Canon pixma g3270 vs epson ecotank et 2800 which budget tank printer is better?

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

The Canon PIXMA G3270 is the better budget tank printer for most people because it costs less per page and prints sharper text, but the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 wins if you need automatic duplex printing and a slightly faster first page. Both are refillable ink tank models that replace cartridges with bottles, so your long-run ink costs drop dramatically compared to traditional inkjets. Below we compare their real-world performance, running costs, print quality, and ease of use so you can pick the right one for your home or small office.

How Ink Tank Printers Work

Ink tank printers (also called supertank or MegaTank models) use large internal reservoirs that you refill from ink bottles. Instead of swapping a cartridge every few hundred pages, you pour ink into a tank that holds enough for thousands of pages. The ink travels through tubes to the printhead, which sprays it onto paper. This design cuts the cost per page dramatically because bottled ink is much cheaper per milliliter than cartridge ink.

Both the Canon G3270 and Epson ET-2800 use this system, but they have different printhead technologies. Canon uses a thermal printhead that heats ink to fire droplets, while Epson uses a piezoelectric printhead that vibrates a crystal to push ink out. In practice, Canon’s thermal heads often produce slightly bolder text, while Epson’s piezo heads can be gentler on the printhead and sometimes handle pigment inks better. For everyday documents and photos, both are perfectly adequate.

Canon G3270 vs Epson ET-2800: Key Specs Compared

Print speed (mono): Canon G3270 ~8.8 ipm, Epson ET-2800 ~10 ppm (ISO). Epson is a bit faster for plain text.
Print speed (color): Canon ~5.0 ipm, Epson ~5 ppm. Similar, but Epson’s first page comes out quicker.
Automatic duplex: Canon G3270 does not have it; Epson ET-2800 does. This is the biggest functional difference.
Paper capacity: Canon 100 sheets, Epson 100 sheets. Equal.
Display: Canon has a 1.35-inch LCD, Epson has a 1.44-inch color screen. Both are small but usable.
Connectivity: Both have Wi-Fi and USB, plus mobile printing via Canon PRINT and Epson Smart Panel apps.
Scanner: Both are multifunction (print, copy, scan) with a flatbed scanner. Neither has an automatic document feeder (ADF).
Ink bottles included: Canon includes 1 black + 1 color set (up to ~6000 pages black, 7700 color). Epson includes 2 black + 2 color bottles (up to ~4500 pages black, 7500 color). Canon gives more pages out of the box.

Print Quality and Speed: What to Expect

For text documents, the Canon G3270 produces very crisp, dark black text thanks to its pigment-based black ink. Epson’s ET-2800 uses a dye-based black ink, which is slightly less sharp on plain paper but still perfectly readable. If you print a lot of contracts, forms, or school assignments, the Canon will look a touch cleaner.

For color photos and graphics, the Epson tends to have slightly more accurate skin tones and smoother gradients, while Canon’s colors are more vivid and punchy. Neither is a photo-lab replacement, but both can print borderless 4×6 photos. The Canon uses a 4-color dye ink set (CMYK), and the Epson uses a 4-color dye set as well (CMYK). On glossy photo paper, the Epson’s output is often a bit more neutral, while Canon’s is more saturated.

Speed is close, but the Epson ET-2800 has a faster first-page-out time for both mono and color. If you print many small jobs throughout the day, the Epson will feel snappier. For long documents, the Canon’s slower but steady output is fine.

Running Costs and Ink Bottle Prices

This is where both printers shine. A full set of Canon GI-20 bottles (black + color) costs around $30–35 and yields about 6,000 black pages and 7,700 color pages. That works out to roughly 0.5 cents per black page and 1 cent per color page. Epson’s 502 bottles cost about $12–15 per color bottle and $18–20 per black bottle, with a black yield of 4,500 pages and color yield of 7,500 per set. That’s roughly 0.4 cents per black page and 1 cent per color page. Both are far cheaper than any cartridge printer, where a single black cartridge can cost $15 and last only 200–300 pages.

One hidden cost: the Epson ET-2800’s black ink is dye-based, which is not waterproof. If you need documents that resist smudging when wet, the Canon’s pigment black is better. However, pigment ink can clog more easily if you leave the printer unused for weeks. Both printers have a head cleaning cycle that uses a little ink, but the Epson’s piezo head is generally more tolerant of infrequent use.

Setup and Ease of Use

Both printers require a simple setup: unbox, remove tape, install the ink bottles, and run the initial charging cycle. The Canon G3270 has a slightly simpler bottle design with a keyed nozzle that prevents filling the wrong tank. The Epson uses a similar keyed system, but its bottles are a bit larger and easier to handle. The initial charge takes about 5–7 minutes on both, and you must keep the printer powered on during that time.

Wi-Fi setup is straightforward on both via their mobile apps. The Canon PRINT app is a bit more intuitive for scanning, while Epson’s Smart Panel app offers a few extra tools like a document fix feature. Both support AirPrint and Google Cloud Print (though Google Cloud Print is discontinued, so use the native apps).

One common frustration with ink tank printers is that the ink level indicator is not always accurate. Both Canon and Epson show a rough estimate, but you can open the tank and see the actual level. The Canon G3270’s LCD shows a clearer visual, while the Epson’s screen is smaller but still readable.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Clogged printheads: Happens if you don’t print for 2–3 weeks. Solution: run the head cleaning cycle from the printer menu or app. To prevent it, print a small test page every week.
Ink smudging on plain paper: More common with Epson’s dye-based black. Use the correct paper type setting (Plain Paper) and let the ink dry before touching.
Paper jams: Both printers are prone to jams if you overload the tray or use curled paper. Keep the tray under 100 sheets and fan the paper before loading.
Wi-Fi drops: Both can lose connection if the router is far away. Use the USB cable for a permanent connection if Wi-Fi is unreliable.
Error messages about ink levels: Sometimes the printer thinks a tank is empty when it isn’t. Reset by turning off the printer, unplugging for 30 seconds, and restarting.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Canon G3270 if you:

Print mostly text and want the sharpest black text.
Want the lowest cost per page out of the box (more ink included).
Don’t need automatic double-sided printing.
Prefer a simpler, more foolproof ink filling system.

Choose the Epson ET-2800 if you:

Print a lot of multi-page documents and want automatic duplex (saves paper).
Want faster first-page output for small jobs.
Print photos and prefer slightly more neutral color accuracy.
Like the Epson Smart Panel app for mobile scanning.

For most home users, the Canon G3270 is the better value because its included ink lasts longer and its text quality is superior. But if you frequently print double-sided reports, the Epson’s auto-duplex is a real time-saver that justifies its slightly higher price (usually $20–30 more).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use third-party ink in these printers?

Yes, you can buy generic ink bottles, but they may not match the exact color formula and could cause clogs or printhead damage. Both Canon and Epson warranties do not cover damage from non-genuine ink. If you want to save money, it’s safer to stick with the manufacturer’s bottles, which are already very cheap per page.

How long do the printheads last?

With regular use, the printheads on both printers can last several years or tens of thousands of pages. If the printhead fails, it is often more cost-effective to buy a new printer than to replace the head, as the repair cost can exceed the printer’s price. To maximize printhead life, print at least once a week and avoid letting ink dry in the nozzles.

Do these printers work with Mac and Chromebook?

Yes, both support macOS via AirPrint and have drivers for Windows. Chromebooks can print using the native printing dialog with the printer’s IP address, but the full feature set (like scanning) requires the mobile apps on a phone or tablet.

Can I print borderless photos?

Yes, both printers support borderless printing on 4×6, 5×7, and 8.5×11 photo paper. You need to select the correct paper size in the print settings and load photo paper in the tray. The borderless option is available in the printer driver or mobile app.

What is the difference between pigment and dye ink?

Pigment ink consists of solid particles suspended in liquid, making it water-resistant and better for text. Dye ink is a solution that soaks into paper, giving more vibrant colors but smearing when wet. Canon uses pigment black, Epson uses dye black. For photos, dye ink is often preferred because it produces smoother gradients.

Is it worth paying more for the Epson ET-2800?

If you use the auto-duplex feature regularly, yes. Otherwise, the Canon G3270 offers better text quality and more ink in the box for a lower price. The Epson’s faster first page and slightly better color accuracy are nice but not enough to justify the extra cost for most users.

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