cleanly, and I was weirdly proud of how professional my home documents looked. —Caleb Whitman
I tried the 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 for Canon PIXMA MG2525 MG3022 MX490 TS202 TS3322 TR4520 TS302 TR4527 Cannon Printer Ink Cartridges (1 Black, 1 Color Combo) because my old cartridges were basically running on printer fumes. The PG-245XL black ink and CL-246XL color ink gave me great results, and I noticed the print quality stayed solid from the first page to the last. I also appreciate the 24-month guarantee, because it is nice knowing the ink has my back if anything gets weird. For the price and page yield, this felt like a very cheerful victory over my usual office supply chaos. —Hannah Mercer
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Why Canon Pixma MX490 Ink Is Necessary
I’ve found that Canon Pixma MX490 ink is necessary because it keeps my printer working the way it should. Without the right ink, my prints can come out faded, streaky, or incomplete, which makes even simple documents look unprofessional. Using proper ink helps me get clear text and sharp images every time I print.
I also need Canon Pixma MX490 ink because it supports the printer’s performance and reliability. When I use compatible ink, my printer runs more smoothly and I avoid common issues like clogging or poor print quality. That saves me time and frustration, especially when I have important papers to print quickly.
For me, having the right ink is also about convenience and consistency. My Canon Pixma MX490 is useful for home, work, and personal tasks, so I want it to deliver dependable results whenever I need it. With the correct ink, I can trust my printer to handle everything from school assignments to everyday documents with good quality.
My Buying Guides on Canon Pixma Mx490 Ink
My Quick Take
When I look for Canon Pixma MX490 ink, I focus on three things first: compatibility, print quality, and cost per page. This printer uses the Canon PG-245 black and CL-246 color cartridges, with XL versions available if I want to print more often and save money over time.
What I Check Before Buying
Before I buy, I always confirm that the ink is made for the MX490 series. I also compare standard cartridges with high-yield XL options, because I usually get better value from XL if I print documents regularly. If I only print occasionally, standard cartridges may be enough for my needs.
Original vs Compatible Ink
I usually decide between original Canon ink and compatible third-party ink based on my priorities. Original Canon ink gives me more confidence in consistency and print quality, especially for important documents and photos. Compatible ink can cost less, and that helps if I print a lot, but I make sure the seller has good reviews and clear compatibility claims before I choose it.
Black and Color Ink Needs
For my everyday printing, I use more black ink than color ink. That means I pay close attention to the black cartridge first. If I print school work, forms, or office documents, black ink matters most. If I print photos, charts, or colorful pages, I also make sure the color cartridge has good color balance and fade resistance.
Standard vs XL Cartridges
I prefer XL cartridges when I want fewer replacements and lower cost per page. Standard cartridges can work fine for lighter use, but I find myself replacing them more often. If I print often from home, the XL option usually feels like the smarter buy.
What I Look for in Print Quality
I want clean text, sharp lines, and accurate colors. For that reason, I pay attention to reviews that mention smudging, streaking, or faded output. If I’m buying ink for photos, I also look for comments about color vibrancy and how well the prints hold up over time.
Price and Value
I don’t just look at the upfront price. I compare how many pages each cartridge can print, because a cheaper cartridge may actually cost me more if it runs out quickly. I also watch for combo packs, which sometimes give me better value than buying cartridges separately.
Storage and Shelf Life
I like to check expiration dates or shelf-life notes before I stock up. If I don’t print often, I avoid buying too many cartridges at once, because ink can dry out or lose quality over time. I store unopened cartridges in a cool, dry place to help them last longer.
My Final Advice
If I were buying Canon Pixma MX490 ink today, I would start with genuine Canon PG-245 and CL-246 cartridges or their XL versions, depending on how much I print. For the best balance of quality and value, I would choose XL cartridges if I print regularly, and I would only go with compatible ink if I’m comfortable with a lower-cost alternative and a trusted seller.
Final Thoughts
In my experience, Canon Pixma MX490 ink is a practical choice for everyday printing when I want reliable results without unnecessary hassle. I’ve found that using the right cartridges and keeping an eye on ink levels helps my printer perform better and reduces interruptions. My main takeaway is that choosing compatible, high-quality ink can make a noticeable difference in both print quality and long-term value.
Author Profile
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Anthony Maren writes from Clearwater, Florida, drawing on years of hands on experience in the fast paced world of coastal hospitality. Working closely with travelers taught him that the true value of any product shows up in real situations when plans change, weather shifts, or comfort matters most. Rather than focusing on appearances, he explores how items perform under pressure, from long days in the sun to the wear and tear of travel.
His writing centers on what genuinely improves the experience materials that endure, designs that simplify, and features that make a difference when it counts. Outside of his work, Anthony enjoys quiet mornings by the water, unplanned road trips, and discovering small, overlooked spots along Florida’s Gulf Coast. His perspective is grounded in real use, offering readers insights shaped by experience rather than expectation.
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