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Canon PIXMA TS8220 Printer Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8.1
Reviewed Jun 30, 2020 at 07:57 am
Latest change: Retest May 20, 2021 at 04:07 pm
Canon PIXMA TS8220 Picture
7.8
Family
4.6
Small/Home Office
8.6
Student
5.9
Black & White
7.6
Casual Photo

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is a good all-in-one inkjet printer for everyday home use. Although it's already been replaced by its successor, the Canon PIXMA TS8320, it still outshines it in certain aspects. It has a sleek design and its compact size is well-suited for tight spaces. It prints great photos, it has decent color accuracy, and its connectivity options are outstanding. The black ink cartridge does run out rather quickly, which means that you have to replace it regularly; however, the color cartridges can last much longer. Its printing speed is a bit middling, as it can print photos very quickly but it's slow at printing black and color documents. Unfortunately, the scanner is pretty basic, as it lacks an automatic document feeder, so it's not the best option for those who need to scan long documents.

Our Verdict

7.8 Family

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is a good family printer. It's able to print great photos full of vibrant colors and it has pretty decent color accuracy. Although it doesn't yield a lot of black pages, its color page yield is much better, and its overall cost-per-print is great. It has wide connectivity options and it's compatible with Canon's outstanding mobile app.

Pros
  • Great overall cost-per-print.
  • Great photo printing quality.
  • Wide connectivity options.
  • Exceptional mobile app support.
Cons
  • Slow printing speed for black and color documents.
  • Low black page yield.
4.6 Small/Home Office

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is a bad printer for small or home offices. It doesn't yield many black pages, so the black ink cartridge needs frequent replacement. That said, its color page yield is significantly better. Unfortunately, it's very slow at printing black and color documents, and the scanner lacks an automatic document feeder.

Pros
  • Great overall cost-per-print.
  • Wide connectivity options.
Cons
  • Slow printing speed for black and color documents.
  • Low black page yield.
  • No automatic document feeder.
8.6 Student

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is an excellent printer for students. It's relatively inexpensive to print in black and in color, which is great for students who are on a budget. It has outstanding connectivity options, including support for SD cards, and it supports printing from mobile devices. Sadly, it takes a while to print out the first page of a document, and it doesn't get much faster after that.

Pros
  • Great overall cost-per-print.
  • Wide connectivity options.
  • Exceptional mobile app support.
Cons
  • Slow printing speed for black and color documents.
  • Low black page yield.
5.9 Black & White

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is a sub-par printer for printing black and white documents. While it's fairly cost-effective to print in black, you still have to change the black ink cartridge often due to its low yield. It's also quite slow at printing black documents.

Pros
  • Great overall cost-per-print.
  • Wide connectivity options.
Cons
  • Slow printing speed for black and color documents.
  • Low black page yield.
  • No automatic document feeder.
7.6 Casual Photo

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is a good printer for printing photos. Printed photos look great and the printer's color accuracy is quite decent. It can print on glossy photo paper and most sizes are supported, except for 2" x 3". It has a very good color page yield, so it doesn't get overly expensive to print over time. Also, it prints photos exceptionally fast.

Pros
  • Great overall cost-per-print.
  • Great photo printing quality.
Cons
  • Can't print on 2" x 3".
  • 7.8 Family
  • 4.6 Small/Home Office
  • 8.6 Student
  • 5.9 Black & White
  • 7.6 Casual Photo
  1. Updated May 20, 2021: Corrected an error with the number of color cartridges.
  2. Updated Jun 30, 2020: Review published.
  3. Updated Jun 25, 2020: Early access published.
  4. Updated Jun 16, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Jun 16, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Jun 03, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is the predecessor of the PIXMA TS8320, which we have also reviewed. In Europe, it's known as the PIXMA TS8250, or TS8251 for the white variant. The TS8220 and the TS8320 have nearly identical features and perform similarly overall.

Compared To Other Printers

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is a good printer for home use. Compared to other similarly priced inkjet printers, it performs quite well. And since it's an older model that has already been replaced by the PIXMA TS8320, you can often find it at a reduced price. The red and white variants have been discontinued already, although some retailers may still carry a few.

For other options, you can also check out our recommendations for the best all-in-one printers, the best home printers, and the best printers under $100.

Epson WorkForce WF-2830

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is much better than the Epson WorkForce WF-2830. The Canon has a higher page yield, especially with the color cartridges, so the cost-per-print is much lower for this printer. It also has better color accuracy and much better photo printing quality. However, the Epson has a sheetfed scanner with an Automatic Document Feeder, and it also serves as a fax machine.

Canon PIXMA TS9120

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 and the Canon PIXMA TS9120 are very much alike. The TS8220 has a slightly higher yield for black and color documents, it has better color accuracy, and is much faster at printing color documents and photos. However, the TS9120 has an ethernet port and it's faster at printing black and white documents.

Canon PIXMA TR7520

Although the Canon PIXMA TR7520 and the Canon PIXMA TS8220 have very different designs, they have remarkably similar performance for most uses. The main differences are that the TS8220 has a better display screen, it has a higher page yield, and it has more connectivity options. However, the TR7520 has an automatic document feeder to process multi-page documents, making it more suitable for office use.

Epson Expression Premium XP-6100

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 is much better than the Epson Expression Premium XP-6100. The Canon has a better display screen, it has more connectivity options, and its higher color page yield results in a much lower cost-per-print. The Canon prints better-looking photos and prints them faster, but it's slower at printing documents than the Epson.

Canon PIXMA TR8520

Overall, the Canon PIXMA TR8520 performs significantly better than the Canon PIXMA TS8220. The TR8520 is better-built, it has an automatic document feeder, and it prints much better photos. The TR8520 prints out black documents faster, but the TS8220 is significantly faster at printing color documents and photos.

Canon PIXMA TS6320

The Canon PIXMA TS6320 and the Canon PIXMA TS8220 are very similar in their overall performance. Although the TS8220 can yield more color pages, the TS6320 is more cost-effective due to its cheaper color cartridges. The TS6320 prints higher quality photos, but the TS8220 has better color accuracy, a better display screen, and more connectivity options.

Canon PIXMA TS8320

The Canon PIXMA TS8320 is the successor of the PIXMA TS8220. They have near-identical features and they also perform very similarly. The TS8220 can yield more pages using the same ink cartridges, making it the more cost-effective option. The TS8220 has better color accuracy, but the TS8320 prints faster.

Brother MFC-J497DW

For most uses, the Canon PIXMA TS8220 is much better than the Brother MFC-J497DW. The Canon has a better display screen, it yields more black and color pages, and it has a lower cost-per-print. The Canon also has better photo printing quality and wider connectivity options. However, the PIXMA TS8220's scanner lacks an automatic document feeder, which the Brother has.

Canon PIXMA TS9520

The Canon PIXMA TS9520 is a better printer than the Canon PIXMA TS8220. The 9520 has a sheetfed scanner and an automatic document feeder. That said, the 8220 has a slightly lower cost-per-print for photo printing and can print them much faster.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.0
Design
Build & Design Quality
Type All in One

The Canon PIXMA TS8220's design is passable. It feels pretty sturdy overall and there are no obvious issues with the construction. The power cord is removable and is easily replaceable should it get damaged. The scanner's lid can stay open without needing to be held, which prevents it from slamming down, and it can also extend slightly if you need to scan thicker documents. The display panel needs to be raised manually to start printing, to allow the output tray to extend outwards.

Unfortunately, the printer does need to be on when changing the ink cartridges, and paper jams are a little difficult to get to, as it requires lifting the rear input tray and the printer's back panel before you can get to them. Lastly, the rear input tray and the output tray feel a bit flimsy and of inferior quality.

Design
Dimensions
Height 5.6" (14.2 cm)
Width 14.6" (37.2 cm)
Depth 14.2" (36.0 cm)
Weight
14.6 lbs (6.6 kg)

The Canon TS8220 is a compact printer. It's nearly identical to its successor, the Canon PIXMA TS8320.

8.5
Design
Display Screen
Display Screen Yes
Display Screen Size
4.3" (10.8 cm)
Touchscreen Yes

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 has an excellent display screen. It's large and it has great viewing angles, so you can see it easily whether you're standing or sitting. The menus are easy to navigate and there are instructional videos to show you how to load paper and change the ink cartridges.

Design
In The Box

  • Power cable
  • Setup CD
  • User guide
  • Sample pack of 5" x 5" photo paper (3 sheets)
  • Set of starter ink cartridges:
    • 1 x PGI-280 Black
    • 1 x CLI-281 Black
    • 1 x CLI-281 Cyan
    • 1 x CLI-281 Magenta
    • 1 x CLI-281 Yellow
    • 1 x CLI-281 Photo Blue

Canon indicates on their website that the multipurpose tray is included in the box as a separate piece. Our unit came with the tray already installed; however, your experience may vary.

6.6
Design
Cartridge
Photo Cartridge
Yes
Technology Inkjet
Number Of Color Cartridges
5
Black Cartridge Model
PGI-280
Color Yes
Tested Black Page Yield
12.13 prints
SuperTank
No
Estimated Black Page Yield
230 prints
Color Cartridge Model
CLI-281
Tested Color Page Yield
21.55 prints
Estimated Color Page Yield
541 prints
Third Party Cartridge
Yes
High Yield Cartridge
Yes
Drum Unit
No Drum Unit

Update 05/20/2021: We initially noted that there are four color cartridges, but there are actually five: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, and Photo Blue. We updated the review accordingly.

The Canon PIXMA TS8220's cartridge system is okay. The black page yield is quite bad, so you'll likely need to replace the PGI-280 black ink cartridge often, as it's the default black ink cartridge for printing black documents. On the other hand, the color page yield is significantly better. If you print a lot, there are high-yield cartridges available.

This printer accepts third-party cartridges, but using them may void the manufacturer's warranty. Additionally, special attention must be paid as this printer uses a combination of dye and pigment-based inks.

6.2
Design
Scanner
Scanner
Yes
Scan Flatbed
Yes
Scan Sheetfed
No
Automatic Document Feeder
No
Duplex Scanning
No
Scan Resolution
1,200 DPI
Scan Color Depth
24 Bit
Flatbed Scan Size
8.5" x 11"
Fax
No
Copy
Yes

The Canon TS8220 has mediocre scanning features. It lacks an automatic document feeder, so it's not the best option if you need to scan long multi-page documents regularly. The lid can extend slightly to make it easier to scan thicker documents. If you want a printer with an Automatic Document Feeder, consider the Canon PIXMA TR8520 or Canon PIXMA TS9520.

Note that when using Canon's IJ software to scan, the resolution is set to 600 DPI by default. To scan at a higher resolution, you have to change the output resolution manually under the 'Advanced Mode' settings tab.

Printing
8.3
Printing
Cost-Per-Print
Black Cartridge Price
15.99 US$
Color Cartridge Price
52.99 US$
Black Only Printing
0.07 US$/print
Color Printing
0.098 US$/print
Photo Printing
0.245 US$/print
Ink Subscription
No

The Canon PIXMA TS8220's overall cost-per-print is great. The black cartridge needs frequent replacement due to its low yield. However, black ink cartridges are relatively cheap, which helps to keep the cost of black-only printing from rising too quickly. For color printing, the cartridges are more expensive, but they don't need to be replaced as often, so color printing ends up only being slightly more expensive than printing in black in the long run.

Keep in mind that even if you print only in black, most inkjet printers continue using the color cartridges for servicing tasks, so you'll likely still need to replace them eventually.

6.8
Printing
Printing Speed
Black Only Text Document
7 PPM
Color Document
7 PPM
Photo Printing Time
27.3 s
First Page Out Time (Black Only)
12.0 s
Duplex Printing
Automatic
Input Tray Capacity
200 pages

The Canon TS8220's printing speed is okay. It's pretty slow at printing both black and color documents; however, it's very fast at printing photos compared to other printers.

7.1
Printing
Color Accuracy
Average Color dE
9.88

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 has decent color accuracy. There are inaccuracies with all colors, and like most printers, greens and blues are the most inaccurate. That said, it shouldn't be an issue if you're just using a bit of color in a document.

8.0
Printing
Photo Printing Quality
Borderless Printing
Yes

The Canon TS8220's photo printing quality is great. Colors look good and there's very little graininess, but there's some presence of color in the grayscale.

These results are based on the actual physical photo, not the scanned image provided for reference above, which may not be representative of the printer's photo print quality.

If you want a printer with better photo printing quality, check out the Canon PIXMA TS6320 or the Canon PIXMA TS6420.

Printing
Printing Size
Letter (8.5" x 11") Yes
Legal (8.5" x 14") Yes
Tabloid (11" x 17") No
A6 (105mm x 148mm) No
A5 (148mm x 210mm) Yes
A4 (210mm x 297mm) Yes
Photo (2" x 3") No
Photo (4" x 6") Yes
Photo (5" x 7") Yes

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 has two input trays that can hold up to 200 sheets of paper combined. Most common paper sizes are supported up to the standard legal size.

Mobile App And Connectivity
9.0
Mobile App And Connectivity
Connectivity
Ethernet
No
USB Input To Computer
Yes
Wireless Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi via Router
Yes
Wi-Fi Direct
Yes
External Storage Support
Yes
Apple AirPrint
Yes
Mopria Print Service
Yes

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 has outstanding connectivity options. It supports various wireless connections, including printing from mobile devices using AirPrint or Mopria. For external storage devices, it supports SD cards but not USB thumb drives. If you're looking for a similar printer with an ethernet port, check out the Canon PIXMA TS9120.

9.5
Mobile App And Connectivity
Mobile App For Home Use
Mobile App Yes
App Name Canon Print Inkjet/Selphy
iOS Yes
Android Yes
Photo (JPEG, PNG)
Yes
PDF
Yes
Microsoft Office Files
Yes
Text Files (TXT)
No
Webpages (HTML)
Yes

The Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY is an exceptional mobile app. It allows you to perform all the basic tasks such as printing, scanning, and copying. You can also order replacement ink directly from Canon. To print CDs and DVDs, you need to install a separate app called Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor.