The Canon Pixma TS9520a All In One was our choice as one of the best all-in-one printers for Mac due to a combination of great value for money, rock solid Apple compatibility, reliability and high quality printing for both text and photos.
Whether you need a printer or scanner for your home or office, I think the Pixma TS9520a is a great compact all rounder.
In this review, I take a closer look at what it can do.
Note: The PIXMA TS9520a is also marketed in different regions as the PIXMA TS9520. The only difference is in their regional availability.
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Table of Contents
Mac Compatibility
One of the TS9520a’s biggest strengths is how easily it integrates with all Apple devices including Macs.
Thanks to AirPrint, you can print directly from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad without installing drivers or software. It also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB connections, giving you plenty of flexibility depending on your setup.
Unlike many multifunction printers, setup is quick and straightforward—perfect for those that have spent countless hours screaming and their Mac and printer to work together.
Design & Dimensions
Despite its versatility, the Canon TS9520a remains compact, measuring just 18.5″ (W) x 14.5″ (D) x 7.6″ (H).
It fits comfortably on most desks and looks sleek with its clean, minimalist design. It’s available in several colors—including red, grey, and gold—which all cost the same.
5-Inch Touchscreen
All functions are controlled via a large 5-inch color touchscreen, which is responsive and easy to navigate.
There are no physical buttons, giving the front panel a clean, modern appearance.
The interface is intuitive, even for less tech-savvy users, and makes printing, scanning, and copying simple.
Print Quality & Ink System
The TS9520a uses a 5-color individual ink system, which includes pigment black for sharp text and dye-based colors for vibrant photos.
Print quality is excellent for both documents and photos, with a maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi.
Refill costs are relatively reasonable compared to similar inkjet models, and third-party cartridges are available if you’re looking to save more—just be aware of potential compatibility or quality issues when using non-Canon ink.
Print Speed & Print Dimensions
For an inkjet printer, the TS9520a is impressively fast—whether printing black-and-white documents or full-color pages.
It supports automatic duplex (two-sided) printing, which is slower than single-sided but still quick for its class.
The printer also supports tabloid (11″ x 17″) printing, which isn’t common for printers at this price.
This makes it a great choice for creatives, graphic designers, or anyone needing to print larger spreadsheets or marketing materials.
Scanning & Copying
The built-in flatbed scanner delivers high-resolution scans up to 2400 x 4800 dpi, ideal for both documents and photos.
There’s a 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF), which makes scanning multi-page documents far more convenient.
However, note that while the product does include an ADF, it doesn’t support duplex scanning (scanning both sides of a page automatically), which may be a drawback for high-volume use.
Still, for most home and small office users, the scanning and copying functionality will more than suffice.
CD/DVD/Blu-ray Printing & HD Movie Print
Unique to the TS9520a is its support for CD, DVD, and Blu-ray disc printing.
Using the included software, you can design and print directly onto compatible discs—another handy feature for media creators and hobbyists.
Another neat touch is the HD Movie Print function. If you own a compatible Canon camera (such as the EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA), you can extract frames from HD video clips and print them as still images—an added way to capture moments instead of taking photos.
Direct Photo Printing & Cloud Integration
On the front panel, there’s an SD card slot that allows you to print photos directly from a memory card from a digital camera without needing to connect your Mac.
This is handy for quick photo projects or printing snapshots on the fly without having to connect your device to the printer.
You can also scan documents to and print directly from cloud services like Google Drive and OneDrive.
What’s Missing?
The TS9520a does not include fax functionality, but with macOS no longer supporting fax from multifunction printers, this isn’t a major drawback.
For those who still need faxing capabilities, Mac compatible fax software offer a better and more modern alternative.
There’s also no NFC (Near Field Communication), but given the wireless options already included, most users won’t miss it.
Pricing
The Canon PIXMA TS9520a typically retails for around $199 to $249, depending on availability and promotions. Prices can fluctuate slightly based on the region or retailer, and stock can occasionally be limited due to its popularity.
While not the cheapest all-in-one inkjet printer, the TS9520a is competitively priced considering its feature set, including wide-format printing, a 5-color ink system, a 5-inch touchscreen, and wireless capabilities.
Ink Costs:
The printer uses individual Canon CLI-281 and PGI-280 cartridges, which are more economical than tri-color cartridges since you only replace the color you run out of. Canon’s original ink is reasonably priced, but you can further save money with compatible third-party cartridges—though these may void the warranty or produce slightly lower-quality results.
Canon PIXMA TS9520a Alternatives
You may find our look at the best all in one printers for Mac useful for alternatives.
However, for specific models that are similar to the TS9520a, the best picks are the following:
1. Epson EcoTank ET-8500
- Price: Approx. $549
- Best for: Long-term savings on ink
- Pros: Cartridge-free printing with refillable ink tanks, extremely low cost per page, excellent photo quality
- Cons: Higher upfront cost, slightly bulkier
- Why it’s a good alternative: Great for frequent printing and high-volume households, with excellent macOS support.
2. HP ENVY Inspire 7955e
- Price: Approx. $229
- Best for: Families and occasional printing
- Pros: Strong wireless support, includes 6 months of free ink with HP+ subscription, solid print quality
- Cons: Less control over ink usage (HP+ system), HP Smart app is required for many functions
- Why it’s a good alternative: Affordable and user-friendly, especially for home users with light printing needs.
3. Brother MFC-J5340DW
- Price: Approx. $199
- Best for: Office use and document printing
- Pros: Fast print speeds, robust build, duplex scanning and printing, wide-format support
- Cons: Bulkier design, photo print quality not as vibrant
- Why it’s a good alternative: Strong performer for work-focused tasks and supports wide paper formats like the TS9520a.