Canon MAXIFY MB2120 All-in-One Inkjet Printer

72%

28%

Text Print Quality

Wireless Setup & Connectivity

Print Speed

Ink Cost & Efficiency

Scan Quality

Copy Performance

Fax Functionality

Paper Handling

Mobile Printing Experience

Build Quality & Durability

Software & Driver Experience

Value for Money

Ease of Use

Noise Level

Long-Term Reliability

Overview

The Canon MAXIFY MB2120 All-in-One Inkjet Printer sits squarely in Canon's business-focused MAXIFY line — a series built for home offices and small businesses, not casual home users. Unlike the consumer-oriented PIXMA range, MAXIFY printers are engineered for higher workloads, and this model's 20,000-page monthly duty cycle reflects that positioning clearly. Yes, it launched in 2016, but the core value proposition hasn't aged badly: you get a genuine business-grade all-in-one at an entry-level price. For remote workers who need reliable daily printing without committing to a laser printer, that trade-off still makes real sense today.

Features & Benefits

The MAXIFY MB2120's DRHD pigment-based inks are worth paying attention to — printed text resists both highlighters and smudging, which actually matters when you're annotating contracts or passing documents to clients. Wi-Fi and the Canon PRINT app handle mobile printing capably, while an Ethernet port offers a stable wired connection for shared office use. Automatic duplex printing and a 250-sheet input tray reduce interruptions during longer runs. The scanner reaches 4800x1200 dpi in color, plenty for document work. Fax is included too — not exciting, but still essential in certain industries where digital alternatives aren't always accepted.

Best For

This Canon home office printer makes the most sense for remote workers and freelancers printing text-heavy documents regularly — invoices, reports, contracts — rather than photos or graphics. If your office still faxes occasionally, the built-in capability saves you from buying a separate device. Legal-size media support up to 8.5x14 inches is a quiet but practical edge over many rivals in this price range. Users wanting both wireless convenience and the option to hardwire into a shared network will appreciate having both. It's less suitable for anyone expecting fast throughput or who primarily needs high-quality photo output.

User Feedback

Across verified buyers, this all-in-one inkjet holds a respectable 3.8 out of 5 stars. Most praise centers on sharp text output and how painless the wireless setup is compared to competing Brother and HP models. The recurring complaints? Ongoing ink costs and print speeds that feel sluggish for anyone accustomed to laser printers. Notably, some one-star reviews appear tied to older firmware or early setup friction rather than fundamental hardware failures — worth factoring in before dismissing them at face value. Long-term reliability leans positive for moderate-use households, though heavier workloads tend to surface more mixed experiences over time.

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Pros

DRHD pigment ink produces sharp, smudge-resistant text that holds up to highlighting and handling.
Built-in fax eliminates the need for a separate device in offices that still rely on it.
Ethernet port provides a stable wired network connection alongside Wi-Fi — a rare combination at this price.
Automatic duplex printing reduces paper consumption without any manual flipping.
Legal-size media support up to 8.5x14 inches covers a gap many competing printers ignore.
Mobile printing via AirPrint and the Canon PRINT app works reliably across both iOS and Android.
A 20,000-page monthly duty cycle is well above what most consumer inkjets can handle.
The 250-sheet input tray cuts down on constant paper refilling during moderate print runs.
Wireless setup is straightforward for most users and can be completed without a computer.
Upfront cost delivers a genuinely complete feature set — print, scan, copy, and fax in one unit.

Cons

Print speeds are slow enough to disrupt workflow during larger or time-sensitive print jobs.
Ink cartridge costs accumulate quickly, especially for users mixing color printing into daily tasks.
Only one paper tray means manually swapping media types whenever you switch paper sizes.
Desktop software feels dated and has caused compatibility issues following macOS updates.
Printhead clogging can develop during periods of infrequent use, wasting ink on cleaning cycles.
Wi-Fi connectivity is limited to 2.4GHz, which creates pairing issues with some modern dual-band routers.
The unit is large and heavy, demanding meaningful desk real estate in already crowded home offices.
Color graphics and photo output quality are noticeably underwhelming compared to the strong text performance.
Cloud and internet fax are not supported — only traditional analog fax via a physical phone line.
Long-term software support has been inconsistent, raising questions about usability after future OS updates.

Ratings

The Canon MAXIFY MB2120 All-in-One Inkjet Printer earns a nuanced scorecard built from thousands of verified buyer reviews worldwide, with our AI filtering out incentivized, bot-generated, and outlier feedback to surface what real home office users actually experience. Scores reflect both the genuine strengths that keep this printer competitive years after its launch and the persistent pain points that consistently surface across long-term owners. Nothing is glossed over — where buyers struggle, the scores show it.

Text Print Quality

88%

The DRHD pigment ink system genuinely impresses for a printer in this price range. Printed contracts, invoices, and reports come out sharp and dense, and the highlighter resistance means annotating printed pages doesn't smear ink across the document — a small but genuinely useful feature for daily office work.

Color document printing is noticeably weaker than monochrome output. Graphics and charts printed for presentations look flat compared to what a laser or higher-end inkjet would produce, and gradients can appear banded on standard paper.

Wireless Setup & Connectivity

83%

Most buyers report a straightforward Wi-Fi setup process, with the Canon PRINT app connecting reliably on both Android and iOS devices. The addition of an Ethernet port is a real advantage for shared office environments where a stable wired connection beats Wi-Fi every time.

A notable subset of users hit snags with router compatibility, particularly on dual-band networks where the printer only connects over 2.4GHz. Reconnection issues after router restarts have been reported more than once, which is frustrating in a home office context.

Print Speed

54%

46%

For light daily printing — a few invoices, a short report, the occasional multi-page form — the speed is tolerable. Users who print fewer than 20 pages at a stretch rarely flag it as a dealbreaker, especially when the output quality compensates for the wait.

The rated speeds are slow by any modern standard, and real-world performance often falls below spec. Anyone printing more than moderate daily volumes, or comparing directly against Brother's MFCJ series, will find the pace noticeably frustrating during busier workdays.

Ink Cost & Efficiency

51%

49%

High-yield XL ink cartridges are available and do bring the per-page cost down meaningfully if you commit to them from the start. Users who print predominantly text get more mileage from a cartridge set than those mixing in color graphics regularly.

This is the single most consistent complaint across verified reviews. Standard cartridge yields are modest, and replacement costs add up quickly — especially for color. Buyers who didn't anticipate ongoing ink expenses frequently express regret, particularly when comparing total cost of ownership against laser alternatives.

Scan Quality

79%

21%

At 4800x1200 dpi, the scanner handles document digitization, receipt archiving, and basic photo scanning without issue. Scanned text is clean and OCR-friendly, which matters for users feeding documents into digital filing workflows.

Sheetfed scanning is convenient but less precise than flatbed scanning for fragile or irregular documents. Scan-to-cloud and scan-to-email features work, but the software interface feels dated and occasionally requires extra steps compared to competitors.

Copy Performance

73%

27%

Copy quality for standard office documents is solid — legible, properly scaled, and consistent across multiple copies. The touch panel makes setting up copy jobs quick enough that most users don't bother connecting to a computer for routine tasks.

Copy speed suffers from the same underlying print speed limitations. Collated multi-page copies of longer documents test patience, and there is no high-capacity feeder to offset this for users with regular bulk copying needs.

Fax Functionality

76%

24%

Fax works reliably for the users who still need it, and having it built in eliminates the cost and clutter of a standalone fax machine. Industries like real estate, legal, and healthcare — where fax remains common — will appreciate that this feature is not an afterthought.

Setup requires a physical phone line, which is increasingly uncommon in modern home offices. Users expecting internet fax or cloud-based fax integration will be disappointed, as this is a traditional analog fax implementation only.

Paper Handling

71%

29%

The 250-sheet input tray handles a reasonable volume without constant refilling, and legal-size media support up to 8.5x14 inches covers a use case that many consumer printers simply skip. Automatic duplex printing works consistently and saves meaningful paper over time.

There is only one paper tray, so switching between media types — say, plain paper and envelopes — requires manual intervention every time. Users who regularly print on multiple paper sizes find this genuinely inconvenient compared to printers offering dual-tray configurations.

Mobile Printing Experience

77%

23%

The Canon PRINT app covers the basics well — printing photos, documents, and web pages from a phone feels intuitive once the printer is on the network. AirPrint support means iPhone and iPad users can print without installing anything extra.

The app's interface has not kept pace with modern mobile design standards and can feel clunky on current smartphones. Cloud printing options are limited compared to what HP Smart or Brother's mobile ecosystem offer users today.

Build Quality & Durability

74%

26%

The MAXIFY MB2120 feels sturdier than most consumer inkjets at this price point — it is not a lightweight plastic shell, and the 20,000-page monthly duty cycle reflects engineering intended for sustained use rather than occasional home printing.

At over 23 pounds and with dimensions that demand significant desk space, this is not a compact unit. Some owners report lid hinge wear over extended use, and the plastic finish shows scratches and scuffs more readily than expected for a business-positioned device.

Software & Driver Experience

62%

38%

Initial driver installation is straightforward on Windows, and the setup CD covers the basics for users who prefer a guided process. Most core functions work without needing to dig into settings, which keeps the learning curve manageable for less technical users.

The desktop software suite feels noticeably dated — especially on macOS, where driver updates have lagged. Several users report that after OS updates, certain features like scanning require driver reinstalls or workarounds, which undermines confidence in long-term software support.

Value for Money

78%

22%

The upfront cost delivers a feature set — print, scan, copy, fax, duplex, Ethernet, Wi-Fi — that would cost considerably more assembled from separate devices. For a home office on a tight equipment budget, the hardware value is genuinely hard to argue with at purchase.

The value calculation shifts once you factor in recurring ink costs over 12 to 18 months. Buyers who print at moderate-to-heavy volume often find that a higher-priced laser all-in-one would have been cheaper overall, making this a better value for lighter print workloads.

Ease of Use

81%

19%

The touch control panel is responsive and logically laid out — walking through a copy or fax job without touching a computer is quick once you spend a few minutes exploring the menu. Most users are printing within 15 minutes of unboxing.

Advanced features like network scan routing or custom print profiles require navigating menus that are not especially intuitive. Less tech-savvy users occasionally need to consult the manual for anything beyond basic print and copy tasks.

Noise Level

67%

33%

For a home office in a separate room or with ambient background noise, the operational volume is acceptable. Standby and idle modes are genuinely quiet, so the unit does not create constant background noise throughout the workday.

Active printing is audibly noticeable — not disruptive in a dedicated workspace, but enough to interrupt a phone call or video meeting if the printer is nearby. Users in open-plan or shared living spaces have flagged the print noise more critically than those with a dedicated office.

Long-Term Reliability

69%

31%

Many verified buyers report using this all-in-one for several years without major mechanical failures, which is a reasonable track record for a printer in this price tier. Canon's US-based support line receives mostly positive mentions from users who needed to call in.

Printhead clogging during periods of infrequent use is a recurring theme in longer-term reviews — a common inkjet issue, but one that costs ink to resolve and frustrates users who do not print daily. Reliability reviews become more mixed beyond the two-year mark.

Suitable for:

The Canon MAXIFY MB2120 All-in-One Inkjet Printer is a practical fit for remote workers, freelancers, and small home office operators who need a capable, multi-function workhorse without paying laser printer prices upfront. If your daily printing revolves around text-heavy documents — contracts, invoices, reports — the DRHD ink system delivers sharp, durable output that holds up well to handling and annotation. Users who occasionally need to send or receive faxes will appreciate having that capability built in rather than bolted on as an afterthought. The combination of Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and mobile app support makes it versatile enough for households where multiple people or devices share one printer. Anyone who regularly prints on legal-size paper will find the 8.5x14 inch media support genuinely useful, since many competitors at this price skip that entirely. If your monthly print volumes are moderate and your priority is reliable text output over speed or photo quality, this all-in-one inkjet delivers solid value for the investment.

Not suitable for:

The Canon MAXIFY MB2120 All-in-One Inkjet Printer is a poor match for anyone who prints at high daily volumes and needs results fast — the print speed is genuinely slow, and it will become a source of real frustration in busier workflows. Photo enthusiasts or anyone who regularly needs to print graphics, marketing materials, or color-rich documents should look elsewhere; this is a business inkjet engineered for text, not a photo printer. Buyers sensitive to ongoing running costs should do the math carefully before committing, because ink replacement expenses can erode the upfront savings over 12 to 18 months of regular use, especially if color cartridges cycle through quickly. If your office has already moved entirely away from fax and you rely on cloud-based scanning workflows with modern software integration, the aging software ecosystem here may feel like a step backward. Those working on macOS who have experienced driver headaches with older Canon printers should proceed with caution, as long-term software support has been inconsistent. Finally, anyone with limited desk space will need to measure carefully — this unit is bulkier and heavier than it might appear in product photos.

Specifications

Print Technology: The MAXIFY MB2120 uses inkjet printing with Canon's DRHD (Dual Resistant High Density) pigment-based inks, engineered for smudge and highlighter resistance on plain paper.
Functions: This unit handles four core tasks: printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, making it a complete all-in-one solution for home office document workflows.
Connectivity: The printer connects via Wi-Fi (2.4GHz), Ethernet, and USB, supporting both wired and wireless network sharing across multiple devices simultaneously.
Mobile Printing: Mobile printing is supported through the Canon PRINT app on Android and iOS, as well as Apple AirPrint for direct printing from Apple devices without additional software.
Print Speed: Rated print speeds are approximately 1 ppm for both color and monochrome in standard quality modes, with real-world business document speeds varying by file complexity.
Duty Cycle: The monthly duty cycle is rated at 20,000 pages, significantly higher than consumer inkjet printers and suitable for sustained moderate-volume home office use.
Input Capacity: The single paper tray holds up to 250 sheets of standard plain paper, with an output tray capacity also rated at 250 sheets.
Duplex Printing: Automatic two-sided (duplex) printing is built in, allowing double-sided documents to be produced without any manual paper flipping.
Scan Resolution: The flatbed and sheetfed scanner supports a maximum optical resolution of 4800x1200 dpi in color, with a 24-bit color depth suitable for document and basic photo scanning.
Max Media Size: The largest supported media size is 8.5x14 inches (legal), with additional supported sizes including 8.5x11 inches, 5x7 inches, 4x6 inches, and 8x10 inches.
Fax: Analog fax functionality is included, requiring a standard telephone line connection; internet or cloud-based fax is not natively supported.
Display: A touch-sensitive LCD control panel is built into the front of the unit, allowing direct operation of all functions without a connected computer.
Memory: The printer is equipped with 64 MB of onboard memory for managing print queues and multi-page document processing.
Dimensions: The unit measures 18.1″ deep by 18.3″ wide by 10.3″ tall, requiring a dedicated footprint of roughly 1.5 square feet on a desk or shelf.
Weight: The MAXIFY MB2120 weighs 23.2 pounds, making it a substantial unit that is best positioned once and left in place rather than moved frequently.
Ink System: Four individual ink tanks are included in the box — black, cyan, magenta, and yellow — with high-yield XL cartridge options available separately for lower per-page costs.
Ink Colors: The standard ink set covers black plus three color channels (CMY), using pigment-based black ink and dye-based color inks optimized for document output.
Warranty: Canon includes a full one-year limited warranty with 100% US-based customer service and technical support available by phone.
Power Interface: The printer includes a standard power cord and is compatible with standard household AC power; no external power adapter is required.
Release Date: The MAXIFY MB2120 was first made available in July 2016 and remains in active sale as of this writing, with Canon confirming it has not been discontinued.

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FAQ

Yes, the MAXIFY MB2120 supports both Windows and macOS, though driver support on macOS has been inconsistent across major OS updates. Windows users generally have a smoother experience. If you are on a recent version of macOS, it is worth checking Canon's support site for the latest compatible driver before buying.

Yes, Apple AirPrint is built in, so you can print directly from any iPhone or iPad on the same Wi-Fi network without downloading an app or installing drivers. If you want additional features like scanning from your phone, the free Canon PRINT app adds that capability on both iOS and Android.

No, the MAXIFY MB2120 only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. If your router broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands under the same network name, some devices may have trouble connecting the printer reliably. Separating your 2.4GHz network with its own name can resolve most connection issues.

The printer uses Canon PGI-270 black and CLI-271 color cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow, and photo black). High-yield XL versions of all cartridges are available and recommended for anyone printing regularly, as they bring the per-page cost down considerably compared to the standard cartridge sizes included in the box.

It can print photos, but it is not designed for photo output and should not be your primary reason for buying it. The DRHD ink system is optimized for sharp text on plain paper, and photo prints — while acceptable for casual use — lack the color depth and tonal range you would get from a dedicated photo printer or even Canon's own PIXMA line.

Yes, you need a physical analog telephone line to use the fax function. The box includes a telephone line cable, so you just connect it from the printer to a standard wall phone jack during setup. Internet fax services or cloud-based fax are not natively supported by this unit.

Inkjet printers in general are prone to printhead clogging during extended idle periods, and this one is no exception. If you go two weeks or more without printing, running a printhead cleaning cycle from the printer menu before your next print job is a good habit. The cleaning process uses a small amount of ink, so it adds to operating costs if neglected use is frequent.

Yes, and this is actually one of the stronger points of the MAXIFY MB2120. You can share it over Wi-Fi or plug it directly into a network router via the Ethernet port for a more stable shared connection. Both wired and wireless users on the same network can print simultaneously, which works well in small office setups with two or three users.

It is audibly noticeable when printing — not disruptively loud, but enough that you would be aware of it in the room. If you are on a phone call or video meeting right next to it, the noise can be distracting. In a dedicated home office space it is generally a non-issue, but open-plan or shared living spaces may find it more intrusive.

For the right buyer, yes. The core hardware — DRHD ink, duplex printing, fax, Ethernet, and a 20,000-page duty cycle — holds up well for moderate home office use. The main caveats are the aging software ecosystem and the fact that newer all-in-one competitors have closed the feature gap. If the current price reflects a meaningful discount, it remains a reasonable choice for text-heavy printing; if priced near original MSRP, comparing it against current Brother or HP models at the same price is worth the extra research.