The only big black box you need
We go on about how our phones do everything that cameras, libraries and record players used to do, but don’t overlook the humble printer/scanner. It does everything phones don’t, converting printed paper into digital files and vice versa. Canon’s range has been a favourite of ours for some time, and this latest all-in-one maintains those high standards. The only thing it misses is faxing, which is obsolete for most of us.
Touchscreens on printers are no longer seen as an expensive gimmick, and the MG6650’s is big and clear, even if it requires more of a prod than a touch. It certainly helps to have options you can point at directly because there are lots of options on a machine like this, as well as Wi-Fi networking to set up and
occasional troubleshooting.
Over Wi-Fi, you can use Canon’s Printing Solutions app to output documents from your mobile device. Apple devices will also connect via AirPrint, so the Print option in any app will recognise the MG6650 if you’re on your home network. If you're further away, Google Cloud Print and Pixma Cloud Link still work over the internet, should you have a reason to print something when you’re away from home.
The five-ink system uses different blacks for photos and text, although you don’t get the additional grey that some Canon models use for subtler shading. This works well for all kinds of documents, while photos look even better on the MG6650 than those produced by its predecessors, and they print slightly faster (52 seconds for 6x4in In high quality). Copying a photo print added only three seconds, and scanning it to our PC took just 35 seconds. With no automatic paper input, it’s not great for multiple photocopies, but more than adequate for occasional duplication, and it lets you print both sides of the paper (duplex).
With five separate tanks, you only replace the ink you need. Buy the XL cartridges and running costs work out at 7.7p per colour page or 2.4p for black-and-white, which is reasonable. The MG6650 is a very affordable all-in-one that does a great job all round.
VERDICT
It may look like something James Bond would have to defuse, but this low-cost all-in-one is user friendly.
SPECIFICATIONS
4800x1200dpi maximum print resolution • 10ppm colour and 15ppm mono quoted speeds • 1200x2400dpi maximum scan resolution • USB 2 • 802.11n • SD card reader • 148x455x369mm (HxWxD) • 6.4kg • One-year warranty