Canon PIXMA TS9520 Review: A Flexible Wide-Format Home All-in-One

The Canon PIXMA TS9520 is an unusually versatile home inkjet printer. It prints, scans, and copies; handles paper up to 11 × 17 inches; supports borderless output up to 12 × 12 inches; and includes both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. For families, creative users, and small offices that occasionally need larger documents, that combination remains appealing.

But the TS9520 is no longer a current Canon model. Canon lists it as discontinued, so availability, condition, warranty coverage, and cartridge pricing deserve as much attention as the printer's feature list. Its 20-sheet automatic document feeder is also limited to single-sided workflows, and its five-cartridge ink system is not automatically an economical choice for high-volume printing.

Canon PIXMA TS9520: Key specifications

• Type: Wireless color inkjet all-in-one printer
• Functions: Print, copy, and scan
• Maximum paper size: 11 × 17 inches
• Borderless printing: Up to 12 × 12 inches, with compatible media and settings
• Ink system: Five individual cartridges: one pigment black and four dye-based inks
• Automatic document feeder: 20 sheets, simplex only
• Automatic duplex printing: Yes
• Duplex scanning through the ADF: No
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and memory-card support
• Display: 4.3-inch color touchscreen
• Disc printing: Supported with compatible printable discs and the supplied disc tray
• Status: Discontinued in Canon's U.S. catalog

Canon lists the TS9520's print resolution at up to 4,800 × 1,200 dpi and its rated ISO speeds at 15.0 ipm for black documents and 10.0 ipm for color. Those are manufacturer specifications rather than independent test results, and actual performance will vary with the document, print mode, paper, and connection method.

What makes the TS9520 different?

Most home all-in-one printers are built around letter-size paper. The TS9520 goes further, supporting output up to 11 × 17 inches, commonly called tabloid size. That makes it useful for larger spreadsheets, posters, newsletters, presentations, artwork, and other projects that would otherwise require tiling across multiple pages.

Canon also promotes borderless printing up to 12 × 12 inches. That is not the same as saying every 12 × 12-inch sheet can use every feed path or print mode. Paper size, media type, and loading method matter, particularly when working with specialty stock. Canon's TS9500 series manual provides the definitive media and tray guidance.

The printer's broad format support is its clearest selling point. If you only print standard documents, a smaller printer may be easier and less expensive to run. If you occasionally need larger pages or creative media, the TS9520 offers flexibility that many conventional home models lack.

Print quality and everyday performance

The TS9520 uses a five-ink system: a PGI-280 pigment black cartridge and CLI-281 dye-based black, cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges. The pigment black is intended for document printing, while the dye inks support color and photo output. Because the cartridges are separate, users can replace an exhausted color without automatically replacing every other tank.

That design is convenient, but it should not be mistaken for a guarantee of low printing costs. Cartridge prices, page coverage, cleaning cycles, and the amount of color in each job all influence the real cost of ownership.

Independent testing from PCMag and RTINGS places the TS9520 in the category of versatile home all-in-ones, with particular attention to its wide-format capability, document and photo output, scanning, speed, and running costs. Their findings come from specific test procedures and review dates, so they should be treated as independent measurements rather than universal results for every owner.

For a typical household, the TS9520 is best understood as a flexible printer rather than a high-volume workhorse. It can handle everyday documents and photos, but buyers who print hundreds of pages regularly should compare its cartridge costs with refillable ink-tank models. Users who mostly print black text should also consider whether a monochrome laser printer would better match their workload.

Photo and creative printing

The TS9520's combination of color inks, borderless printing, and support for larger paper makes it attractive for photo and craft-oriented projects. Its ability to print on compatible media up to 12 × 12 inches gives creative users more room than a standard letter-size printer.

The printer also supports printable-disc media through a supplied disc tray, provided the discs are compatible and the appropriate software and driver workflow are used. That is a specialized feature, but it may matter to users archiving photos, creating custom labels, or producing physical media.

Paper handling remains important. Large-format printing does not mean that every paper type is supported in every tray, and specialty media may require a particular loading path. Check Canon's manual before buying expensive paper or assuming a particular project will work.

Scanning, copying, and the automatic document feeder

The TS9520 includes a flatbed scanner and a 20-sheet automatic document feeder. The feeder is useful for copying or scanning a short stack of single-sided pages, but it is not a duplex ADF.

That distinction is easy to miss. The printer can automatically print on both sides of a sheet, but it cannot automatically scan both sides of multipage documents through the feeder. If your workflow involves two-sided contracts, tax documents, or large double-sided packets, you will need to turn the originals manually or choose a printer with a duplex-scanning ADF.

For occasional home scanning, the TS9520's setup is practical. For document-heavy office work, its single-sided feeder is a meaningful limitation.

Connectivity and controls

Canon provides a broad selection of connection options: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and memory-card support. The printer also works with Canon's PRINT app and supports mobile-printing services including Apple AirPrint and Mopria. Compatibility can depend on the phone, computer, operating system, network configuration, and current service support.

The 4.3-inch color touchscreen gives the printer a more approachable control panel than models that rely heavily on a computer or phone. It can be useful for selecting copy and scan functions, changing paper settings, and navigating basic maintenance tasks.

Because the TS9520 is discontinued, buyers should check Canon's current support page for drivers and software that match their operating system. Do not assume that every feature will work identically with newer phones, computers, or network equipment.

Ink costs and maintenance

The TS9520 uses PGI-280 PGBK and CLI-281 BK/C/M/Y cartridges. Separate tanks are more convenient than a single tri-color cartridge because one depleted color can be replaced independently. However, the number of cartridges alone does not determine whether the printer is economical.

Heavy users should compare current U.S. cartridge prices and independent cost-per-page estimates before buying. A refillable ink-tank printer may be a better fit for frequent color printing, while a monochrome laser model may be more economical for text-heavy workloads.

Inkjet maintenance also consumes ink. If output quality declines, Canon recommends using the nozzle-check and cleaning procedures described in the manual. Avoid running repeated cleaning cycles unless they are necessary, since maintenance routines can use additional ink.

Buying a discontinued TS9520 today

The TS9520's discontinued status changes the buying decision. A listing may represent new old stock, a used unit, or a refurbished printer. Before purchasing, verify:

1. Condition: Confirm whether the printer is new, used, or refurbished.
2. Included items: Check whether cartridges, the disc tray, power cable, and other original accessories are included.
3. Warranty: Review the seller's warranty and return policy rather than assuming current manufacturer coverage.
4. Ink availability: Confirm that PGI-280 and CLI-281 cartridges are available from a source you trust.
5. Software support: Check Canon's current downloads for your computer or operating system.
6. Exact model number: Make sure the listing is for the TS9520, not the related TS9521C or another model in the same family.

Do not use the TS9521C's marketing, included software, or feature positioning as a substitute for TS9520 information. The models are related, but they are not interchangeable for every specification or workflow.

Common setup and troubleshooting advice

Canon's online manual is the best reference for installation, paper loading, wireless connection, ink replacement, maintenance, and error messages. These basic checks can resolve several common problems:

• If paper misfeeds or prints at the wrong scale, confirm the selected paper size, media type, and tray.
• For wireless problems, verify that the printer and computer or phone are connected to a compatible network, then follow Canon's model-specific connection procedure.
• If print quality is poor, run a nozzle check before deciding whether cleaning is necessary.
• Use the correct PGI-280 and CLI-281 cartridge family and follow Canon's replacement instructions.
• For specialty or large-format projects, confirm the paper dimensions and feed method before loading the media.

These steps are practical starting points, not a replacement for Canon's complete troubleshooting instructions.

Is the Canon PIXMA TS9520 worth buying?

The Canon PIXMA TS9520 remains appealing if you specifically need a home all-in-one that can print tabloid-size pages, produce borderless photos, handle multiple connection types, and support occasional creative projects. Its five-ink system, touchscreen, duplex printing, and 20-sheet ADF add useful convenience.

It is a weaker choice for high-volume printing, serious document scanning, or buyers who want the simplest path to long-term support. The ADF is not duplex, cartridge costs can become significant, and the discontinued status introduces uncertainty around price, condition, warranty coverage, drivers, and future compatibility.

Bottom line: The TS9520 is a capable and unusually flexible wide-format home printer, but it makes the most sense when purchased at a sensible price from a seller with a clear return policy. Before committing, compare its current cost and cartridge expenses with newer wide-format models, ink-tank printers, and monochrome laser alternatives.