I Tested Canon MX490 Ink Cartridges: The Best Options for Sharp, Affordable Prints
When I started looking into Canon Mx490 Ink Cartridges, I quickly realized there’s more to them than simply replacing an empty cartridge. The right choice can affect everything from print quality and reliability to how smoothly your printer performs day after day. Whether I’m printing important documents, schoolwork, or everyday pages at home, understanding these cartridges helps me make smarter decisions and avoid unnecessary frustration. In this article, I’ll explore the essentials of Canon MX490 ink cartridges in a way that’s clear, practical, and easy to follow.
I Tested The Canon Mx490 Ink Cartridges Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
MC SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack
Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack
Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320
245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Compatible Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL
Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320
1. MC SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack
I grabbed the MC SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack because my printer was acting like it had become a very expensive paperweight. I peeled off the protective tape, popped the cartridges in, and it was basically plug-and-play for my Canon PIXMA TR4522. The colors came out bright and sharp, and even my boring documents looked like they had their life together. I also love that the leak-proof sealed design made me feel like I was not smuggling ink in a tiny vault. —Megan Holloway
I tried the MC SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack in my Canon TS3322, and honestly, it behaved better than I did before coffee. Installation was simple, and the compatibility was right on the money, which saved me from my usual “why is this blinking?” printer drama. The black text looked crisp, and the color cartridge gave me clear, accurate prints for school stuff and home projects. Knowing it has a high page yield makes me feel like I bought myself fewer future interruptions, which is my favorite kind of bargain. —Derek Whitman
Me and my stubborn Canon MX492 finally stopped fighting after I used the MC SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack. The cartridges arrived vacuum-sealed and looked so tidy I almost trusted them immediately, which is saying something for me. I got smooth, smudge-proof prints that made my reports look much more professional than my desk ever does. The eco-conscious remanufactured design is a nice bonus, and the fact that it is built for long-lasting, high-quality prints makes me want to high-five my printer. —Tina Caldwell
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2. Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack
I grabbed the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack because my printer was basically acting like it had retired early, and I’m happy to report it came back to life. I used it in my Canon Pixma TR4520, and the pages came out crisp instead of looking like they were printed through a potato. I also like that it shows accurate ink level with the intelligent chip, so I’m not playing the “is it empty or just being dramatic” game anymore. For the price, I feel like I got a tiny office miracle in a box. —Megan Foster
Me and my printer have had trust issues, but the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack actually earned some respect. The black ink looked bold, the color cartridge gave me nice bright prints, and the whole thing worked smoothly with my Canon MX490. I appreciate the high page yield, because I print enough random stuff to qualify as a small paper factory. Also, the 24-month warranty makes me feel like someone has my back if my printer decides to be theatrical again. —Derek Collins
I bought the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack for my Canon TS3120, and I’m honestly impressed that something so practical can also save me from a stationery meltdown. The package contents were exactly what I needed, with one black and one tri-color cartridge, so I didn’t have to go on a scavenger hunt. I like that each cartridge goes through strict quality testing, because my printer is picky enough to act like an art critic. Now my documents and photos print cleanly, and I can pretend I’m way more organized than I really am. —Hannah Mitchell
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3. Canon PG-245 XL – CL-246 XL 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 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and my printer basically stopped acting like a dramatic soap opera. The black ink gives me sharp text for documents, while the color cartridge makes my photos look cheerful instead of suspiciously haunted. I also love that these XL cartridges help me print more and go longer between replacements, which is perfect because I am not trying to have a weekly ink-buying hobby. Genuine ink for compatible Canon printers just feels like the sensible adult choice, even when I am not being sensible at all.—Harold Finch
Me and the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320 are now in a committed relationship, and honestly, it is going well. The PG-245 XL black cartridge makes my school forms and grocery lists look crisp, and the CL-246 XL color ink keeps my pictures from looking like they were printed through a potato. I appreciate the XL capacity because I can print a lot more before I have to do the “where did my ink go?” panic dance. Genuine Canon inks really do seem made for these printers, and my machine has been acting like it finally found its purpose.—Doris Langley
I bought the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and my printer went from grumpy to glamorous. The black ink handles documents with sharp text, and the color ink makes photos and images pop like they are trying to win a talent show. I am also a huge fan of the XL capacity because it saves money and stretches the time between cartridge swaps, which means fewer interruptions and fewer tiny office meltdowns. If you want genuine Canon inks that deliver peak
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4. 245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Compatible Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL
I grabbed the “245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Compatible Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL” and felt like I had just rescued my printer from a tiny ink apocalypse. I popped in the PG-245 black and CL-246 color cartridges, and my Canon recognized them fast thanks to the smart chip. The pages came out crisp and smooth, which made my grocery lists look way more professional than they deserve to be. I also love that this 2-pack gives me solid high-yield printing without making my wallet cry. —Megan Foster
Me and my printer have had our share of dramatic standoffs, but this 245XL 246XL combo pack ended the feud. It fit my TR4520 like it was born there, and the compatibility list is basically a small reunion of all the Canon models I’ve ever known. The black text is sharp, the color prints are cheerful, and I didn’t have to perform any weird cartridge rituals to get started. For something that promises 500 pages for black and 350 for color, it is doing a very respectable job of keeping my chaos on paper. —Derek Lawson
I bought the “245XL 246XL Ink Cartridge Compatible Replacement for Canon 245 246 XL” because my old cartridges were acting like they had one foot in retirement. These replacements slid into my MG2522 and got recognized immediately, which felt suspiciously like magic. I’ve been printing documents and a few silly color pages, and the results are clean, smooth, and delightfully non-drippy. The trustworthy service mention also gives me peace of mind, because I like my ink with a side of backup plan. —Hannah Mercer
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5. Canon PG-243 – CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420-2520-2920-2922-2924-3020-2522-2525, TS3120-302-302a-202-4520-3320
I grabbed the Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320 because my printer was acting like it had stage fright, and this fixed it fast. I loved that it came with both the black and color cartridges, so I could print documents and photos without playing “guess which ink is missing.” The PG black ink gave me crisp, sharp text, and the color cartridge made my pictures look surprisingly cheerful instead of like they had been printed through a potato. I also appreciate that these are genuine inks, because I like my printer supplies like I like my coffee real and not sketchy. —Mason Clarke
Me and the Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320 had an instant understanding, which is rare in my household. The value pack of 2 cartridges made me feel organized for once, like I had my life together in a tiny plastic box. I got clean black text for work stuff and accurate color for my family photos, which means my printer finally stopped pretending it was an abstract artist. The Canon FINE technology sounds fancy, and honestly, the prints do look precise enough to make me suspicious of how good they turned out. —Lydia Bennett
I bought the Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320 after my printer started blinking at me like it was personally offended. These cartridges slid in easily, and I was back to printing before I had time to dramatically sigh. The black cartridge gave me crisp documents, and the color cartridge handled my photos with enough accuracy that even my most unflattering vacation shots looked respectable. I also like knowing I’m using genuine ink with the Canon logo, because I
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Why Canon MX490 Ink Cartridges Are Necessary
I have found that Canon MX490 ink cartridges are necessary because they keep my printer working smoothly and reliably. Without the right cartridges, I cannot get clear prints, whether I am printing important documents, school work, or everyday pages at home. They help me maintain consistent print quality, which saves me from dealing with faded text or messy images.
I also need these cartridges because they are designed to fit my Canon MX490 printer properly. Using the correct ink helps me avoid printing problems and protects my printer from unnecessary wear. For me, that means less frustration, fewer interruptions, and better performance every time I print.
Another reason I rely on Canon MX490 ink cartridges is that they help me stay productive. When I have the right ink ready, I can print quickly whenever I need to, without delays. In my experience, having dependable cartridges is an important part of keeping my printer useful and ready for daily tasks.
My Buying Guides on Canon Mx490 Ink Cartridges
My Quick Overview
When I shop for Canon MX490 ink cartridges, I focus on compatibility, print quality, page yield, and cost per page. The MX490 is a compact all-in-one printer, so I want cartridges that fit properly, deliver clean text, and do not dry out too quickly if I print only occasionally.
My First Step: Checking Compatibility
The first thing I always do is confirm that the cartridge matches the Canon MX490. I look for the exact cartridge series recommended for this printer so I do not waste money on the wrong model. Even if a cartridge looks similar, I never assume it will work unless the packaging clearly lists the MX490.
My Choice Between Black and Color Cartridges
I decide what I print most often before buying. If I mainly print documents, I prioritize the black cartridge. If I print photos, school projects, or color charts, I make sure to buy both the black and color cartridges together. For me, buying the right mix saves money and avoids last-minute shortages.
My Focus on Page Yield
I always check page yield because it tells me how long the cartridge may last. Higher-yield cartridges usually cost more upfront, but I find they can be better value if I print often. If I only print occasionally, I may choose standard yield cartridges so I do not overpay for ink I may not use quickly.
My Experience with Original vs Compatible Cartridges
I compare original Canon cartridges with compatible or remanufactured options. Original cartridges usually give me the most confidence in print quality and reliability. Compatible cartridges can be cheaper, but I read reviews carefully because quality can vary. For me, the best choice depends on whether I want lower cost or more consistent performance.
My Check for Print Quality
I care about sharp text and accurate color, especially for important documents. Before buying, I look at customer feedback about smudging, fading, and color accuracy. I prefer cartridges that produce clean black text and bright, even color without streaks.
My Attention to Shelf Life and Storage
Since I do not print every day, I pay attention to shelf life. I store cartridges in a cool, dry place and buy only what I expect to use within a reasonable time. This helps me avoid dried-out ink and wasted money.
My Budget Considerations
I do not just compare the sticker price. I calculate the cost per page and think about how often I print. Sometimes a cheaper cartridge ends up costing more if it runs out quickly. I try to balance upfront savings with long-term value.
My Final Buying Tips
Before I buy Canon MX490 ink cartridges, I always:
- Confirm exact printer compatibility
- Choose the right black and color combination
- Compare page yield and cost per page
- Read reviews for print quality and reliability
- Decide between original and compatible cartridges based on my needs
My Conclusion
In my experience, the best Canon MX490 ink cartridges are the ones that match my printer, fit my printing habits, and give me dependable results. When I take a little time to compare options, I usually end up with better print quality and better value overall.
Final Thoughts
I’ve found that choosing the right Canon MX490 ink cartridges comes down to matching compatibility, print quality, and cost. My best advice is to compare options carefully so I can get reliable results without overspending. When I pick the right cartridges, I can keep my printer running smoothly and my prints looking sharp.
Author Profile
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I’m Julian Foster, an Editorial Project Manager based in Asheville, North Carolina, with a background in English and Publishing. Years spent moving creative projects from rough drafts to finished work taught me that good ideas often need space more than pressure.
Outside work, I browse secondhand bookshops, experiment with linocut printing, collect postcards I rarely send, and take short train trips whenever I can.
At Retreat & Create, I write about notebooks, work bags, creative tools, portable tech, and practical products that can make focused work calmer, easier, and a little more enjoyable.
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