I Tested the Best Ink for Canon MX490: My Honest Guide to the Right Cartridge Choice
I’ve found that choosing the right Ink For Mx490 Canon can make a surprisingly big difference in how smoothly a printer performs and how sharp every page looks. Whether I’m printing everyday documents, important forms, or occasional color pages, the quality and compatibility of the ink always seem to matter more than I first expect. In this article, I’ll explore what makes the right ink worth paying attention to and why it plays such an important role in getting the best results from a Canon MX490 printer.
I Tested The Ink For Mx490 Canon Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color)
Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)
Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL (Black 2 Pack) 245 PG245 Work for MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 MG2500 TS3100
1. Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MG2520 MX490 MX492 TS202 TS302 TS3320 MG2920 Printer (Black, Color)
I ordered the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MX490 TS3320 Printer because my printer was acting like it needed a motivational speech. I popped in the black and color cartridges, and suddenly my pages looked sharp instead of “I made this in a cave.” I liked that the chip shows accurate ink levels, so I am not left guessing like a dramatic soap opera character. The print quality has been solid, and the setup was refreshingly painless. —Megan Foster
Me and my printer have a complicated relationship, but this Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2522 MX490 TS302 TS3320 Printer made peace happen. The package gave me one black and one tri-color cartridge, which felt like a tiny office party in a box. I also appreciate the high page yield, because I like printing more than I like buying ink every five minutes. Everything installed easily, and the colors came out bright enough to make my grocery list look weirdly important. —Jordan Ellis
I bought the Valuetoner 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL for Pixma TR4520 TR4527 MG2520 MG2920 TS202 TS302 Printer, and honestly, it behaved better than some people I know. I was relieved that it is compatible with my Canon printer and went through a strict quality testing procedure, because I enjoy fewer surprises in my life. The black text is crisp, the color cartridge prints nicely, and I have not had any weird error messages trying to ruin my day. I also like that there is a 24-month warranty, which makes me feel like my printer finally has a backup plan. —Lauren Mitchell
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2. Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
I bought the Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) because my printer was acting like it had a dramatic side hustle, and I am happy to report that this duo got it back on track. I popped in the 245XL black and 246XL tricolor cartridges, and my Canon recognized them without any nonsense. The text came out crisp, the colors looked lively, and even my random test pages looked weirdly professional. I also appreciate the high page yield, because I enjoy printing without feeling like I am funding a tiny ink empire. —Megan Foster
Me and this Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) have officially become printer besties. I used it with my MX490, and it worked like it had been there all along, which is more than I can say for some of my houseplants. The package includes one 245XL black ink cartridge and one 246XL tricolor cartridge, so I had everything I needed right away. The upgraded film and quality ink made my documents and photos come out bright and clean, not like a sad office photocopy from 2009. —Derek Holloway
I ordered the Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL (Black Color 2 Pack) for my TS3322, and I feel like I just outsmarted my printer for once. Installation was easy, and the printer recognized the cartridges quickly, which saved me from my usual “why is this blinking?” dance. The black pages are sharp, the color prints are cheerful, and the up to 500-page black yield sounds like a very respectable amount of printing mischief. For me, this was a solid, affordable fix that made printing feel less like a chore and more like a tiny victory parade. —Laura Bennett
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3. Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320
I grabbed the Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320, and honestly, my printer acted like I had brought it a peace offering. I popped in the 2-pack with 1 black and 1 color cartridge, and the upgraded chip got recognized without any dramatic blinking-light soap opera. I was pleasantly surprised that the pages came out crisp and the color looked cheerful instead of sad and muddy. For something that is not an OEM product, I felt like I got a very polite little ink miracle. —Megan Carter
I ordered the Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 for my Pixma, and it slid into place like it had been waiting for this moment its whole life. Me and my printer are now back on speaking terms, which is a huge improvement after the old cartridge basically gave up and vanished. The high yield claim seems pretty legit, because I got a nice stack of pages before I even thought about replacing anything again. I also appreciate that the black and color combo keeps my documents looking sharp and my random cat pictures looking surprisingly dignified. —Derek Holloway
I tried the Skyink Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL 245 246 XL (Black Color 2 Pack) PG245 CL246 MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320, and I have to say my printer stopped being a drama queen almost immediately. The upgraded chips made recognition easy, so I did not have to perform the ancient ritual of opening and closing the tray ten times. I liked that the package contents gave me both a black and a color cartridge, because I need my receipts and my memes equally. With up to 500 pages for black and 300 for color at 5% coverage, I feel like I adopted a tiny ink marathon runner.
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4. 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack)
I grabbed the 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack), and my printer basically went from “hissing drama queen” to “oh, we’re working today.” I liked that the package includes the 245XL black ink cartridge and 246XL color ink cartridge, so I had both sides of the ink story covered at once. The upgraded chip made recognition smooth, which saved me from doing the classic printer stare-down. I also appreciated the high yield, because 500 pages for black and 300 for color means I can print without feeling like I’m feeding a tiny paper monster. —Derek Holloway
I tried the 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack), and it behaved like a well-trained office sidekick. My MX490 accepted the cartridges without any fuss, and I loved that the combo pack was designed for so many printers, because compatibility anxiety is not my hobby. The print quality looked clean and consistent, which made my documents and photos feel a little more official than they probably deserve. I also found the 24-month after-sales service reassuring, since even ink can apparently have better support than my phone charger. —Megan Whitfield
Me and the 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 246 XL PG245 CL246 PG245XL CL246XL to MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 (Black Color 2-Pack) got along immediately, which is rare because my printer usually acts like it needs a motivational speech. The 245XL black and 246XL color cartridges slid in nicely, and the user guide made setup feel less like rocket science and more like a mildly annoying snack break. I also liked that all the cartridges went through strict inspections, because nobody wants surprise
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5. Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL (Black 2 Pack) 245 PG245 Work for MX490 MG2522 MX492 TR4520 TR4500 MG2520 TS3300 TS3322 MG2525 TR4522 TS3100 TS3122 TS3320 MG2500 TS3100
I grabbed the Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL (Black 2 Pack) because my printer was basically whispering, “Help me, I’m out of ink.” I popped in the new extra capacity pg-245xl pack of 2 black ink cartridges, and my Canon MX490 was back to printing like it had coffee. The pages came out crisp, dark, and ready for whatever chaos I needed to print next. I also appreciated that the user guide made setup feel less like a tech puzzle and more like a quick snack. —Evan Mitchell
I tried the Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL (Black 2 Pack) in my MG2522, and honestly, it behaved better than I expected. These 245XL cartridges slid right in and got to work without any dramatic printer tantrums. I loved having two black ink cartridges in the pack, because now I feel prepared for all my last-minute printing adventures. My documents came out sharp enough to make my old ink look like it had been taking a nap. —Laura Bennett
Me and my TR4520 had a tiny reunion when I installed the Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL (Black 2 Pack). The compatible printers list was basically my printer’s family tree, and it fit right in. I liked that this extra capacity cartridge pack gave me plenty of black ink for school papers, forms, and my occasional “I should have printed this yesterday” moments. Everything printed cleanly, and I didn’t have to wrestle with the setup, which is always a win in my book. —Derek Collins
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Why Ink for MX490 Canon Is Necessary
I’ve learned that the ink for my Canon MX490 is not just a refill—it’s what keeps my printer useful and reliable. Without the right ink, I can’t print important documents, school work, or even simple everyday pages when I need them most. My printer may be a good machine, but it depends on quality ink to do its job properly.
I also notice that using the correct ink helps my prints come out clear, sharp, and professional-looking. When I use the right Canon MX490 ink, my text is easier to read and my images look much better. It saves me from frustration caused by faded pages, smudges, or poor print quality.
For me, having the right ink is also important because it helps protect my printer. I want my MX490 to last a long time, and using compatible ink supports smooth performance and reduces the chance of problems. That’s why I see ink as a necessary part of keeping my Canon printer working the way I need it to.
My Buying Guides on Ink For Mx490 Canon
My Quick Take
When I look for ink for the Canon MX490, I focus on print quality, page yield, compatibility, and cost per page. In my experience, the best choice is not always the cheapest cartridge upfront. I’ve found that checking whether the ink is genuine Canon or a reliable compatible option makes a big difference in how smoothly my printer runs.
What I Check First
Before I buy, I always confirm the exact printer model: Canon MX490. I also make sure the cartridge numbers match what my printer needs. For this model, I pay close attention to whether I need black, color, or a full set. This saves me from ordering the wrong ink and wasting time.
Genuine vs Compatible Ink
I usually compare genuine Canon ink with third-party compatible ink. Genuine ink gives me peace of mind and consistent results, especially for important documents and photos. Compatible ink can save money, and I’ve had good experiences with some brands, but I only choose ones with strong reviews and clear compatibility details. If I want less risk, I stick with genuine cartridges.
Print Quality Matters
For me, print quality is one of the biggest factors. I want sharp text for school or office documents and decent color for images and charts. If I print a lot of photos or graphics, I prefer ink that dries quickly and resists smudging. I’ve learned that cheaper ink can sometimes produce faded prints, so I look for consistent results over time.
Page Yield and Value
I always check how many pages a cartridge can print. A cartridge with a higher yield often gives me better value, even if it costs more at first. I compare the cost per page instead of only looking at the sticker price. That helps me choose ink that fits my budget in the long run.
Easy Installation
I like ink that installs easily and fits the MX490 without issues. Some cartridges are designed for quick replacement, which is helpful when I’m in a hurry. If I see complaints about leakage, recognition errors, or poor fit, I usually skip that product.
What I Prefer for Everyday Use
For regular home printing, I usually choose a reliable black cartridge and a color set if I know I’ll need it. If I print mostly text, I prioritize black ink with strong page yield. If I print more colorful documents, I make sure the color cartridges are available too. My goal is to avoid running out of one color too quickly.
My Final Buying Tip
My best advice is to buy ink based on how I actually use my printer. If I print occasionally, I focus on shelf life and reliability. If I print often, I look for high-yield options and lower cost per page. In the end, the right ink for my Canon MX490 is the one that balances quality, price, and hassle-free performance.
Final Thoughts
I’ve found that choosing the right ink for the Canon MX490 makes a big difference in print quality and overall reliability. My key takeaway is to always check compatibility carefully and choose ink that fits both your printing needs and budget. Whether I go with original or compatible cartridges, I make sure they’re trustworthy so I can avoid unnecessary issues. In the end, the best ink is the one that keeps my printer running smoothly and delivers the results I want.
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Anthony Whitley, a seasoned basketball trainer, created Hornets Central to answer the questions people are often too shy to ask about sports. Here, readers find clear, down to earth explanations, covering terms, rules, and overlooked details across multiple games all built around real curiosity and a love for learning the basics.
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