Canon MAXIFY GX4020 Driver

This printer caters to business needs with its automatic document feed (ADF), fax capability, and ample paper capacity, all packed into a compact desktop design.

Print Speed and Ink Efficiency

Although the print speed of the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 falls short compared to laser printers, its bottled ink is more economical than toner.

Canon claims that this printer can work as hard as a laser printer, boasting a monthly duty cycle of up to 33,000 pages. Moreover, one significant advantage this inkjet printer has over lasers is its ability to handle a wide range of media.

With an additional flat feed input at the rear, it can print on various materials like thick cardstock, square-coated paper, fabric, and magnetic photo paper.

Pricing and Ink Capacity

Priced at around US$500, the GX4020 is the more expensive option among the two recently added GX MAXIFY models in Canon’s MegaTank range.

However, it includes a generous amount of ink, allowing for approximately 5,000 mono and 5,000 color pages in the US, or 6,000 mono and 14,000 color pages in the UK.

If the ADF, fax, or touchscreen interface is not essential for your needs, you can opt for the more affordable GX3020/GX3050/GX3060 model.

Design and Features

The Canon MAXIFY GX4020 boasts an enhanced design compared to Canon’s previous GX MAXIFY models. It features a sleek touchscreen fixed into the front panel, replacing the previous tilting two-line display.

This new design gives the printer a more robust and visually appealing appearance, making it stand out from typical business printers. Despite being an all-in-one printer with a 250-sheet paper tray and a 100-sheet ADF, it maintains a relatively compact form factor.

The four large ink reservoirs are neatly integrated, allowing users to easily monitor the ink levels, while a window on the main paper tray reveals the remaining paper. The rounded corners and sturdy white plastic panels further enhance the printer’s overall build quality.

Versatile Connectivity and Functionality

Equipped with multiple connectivity options, the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 offers built-in Wi-Fi compatibility with Apple AirPrint Wireless Direct and PIXMA Cloud Link. It comes with a 35-sheet ADF that can handle duplex copying, but it lacks an auto-duplex scanning feature, requiring manual page flipping for scanning both sides of a document.

However, it does support auto-duplex printing and delivers a mono print speed of 18ppm (pages per minute) in simplex mode. Color pages take slightly longer at 13ppm, making it less competitive with laser printers in terms of speed. Its strengths lie in its ample paper capacity, including a 250-sheet main tray and a 100-sheet multifunction tray, as well as its impressive ink capacity.

Paper Compatibility and Printing Quality

The GX4020 is highly versatile when it comes to paper compatibility. It can handle various paper sizes up to A4, including envelopes, stickers, and coated photo paper.

Canon offers a wide selection of printable media, such as fabric patches and magnetic photo paper, all of which are compatible with this printer. Notably, this printer stands out by successfully printing on 0.7mm paperboard thanks to its rear flat tray, a feature absent in existing models like the Canon MAXIFY GX5020.

Unfortunately, this printer lacks a USB Host port for convenient walk-up printing from a USB thumb drive, which is surprising given its premium price tag.

Setup and Operation

Setting up the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 is a straightforward process. The included quick setup guide provides concise instructions, and the printer’s display prompts users to fill the paper tray and ink reservoirs.

The uniquely shaped mouths of the four ink bottles prevent incorrect color pouring and minimize the risk of spills. The standard-size ink bottles included with the UK model fully fill the tanks, while the US model comes with slightly smaller bottles.

The printer can be easily connected to a Wi-Fi network by following the on-screen instructions or by using the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app on iOS or Android devices. This companion app enables convenient remote printing and scanning, whether from your smartphone or via cloud services.

Print Performance and Quality

In addition to its appealing design, the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 delivers impressive print quality. With a first print-out time (FPOT) of approximately nine seconds for both mono and color pages, it offers prompt printing.

Although the print speed is not exceptional, particularly for color pages in duplex mode, it consistently produces reliable results. During our testing, we encountered no paper jams or blank pages.

 

Text documents printed in plain black appeared dark and sharp, although not as precise as laser-printed text. However, we observed no smudges or gaps when inspecting the test pages with a magnifying glass. Activating the faster Draft Mode occasionally caused minor breaks, but this feature remains useful for most print jobs.

Unlike Canon’s PIXMA inkjet printers, which combine pigment-based black ink with dye-based colors for optimal photo output, the MAXIFY business printers, including the GX4020, utilize all-pigment ink for enhanced durability.

This results in text documents that are resilient to smudging but come at the expense of photo print quality. While the three colored inks produce vibrant colors, the printer fails to produce the vibrant, eye-catching prints that a dedicated photo printer can achieve.

Copying and Scanning

As a copier, the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 performs reliably, producing duplicates that are nearly as bright and crisp as the originals. With a high scanning resolution of 1,200 x 2,400 dpi, it captures detailed scans.

However, its print resolution is limited to 600 x 1,200 dpi, and the absence of a single-pass duplex scan mode prevents it from being the top choice for photocopying purposes.

Media Compatibility and Conclusion

One area where the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 outshines other printers in its class is its exceptional media compatibility. It can successfully print on various materials, including envelopes, stickers, heavy paper, and paperboard. In summary, the GX4020 delivers a strong all-around performance.

Final Verdict

The Canon MAXIFY GX4020 offers an impressive array of features suitable for SMBs and home offices. While it may not excel in speed, it compensates with ample paper and ink capacity, minimizing printer downtime.

Although lacking a USB Host port and NFC card reader, its broad media compatibility more than makes up for these omissions. While it may be relatively expensive for an inkjet printer, its generous ink supply and low ongoing consumables cost justify the price.

Compared to the Epson EcoTank ET-3850, which offers a similar package at a lower price, the Canon MAXIFY GX4020’s superior design, ability to print on cardstock, and inclusion of a touchscreen give it a significant advantage. If you prioritize versatility and intend to print more than just text documents without requiring laser-like speeds, the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 could be the perfect all-in-one printer for you.