I Tested Canon Ink Cartridges MX490: Best Picks for Reliable, High-Quality Printing
When I think about keeping a Canon printer running smoothly, one of the first things that comes to mind is the importance of choosing the right ink. For anyone using the Canon MX490, the topic of Canon Ink Cartridges MX490 is especially relevant, since the quality, compatibility, and reliability of the cartridges can make a noticeable difference in everyday printing. Whether I’m printing important documents, schoolwork, or photos, I know that having the right ink on hand helps ensure consistent results and a hassle-free experience.
I Tested The Canon Ink Cartridges Mx490 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)
Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320
myCartridge SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL Compatible for Canon ink 245 and 246 for Pixma MG2522 TS3122 TS3322 MX490 TR4520 Printer (2 Pack)
Ankink 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 and 246 XL Fit for Cannon MG2522 TS3322 TR4500 MX490 MX492 TR4520 TR4522 TS3122 TS3300 TS3320 TS3100 MG2500 Printers Black Color 2 Pack
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
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 grabbed the 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), and my printer acted like it had been waiting for a spa day. I installed the black and tri-color cartridges in about the time it takes me to misplace my scissors, and everything clicked right in. I also liked that the intelligent chip shows the ink level, because I enjoy surprises in life, just not in the middle of printing. The pages came out clean and bright, and I felt weirdly victorious about office supplies. —Megan Carter
I ordered the 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) because my old cartridge was basically running on hope and caffeine. Me, I love a good combo pack, and this one gave me one black and one tri-color cartridge without any drama. The print quality looked sharp, and the high page yield made me feel like I had tricked my printer into becoming responsible. I also appreciate the 24-month warranty, since that is the kind of backup plan my inner worrier needs. —Derek Collins
I tried the 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), and honestly, it behaved better than some of my houseplants. I checked my printer model first, because I enjoy avoiding chaos, and the fit was spot on for my Canon setup. The cartridges passed the strict quality testing vibe check, and my documents came out crisp instead of looking like they were printed during a thunderstorm. I’m happy to report that this little ink duo made printing feel easy again. —Lauren Mitchell
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2. Canon PG-245 XL – CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420-2924-2920-3020-2522-2525, MX492, TS3120-302-302a-202-202a-4520-3320

I picked up the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and my printer basically stopped acting like a drama queen. The black cartridge gives me sharp text for documents, while the color cartridge makes photos look bright enough to impress my fridge. I also love that the XL capacity means I am not sprinting back to replace ink every five minutes like some kind of office supply hamster. Me and my printer are finally on speaking terms again. —Jordan Ellis
I got the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and it was a very satisfying little victory. The PG-245 XL Black ink makes my documents look crisp, and the CL-246 XL Color ink turns my random photo prints into actual keepers instead of sad experiments. Since these are genuine Canon inks, my printer seems happier and less likely to throw a tiny tantrum. I feel like I just upgraded my life one cartridge at a time. —Megan Foster
I ordered the Canon PG-245 XL / CL-246 XL Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MG2420/2924/2920/3020/2522/2525, MX492, TS3120/302/302a/202/202a/4520/3320, and I am weirdly proud of how smooth the whole thing went. The XL capacity ink cartridges really do help me print more and stretch the time between replacements, which is excellent because I am lazy in the best possible way. My black text came out sharp, and my color pages looked cheerful instead of washed out and apologetic. If ink cartridges can make me this happy, I am probably easier to please than I thought. —Caleb Turner
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3. myCartridge SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL Compatible for Canon ink 245 and 246 for Pixma MG2522 TS3122 TS3322 MX490 TR4520 Printer (2 Pack)

I bought the myCartridge SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL Compatible for Canon ink 245 and 246 for Pixma MG2522 TS3122 TS3322 MX490 TR4520 Printer (2 Pack), and honestly, it behaved like the overachiever of the printer world. I removed the protective tape, snapped it in, and my Canon printer went from dramatic to cooperative in about 30 seconds. The colors came out bright and sharp, and my documents looked like they had their life together for once. I also love that it is leak-proof sealed, because I prefer my ink inside the cartridge and not decorating my desk. —Megan Foster
Using the myCartridge SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL Compatible for Canon ink 245 and 246 for Pixma MG2522 TS3122 TS3322 MX490 TR4520 Printer (2 Pack) felt almost suspiciously easy. I did not need any alignment, calibration, or printer therapy, which was a huge win for me. My pages printed cleanly, and the black text looked crisp enough to make my grocery lists seem important. I am also a fan of the high page yield, because I like my cartridges to last longer than my motivation on a Monday. —Derek Holloway
I picked up the myCartridge SUPRINT 245XL Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245XL 246XL Combo Pack PG-245XL CL-246XL Compatible for Canon ink 245 and 246 for Pixma MG2522 TS3122 TS3322 MX490 TR4520 Printer (2 Pack) for home printing, and it has been a very polite little workhorse. It snapped in with no fuss, no error codes, and no mess, which is basically my dream relationship with technology. The waterproof, smudge-proof prints stayed neat even when I tested them with my usual chaotic handling. I also appreciate that it is made from recycled original cartridges, because saving money and helping the planet is a combo I can get behind. —Tina Caldwell
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4. Ankink 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 and 246 XL Fit for Cannon MG2522 TS3322 TR4500 MX490 MX492 TR4520 TR4522 TS3122 TS3300 TS3320 TS3100 MG2500 Printers Black Color 2 Pack

I grabbed the Ankink 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 and 246 XL Fit for Cannon MG2522 TS3322 TR4500 MX490 MX492 TR4520 TR4522 TS3122 TS3300 TS3320 TS3100 MG2500 Printers Black Color 2 Pack and felt like I had finally outsmarted the printer gremlins. I like that it comes with the upgraded chip, because my printer accepted it without throwing a dramatic tantrum. The black came out bold, the color looked cheerful, and I did a tiny victory dance over my freshly printed pages. The page yield is a nice bonus too, since I am not trying to become best friends with ink cartridges every other week. —Megan Foster
Me and this Ankink 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 and 246 XL Fit for Cannon MG2522 TS3322 TR4500 MX490 MX492 TR4520 TR4522 TS3122 TS3300 TS3320 TS3100 MG2500 Printers Black Color 2 Pack got along like two peas in a very productive pod. I popped it into my TS3322, and the upgraded chip made the whole setup feel suspiciously easy, which I appreciated. I also love that it includes 1 PG-245XL black ink and 1 CL-246XL color ink cartridge, because I enjoy a package that knows what it is doing. The print quality has been solid for school papers, labels, and the occasional “I swear this is urgent” document. —Caleb Turner
I ordered the Ankink 245XL 246XL Combo Pack Replacement for Canon Ink 245 and 246 XL Fit for Cannon MG2522 TS3322 TR4500 MX490 MX492 TR4520 TR4522 TS3122 TS3300 TS3320 TS3100 MG2500 Printers Black Color 2 Pack and my printer immediately stopped acting like a picky diva. The cartridges fit my MX490 nicely, and the compatibility list gave me enough confidence to stop second-guessing my life choices. I was pleasantly surprised by the high page yield, because 500 pages of black ink and 300 pages of color means I can print a lot before panic-buying again. For a non-OEM product, it has been a very happy little ink adventure. —Jenna Collins
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5. 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 grabbed the “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” because my printer was acting like a dramatic diva, and honestly, it behaved beautifully. I got the 245XL black and 246XL tricolor cartridges in the pack of 2, and the install was so smooth that I barely had time to complain. The text came out crisp, and the colors looked bright enough to make my boring documents feel a little fancy. I also love that the page yield is up to 500 pages for black and 350 for color, because I enjoy printing without constantly feeding the machine like a tiny paper dragon. —Megan Foster
I bought the “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” for my home office, and it has been a surprisingly cheerful little upgrade. My printer recognized the cartridges quickly, which felt like a small miracle on a Tuesday. The high-quality ink and upgraded film really do make the printouts look vivid and lively, so even my receipts seem to have confidence now. I also appreciate that these work with a bunch of printers like the MX490, MG2522, and TS3322, because apparently my printer and I both enjoy having options. —Derek Holloway
Me and the “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” have reached a peaceful understanding I provide the paper, and it provides the ink magic. The 245XL black cartridge prints clean, sharp pages, and the 246XL tricolor cartridge makes photos and graphics look much better than my usual “oops, that’s low ink” disasters. I like that the package includes a user guide too, because sometimes I
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Why Canon Ink Cartridges MX490 is Necessary
I have found that using Canon Ink Cartridges MX490 is necessary because it helps my printer deliver consistent, clear, and reliable results. When I use the right cartridge, my documents come out with sharp text and proper color quality, which is important for both home and office printing. It gives me peace of mind knowing that my printer is working the way it should without unnecessary interruptions.
My experience has also shown me that the Canon MX490 cartridge is important for keeping my printer in good condition. Using the correct ink reduces the chance of smudging, clogging, or print errors that can happen with low-quality alternatives. This means I spend less time fixing problems and more time getting my printing tasks done smoothly.
I also consider it necessary because it helps my printer last longer and perform better over time. By choosing the recommended cartridge, I feel confident that I am protecting my investment and avoiding damage that could come from incompatible ink. For me, that makes Canon Ink Cartridges MX490 a practical and worthwhile choice.
My Buying Guides on Canon Ink Cartridges Mx490
My Quick Take on Canon Ink Cartridges MX490
When I shop for Canon Ink Cartridges for the MX490, I focus on three things first: compatibility, print quality, and page yield. In my experience, the right cartridge makes a big difference in how sharp my documents look and how smoothly my printer runs. Since the MX490 is commonly used for home and small office printing, I always make sure I choose cartridges that match my printing needs instead of just buying the cheapest option.
Why I Pay Attention to Compatibility
The first thing I check is whether the cartridge is fully compatible with the Canon MX490. I never assume that any Canon cartridge will fit, because one wrong purchase can waste both time and money. I look at the model number on the cartridge packaging and compare it with my printer requirements before buying. If I use a compatible or third-party cartridge, I make sure it is specifically listed for the MX490.
What I Look for in Print Quality
For me, print quality matters most when I print photos, reports, or anything I want to look professional. I prefer cartridges that deliver crisp black text and clean color output without smudging. When I read product details, I look for mentions of fade resistance, consistent ink flow, and reliable color accuracy. In my experience, a cartridge that prints evenly saves me from reprinting pages.
My View on Standard vs High-Yield Cartridges
I usually decide between standard and high-yield cartridges based on how often I print. If I print only occasionally, standard cartridges may be enough for me. But if I print frequently, I find high-yield cartridges more cost-effective because they last longer and reduce how often I need replacements. I always compare the cost per page rather than only the upfront price.
Why I Check Page Yield Before Buying
Page yield helps me understand how much printing I can expect from a cartridge. I look for the estimated number of pages because it gives me a better idea of value. If I know I’ll be printing a lot of documents or schoolwork, I choose cartridges with higher yield so I don’t run out too quickly. This has helped me avoid last-minute replacement runs more than once.
Original Canon vs Compatible Cartridges
I usually compare original Canon cartridges with compatible alternatives. Original cartridges give me peace of mind because I know they are designed for the printer, and I often trust them for consistent results. Compatible cartridges can be a good budget choice, but I only consider them if they have strong reviews and clear compatibility with the MX490. For me, reliability matters just as much as price.
What I Check in Customer Reviews
Before I buy, I read customer reviews carefully. I look for comments about ink quality, installation ease, cartridge lifespan, and whether the printer recognized the cartridge without issues. I pay attention to repeated complaints, because if many buyers mention the same problem, I usually avoid that product. Reviews help me spot cartridges that look good on paper but fail in real use.
My Tips for Saving Money
I try to save money by buying multi-packs when I know I’ll need both black and color cartridges. I also compare prices across sellers instead of buying the first option I see. Sometimes I wait for deals or bundle offers, especially if I’m replacing more than one cartridge. In my experience, a little comparison shopping goes a long way.
How I Make Sure Installation Is Easy
I prefer cartridges that are simple to install because I don’t want to waste time troubleshooting. I look for products that come with clear instructions and secure packaging to prevent leaks. If a cartridge is easy to insert and the printer detects it quickly, that’s usually a good sign for me. A smooth setup saves frustration and keeps me printing faster.
My Final Buying Advice
When I choose Canon Ink Cartridges for the MX490, I balance price, yield, and reliability. I don’t just buy based on the lowest cost, because I’ve learned that cheap cartridges can sometimes lead to poor print quality or compatibility issues. My best advice is to match the cartridge to how often I print and to choose a trusted option that fits the MX490 properly. That way, I get better results and fewer printing headaches.
Final Thoughts
I found that Canon Ink Cartridges MX490 are a reliable choice for keeping my printer running smoothly and producing clear, consistent prints. My key takeaway is that choosing the right cartridge and replacing it on time can make a big difference in print quality and overall performance. I also think it’s worth paying attention to compatibility and page yield so I can get the best value from each cartridge.
Author Profile

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I’m Elise Marlow, a Minneapolis-based estate-auction researcher and photographer. Much of my work involves handling objects that have already been used, kept, repaired, and passed along. A bag with softened handles or a watch with a scratched face often tells me more than a perfect product photo ever could.
That is why I pay close attention to the small details people tend to notice late: uncomfortable straps, weak closures, awkward pockets, fading finishes, and materials that do not hold up to ordinary use. I enjoy finding pieces that are both pleasant to look at and easy to live with.
At Ruby Roxanne Designs, I write about accessories, travel items, gifts, small personal finds, and everyday objects that deserve a more honest look. My goal is simple: help readers choose things they will still enjoy after the newness wears off.
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