Canon PIXMA TS6420a Review (2026): Wireless All-in-One With ADF

The Canon PIXMA TS6420a is a wireless inkjet all-in-one that punches above its price class by including both an automatic document feeder (ADF) and auto duplex printing — features typically found on more expensive office-class machines. At around $99, it's a meaningful step up from sub-$80 models like the Canon PIXMA TR4720 or HP DeskJet 4155e. The TS6420a is Canon's answer to users who need real productivity features without crossing into dedicated office printer territory.

Who Is the Canon PIXMA TS6420a For?

The TS6420a targets home office users, students managing coursework, and families who regularly scan multi-page documents. The ADF (automatic document feeder) is the key differentiator — instead of placing each page on the flatbed glass individually, you load up to 5 sheets and the printer feeds them through automatically. This makes scanning a 5-page contract or copying a short document dramatically faster and easier. Auto duplex printing (printing on both sides automatically) saves paper and produces more professional-looking documents.

If you scan documents regularly, need to print double-sided without manually flipping pages, and want Alexa integration for hands-free printing, the TS6420a delivers all three at a competitive price point. If you rarely scan multi-page documents or never need duplex, a cheaper Canon TR4720 or HP DeskJet would serve just as well for less money.

Print Quality

Canon's 5-ink system (CLI-281 BK, C, M, Y plus PGI-280 pigment black) gives the TS6420a a meaningful print quality advantage over many competitors in its price range. The dedicated pigment black cartridge (PGI-280) produces sharp, water-resistant text that won't smear if the page gets slightly damp — important for contracts, homework, and documents that need to last. Color output is vibrant and accurate, with the 4800×1200 dpi resolution delivering smooth gradients in photos. On Canon's genuine photo paper, 4×6 prints rival drugstore quality.

Text printing at draft quality is noticeably fast at 13ppm, and even at standard quality it produces clean, professional-looking results. For a home inkjet, the TS6420a's print quality is genuinely above average — Canon's FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) print head technology is one of its engineering advantages.

ADF and Scanning Performance

The 5-sheet ADF is a small but meaningfully useful feature. Load up to 5 pages and the scanner feeds them through automatically, scanning each page at up to 1200×2400 dpi resolution. That's excellent for a home machine — most documents scan beautifully at 300–600 dpi, and the TS6420a can produce professional-quality scans that exceed what you'd need for PDF archiving or email attachments.

The ADF only handles single-sided scanning (simplex), so if you need to scan both sides of a document, you'll need to flip the stack manually. This is typical for home-class machines with ADF; duplex ADF scanning is generally found on $250+ office machines. For most home office use cases, the single-sided ADF handles the job well.

Ink System and Costs

The TS6420a uses the Canon CLI-281 / PGI-280 5-ink system. The standard cartridges are small and relatively expensive per page — PGI-280 yields ~200 pages, CLI-281 color yields ~255 pages each. Always buy the XL versions: PGI-280XL yields ~400 pages, CLI-281XL yields ~515 pages each, at roughly 20–30% more cost than the standard size. The cost per page with XL cartridges comes out to about $0.06–0.09 per page for mixed color/text printing — acceptable for a home inkjet but not competitive with ink tank printers or laser printers.

Canon's 5-ink system uses separate color tanks, which means you replace only the color that runs out rather than discarding a combined color cartridge when just one color is depleted. This saves money over time compared to tri-color cartridge designs.

Alexa and Smart Home Integration

The TS6420a supports Amazon Alexa for voice-commanded printing. Once set up, you can say "Alexa, print my shopping list" or "Alexa, print a coloring page" and the printer executes the command. This is genuinely useful in a kitchen or living room setting where your hands are full. Setup requires installing the Canon Skill in the Alexa app and linking your Canon account — it takes about 5 minutes and works reliably once configured.

Should You Buy the Canon PIXMA TS6420a?

Buy it if: You regularly scan multi-page documents, want automatic two-sided printing, and print a moderate volume of pages per month (50–200 pages). The combination of ADF + duplex at ~$99 is genuinely good value for home office users.

Skip it if: You rarely scan multi-page documents and don't need duplex. In that case, save $20–30 with the Canon PIXMA TR4720 or Canon PIXMA MG3620. If you print heavy volume, consider the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 for dramatically lower ink costs.