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Choose between cartridge replacement, tank refills and two-sided print handling

The TS6520 suits buyers who want Canon-listed two-sided printing with an automatic option in the TS6500 Windows driver, alongside replaceable black and color FINE cartridges. The G3270 suits buyers who prefer bottle-refilled GI-21 tanks; Canon's G3270 spec lists single-sided printing, while its linked G3070-series Windows driver guide describes a manual two-sided workflow that requires reloading the sheets. These are documented feature and supply-workflow differences, not a finding about print quality, speed, savings, or lifetime cost.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-01

Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Would you rather replace the TS6520’s black and color FINE cartridges or refill the G3270’s four ink tanks, and do you want the TS6520’s documented automatic two-sided mode or accept manually reloading pages for the G3270’s documented Windows workflow?

The G3270 uses GI-21 refill bottles with integrated tanks and its linked Windows driver guide describes manual page turning for two-sided jobs. The TS6520 uses two FINE cartridge units and Canon lists two-sided printing; its Windows driver guide distinguishes automatic from manual duplex.

Quick verdict

When the recommendation changes
  • For specialty paper, borderless pages, or custom sizes, check whether your exact driver and media settings allow the intended two-sided mode.
  • If recurring ink cost or page yield decides the purchase, compare current genuine-supply prices and your own print mix; these sources do not establish which costs less over time.
  • The reviewed driver instructions are for Windows. Verify your Mac, mobile, or other platform workflow before treating the same manual steps as applicable.

The differences that matter

Ink Refill Workflow

Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, White (7179C002)

The TS6520 uses a hybrid system with two FINE cartridge units: pigment black PG-295 and color CL-286 FINE cartridge. Canon's series manual explains removing the empty cartridge and installing the matching black or color replacement.[1, 2, 3]

Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 Wireless All-in-One Printer, Black (5805C002)

The G3270 uses an integrated four-color tank system with GI-21 black and color bottles. Canon's G3070-series guide, which lists G3270 as a covered model, describes refilling a tank to its upper line and resetting the remaining-ink count after a full refill.[5, 6, 7, 8]

What this changes: This is a choice between two maintenance tasks—replacing two cartridge units or refilling individual tanks and following the ink-level procedure. It does not establish a lower supply cost, higher real-world yield, cleaner handling, or longer refill interval.[1, 3, 5, 7, 8]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Duplex Print Workflow

Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, White (7179C002)

Canon lists 2-sided (duplex) printing for the TS6520. In its TS6500-series Windows driver guide, the two-sided setting can run automatically or manually; checking Manual 2-sided Printing selects the manual path.[1, 2, 4]

Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 Wireless All-in-One Printer, Black (5805C002)

Canon lists the G3270's printing capability as single-sided (simplex). Its linked G3070-series Windows driver guide nevertheless documents a manual two-sided workflow: print one side, reload the sheets when prompted, then press OK for the reverse side.[5, 6, 9]

What this changes: For supported two-sided computer jobs, the TS6520 is the fit when avoiding a manual paper-reload step matters. The G3270 guide requires user handling in its documented Windows manual workflow. Media, layout, and operating-system settings can affect availability; no print-speed or output-quality comparison is made.[1, 4, 5, 9]

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, White (7179C002)View Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, White (7179C002) on AmazonPaid link

Best for your routine

Print supported two-sided computer documents without manually reloading pages

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, White (7179C002)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Canon lists duplex capability for TS6520 and the TS6500 Windows driver guide offers automatic operation unless manual mode is selected. The G3270 specification lists simplex capability and its linked G3070-series driver guide shows a manual reload workflow.

View Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer, White (7179C002) on AmazonPaid link

Choose between replacing cartridge units and refilling ink tanks

The better fit depends on your priorities

The TS6520 manual documents black and color FINE cartridge replacement; the G3270 manual documents refilling individual integrated tanks and resetting the ink count. Choose by which task suits your routine; no cost or yield winner is established.

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

Any current price difference should be weighed against the supply task and duplex workflow that matter to you. A tank or cartridge design alone does not prove which printer costs less to own.

There is not enough comparable long-term price history to recommend buying now or waiting. Check current printer and genuine-supply offers and checkout terms.

Limitations

  • No hands-on print test was performed. The comparison covers published supply and driver workflows, not print quality, speed, reliability, or user-measured ink consumption.
  • Canon's G3270 page lists simplex printing while the linked G3070-series Windows driver guide documents manual two-sided printing. Neither supports claiming automatic duplex for the G3270.
  • The driver instructions reviewed are for Windows. Mac, mobile, and other platform behavior was not established here.
  • The sources do not establish comparative page yield under a shared test, current or long-term supply cost, lifetime cost, or savings. Canon's published yield figures are not used as a direct pairwise cost result.
  • Confirm paper size, media type, layout, and driver availability for your specific two-sided job; the documented feature should not be assumed to work for every paper setting.

Questions shoppers ask

Can the G3270 print on both sides?

Canon's G3270 specifications list single-sided (simplex) printing. However, the G3070-series Windows driver manual linked from Canon's G3270 support page describes manual two-sided printing: it prints one side, prompts you to reload the pages, and then prints the reverse. This does not establish automatic duplex for the G3270.

Do both printers use refill bottles?

No. Canon lists the G3270 with GI-21 refill bottles and integrated tanks. The TS6520 uses separate black and color FINE cartridges, which its series manual shows how to replace.

Which has lower ink costs?

These sources do not establish a comparable cost-per-page or lifetime supply cost. Compare the current genuine bottles or cartridge options with your own print mix before deciding.

Methodology and sources

Compared Canon's published supply architecture and documented Windows duplex workflows for the exact U.S. TS6520 and G3270 models; series manuals were used only where Canon explicitly maps the model.

AI-assisted research and drafting; no printer was physically tested.

View 9 sources
  1. 1.Canon Support for PIXMA TS6520Canon U.S.A. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Exact TS6520 support page; Technical Specifications / Printing Capability and Ink Information; current product SKU is 7179C002.: Canon lists TS6520 two-sided (duplex) printing and a two-tank hybrid ink system using PG-295 black and CL-286 color FINE cartridges.
  2. 2.Canon Online Manual - TS6500 seriesCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Supported model list includes TS6520; table of contents identifies Printing and Settings/Maintenance.: Canon's series manual explicitly includes TS6520, grounding use of the model-series driver and cartridge instructions.
  3. 3.Canon Online Manual - Replacing a FINE CartridgeCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Replacing Procedure steps 1-6; black cartridge goes in right slot, color cartridge in left slot.: The manual documents removing the empty cartridge and fitting a new FINE cartridge in the corresponding slot.
  4. 4.Canon TS6500 series Windows Printer Driver - Page Setup Tab DescriptionCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • 1-sided/2-sided/Booklet Printing and Manual 2-sided Printing controls; Canon series manual covers TS6520.: Canon says the Windows driver can select 2-sided printing and that Manual 2-sided Printing selects whether duplex is automatic or manual; checking it makes operation manual.
  5. 5.Canon Support for MegaTank PIXMA G3270Canon U.S.A. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Exact G3270 support page; Technical Specifications / Printing Capability and Ink Information; Manuals list links to G3270 Setup Instructions and G3070-series Online Manual; model/ASIN mapping verified in product snapshot.: Canon lists G3270 as simplex printing, with a four-color continuous ink supply system, integrated tanks and GI-21 bottle ink. Canon's exact-model support page lists the G3070-series online manual.
  6. 6.Canon Online Manual - G3070 seriesCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Model list explicitly includes G3270; Canon G3270 support page also links this G3070-series Online Manual.: The series manual includes G3270 and is the model-family manual linked from Canon's exact G3270 support page.
  7. 7.Canon G3070 series Online Manual - Inside ViewCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Inside View; scanning cover opens to refill, tank caps, black left/color tanks right, lower and upper limit lines.: The G3270-covering manual describes integrated tanks and refilling the low tank; refill before the ink falls below the lower limit line.
  8. 8.Canon G3070 series Online Manual - Other device settingsCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Ink level monitor / Reset ink level count; reset after refilling tank to upper limit line.: The manual instructs resetting the remaining ink count after filling a tank to the upper limit; visual inspection is needed if ink-level notifications are disabled.
  9. 9.Canon G3070 series Windows Printer Driver - Duplex PrintingCanon · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 21:36 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Duplex Printing steps 1-6; select 2-sided Printing (Manual), print first side, reload sheets as prompted, press printer OK for reverse side.: For its G3270-covering series, Canon documents a Windows manual two-sided printing procedure that requires paper reloading and an OK-button confirmation.

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