Canon PIXMA MP560 & PIXMA MP490 AIO Printers [Canon PIXMA Range Updated]

Canon have updated their PIXMA range with two new All-in-One (AIO) photo printers, the Canon PIXMA MP560 and the Canon PIXMA MP490, which, in the case of the PIXMA MP560, is the most compact wireless enabled (Wi-Fi) AIO printer with auto duplex printing capabilities to be offered by Canon to date.

The Canon PIXMA MP560, which is the undoubted star of the two newly introduced PIXMA AIOs, apart from boasting integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, offers a maximum color printing resolution of a pretty impressive 9600 x 2400 dpi utilising five individual ink tanks which, Canon say, offers greater economy (as you only need to replace any single color tank that runs dry). That said, in practice, we cannot help but wonder whether, on paper, such a system will benefit anyone other than Canon (ink tank prices are, frankly, absurdly priced).

Additional highlights concerning the Canon PIXMA MP560 AIO printer include borderless 4″ x 6″ photo printing – with the MP560 being capable of churning out color 4″ x 6″ prints at a rate of six per minute – a 2″ LCD display that’ll enable you to preview images sent from wireless devices (as well as loaded via memory cards) prior to printing and, of course, it’s built-in scanner offering 2400 x 4800 dpi scanning resolution. And, as well as offing up Wi-Fi connectivity, the PIXMA MP560 can also hook up to Bluetooth enabled devices such as cell phones – though such functionality comes via an optional add-on (specifically Canon’s Bluetooth Unit BU-30).

The Canon PIXMA MP490, as you’d probably gathered, unlike its bigger brother comes sans Wi-Fi connectivity though if your can do without wireless functionality you’ll be rewarded with a suitably lowered price point. That said, you can also count on its printing resolution not quite measuring up to the aforementioned MP560 with the PIXMA MP490’s max printing resolution coming in at 4800 x 1200. In terms of other features, however, the PIXMA MP490 puts in a fairly good show when viewed against the MP560 but auto duplex printing capabilities are lacking.

In terms of pricing the Canon PIXMA MP560 AIO printer will set you back around $150 whilst the PIXMA MP490 comes in at around $50 less. Both the new PIXMA AIO photo printers are scheduled to commence shipping in August.

[Canon]