Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer Review: The Budget All-in-One We Put to the Test

In our increasingly digital world, the need for a physical document can often feel like an unexpected throwback. Yet, it happens more often than we think. It’s the last-minute concert ticket that needs printing, the school report that has to be handed in tomorrow morning, the shipping label for a return, or that cherished family photo you want to frame. For years, I relied on the office printer or a quick trip to the local library, but the inconvenience eventually wore me down. The search began for an affordable, reliable home printer that could handle these sporadic but crucial tasks without taking up half my desk or requiring a degree in IT to set up. This is a common predicament: finding a machine that can print, scan, and copy without a hefty price tag or a complex user manual. The challenge is navigating a market saturated with options, where the promise of ‘low cost’ often hides the true expense of ownership—the dreaded ink replacement.

What to Consider Before Buying an All-In-One Printer

An All-In-One Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for consolidating your home office needs into a single, compact device. It elegantly solves the problem of needing separate machines for printing, scanning, and copying, saving valuable space and reducing clutter. The main benefit is convenience; with a single setup, you can digitise old photos, make copies of important documents, and print anything from a detailed report to a colourful photograph directly from your computer, phone, or tablet. For families, students, and home-based professionals, this versatility is indispensable, streamlining workflows and making everyday administrative tasks significantly easier.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the need for occasional but varied document handling. This includes students printing essays, families managing school forms and creative projects, or individuals running a small home business who need to scan receipts and print invoices. It’s for the person who values the convenience of having these functions on-demand without wanting to invest in professional-grade, high-volume equipment. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who print hundreds of pages a week, such as a busy office or a professional photographer. In those cases, a laser printer (for high-volume text) or a dedicated photo printer (for archival-quality images) would be a more economical and effective choice in the long run.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: All-in-one printers can vary significantly in size. Before buying, measure the intended space on your desk or shelf. Consider not just the printer’s footprint, but also the clearance needed for the paper trays, scanner lid, and cable connections. A model like the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer is designed to be relatively compact for home use, but it’s always wise to double-check the dimensions (12.9D x 17.1W x 5.7H cm) against your available space.
• Capacity/Performance: This covers several areas. Think about print speed (measured in pages per minute or ppm), print resolution (in dots per inch or dpi), and paper tray capacity. For casual home use, a 60-sheet tray and speeds around 7.7 ppm for black and white might be perfectly adequate. However, if you’re printing long documents regularly, you’ll want a larger tray and faster speeds to avoid constant reloading and waiting.
• Materials & Durability: Budget-friendly printers are typically constructed from plastic. While this keeps them lightweight and affordable, the build quality can feel less robust than more expensive models. Look for sturdy hinges on the scanner lid and a paper tray that doesn’t feel overly flimsy. As one user noted about this category of printer, the build can be a bit “plasticky,” which is a common trade-off for the price point.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The setup process and ongoing maintenance are huge factors. Modern printers should offer seamless wireless setup via a smartphone app. Also, consider the cost and availability of replacement ink cartridges. Some printers are inexpensive to buy but costly to run due to expensive ink, a critical long-term consideration.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer stands out in several areas, particularly for those prioritizing affordability and ease of setup. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Smart Simplicity in a Box

Unboxing the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer was a straightforward affair. Canon has refined its packaging to be efficient and secure, with the printer, power cord, setup CD (a quaint inclusion for Windows users), manuals, and two FINE cartridges (one black, one colour) all neatly packed. Our first thought upon lifting it out was its lightness. At just 4 kilograms, it’s easy for one person to handle and position on a desk. The design is functional and understated; our black model had a slightly textured finish that resists fingerprints well. Some users have noted it appears more grey than black, which we can confirm is accurate in certain lighting. The overall build is, as expected for this price, predominantly plastic. It doesn’t feel premium, but nor does it feel like it will fall apart. The hinges for the scanner lid are adequate, and the paper trays, while basic, slot into place securely. It feels very much like a device built to a specific, accessible price point, prioritizing function over form, which is precisely what many buyers in this segment are looking for.

A Deep Dive into the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer’s Performance

A printer’s value isn’t found on its spec sheet, but in its daily performance. How easy is it to get running? Does the quality hold up? What are the hidden costs? We put the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer through its paces over several weeks, using it for everything from black-and-white text documents and web page printing to full-colour photo reproduction on glossy paper. Our goal was to simulate the typical, varied workload of a modern household to see where it excels and where its budget-friendly nature reveals compromises.

Unboxing and Setup: Deceptively Simple?

One of the most intimidating aspects of a new printer is the setup process. User reviews for the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer are sharply divided on this point, with some calling it “remarkably easy” and others reporting frustration. Our own experience leaned heavily towards the former. As one user aptly stated, “I’ve just taken it out of the box, put in the ink carts, downloaded an app… and I’m printing in less than 30 mins.” This mirrored our test almost exactly.

We ignored the included CD-ROM, as most modern laptops lack an optical drive. Instead, we downloaded the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app directly to an Android smartphone. The app immediately guided us through the process. After plugging in the printer and powering it on, we installed the two FINE cartridges—a simple click-in mechanism. The app then instructed us to press and hold the wireless button on the printer’s control panel. It found our Wi-Fi network, we entered the password on our phone, and within a couple of minutes, the connection was established. The entire process, from opening the box to printing our first test page from the phone, took just under 20 minutes. We found the on-screen instructions clear and the process intuitive. We then repeated the setup on a Windows 11 laptop, where the OS automatically detected the printer on the network and installed the necessary drivers without any fuss. The experience confirms what many users found: if you have a stable Wi-Fi network and are comfortable using a smartphone app, the setup is a breeze.

However, we acknowledge the feedback from users who struggled. Wireless printing is inherently dependent on the quality of your home network. A weak router signal or network congestion can cause connection drops, which one user reported experiencing after a month of use. For those less tech-savvy or with unreliable Wi-Fi, the direct USB connection provides a foolproof, stable alternative, ensuring the printer remains a reliable workhorse even if the network is flaky.

Print, Scan, and Copy Quality: Exceeding Expectations for the Price

This is where the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer truly punches above its weight. For a printer at this entry-level price point, the output quality is genuinely impressive. The key is its maximum print resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, a specification often found on more expensive models. For standard text documents, we found the black ink to be crisp, sharp, and highly legible, even at smaller font sizes. There was no smudging, and the output was more than suitable for any professional or academic need.

Where it surprised us was with colour and photo printing. We printed a few high-resolution images on Canon’s own glossy photo paper, and the results were vibrant and detailed. Colours were well-saturated without looking artificial, and the fine details were preserved nicely. One user review mentioned being “very satisfied with its performance” and that the “image quality is impressive for the price,” a sentiment we wholeheartedly share. While it won’t compete with a dedicated six-ink photo printer for professional gallery work, it is absolutely fantastic for printing family photos for albums or frames.

The trade-off for this quality is speed. The official specs list 7.7 ppm for black and white and a mere 4 ppm for colour. Our tests confirmed this. A 10-page text document took well over a minute to print. A single, high-quality A4 colour photo took several minutes. As one user correctly noted, it “Prints OK but very slowly!” This is a critical point: if you frequently need to print multi-page documents in a hurry, this printer will test your patience. But for the intended user—someone printing a few pages here and there—the speed is a perfectly acceptable compromise for the excellent quality and low initial cost. The flatbed scanner and copy functions worked exactly as expected, producing clear, accurate reproductions with a simple press of a button.

The Elephant in the Room: Ink Consumption and Running Costs

No review of a budget inkjet printer would be complete without addressing the long-term cost of ink. This is the single biggest drawback of the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer and a recurring theme in user feedback. One user bluntly stated, “Replacement cartridges cost almost as much as the printer itself!” This is not an exaggeration. The business model for printers like this is to sell the hardware at a very low margin (or even a loss) and make a profit on the proprietary consumables—in this case, the PG-545 (black) and CL-546 (colour) cartridges.

The “starter” cartridges included in the box are not fully filled and are designed to get you up and running. We were taken aback, much like one user, to see the ink level indicator drop significantly after printing the initial alignment page and a handful of test prints. This can be jarring for a new owner. The standard replacement cartridges offer a modest page yield, making the cost-per-page relatively high compared to more expensive printers with larger ink tanks or laser printers.

So, who is this printer for? It is explicitly for the low-volume user. If you print fewer than 50 pages a month, the convenience and low upfront cost can still make financial sense. The high cost per page is offset by the infrequent need to purchase new cartridges. However, if you start printing lengthy reports for work, extensive study guides, or dozens of photos every month, the running costs will quickly become prohibitive. For anyone anticipating higher volume needs, investing more upfront in a printer with an ink tank system (like Canon’s own MegaTank series) or a monochrome laser printer will save a significant amount of money over the life of the machine.

What Other Users Are Saying

A deep dive into user feedback reveals a clear and consistent picture of the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer. The sentiment is largely polarized based on user expectations and technical comfort. On the positive side, many echo the sentiments of one satisfied customer who found it to be a “top quality product, very easy to use and very easy to install.” Another highlights its core value proposition perfectly: “Good price for a simple printer (only using for basic needs).” These users were looking for an affordable, straightforward device for occasional printing and were delighted with the quality and ease of wireless setup from their phones and laptops.

Conversely, the negative feedback centres on three key areas: setup difficulties, slow print speed, and, most prominently, the cost of ink. One user described it as “awfully complex for what it is,” which stands in stark contrast to others’ experiences and likely points to issues with their home network or a lack of familiarity with app-based setups. The slow speed is another valid criticism, with one person noting it “seems to spend forever spitting out pages.” The most potent critique, however, is on running costs. The comment that “Replacement cartridges cost almost as much as the printer itself!” serves as a crucial warning for potential buyers who might print frequently. This feedback collectively paints a portrait of a printer that is excellent for its target audience—the infrequent home user—but can be a frustrating and expensive choice for anyone with more demanding needs.

How Does the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer Compare to the Alternatives?

While the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer offers compelling value, it’s crucial to understand the landscape. Depending on your specific needs for speed, volume, and functionality, another model might be a better fit.

1. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 4-in-1 Printer Duplex ADF

The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 is a significant step up, aimed squarely at the small office or demanding home office user. Its key advantages are speed and efficiency. With print speeds of 25 ppm for black and 12 ppm for colour, it leaves the Canon in the dust. It also includes an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning and copying, plus fax capabilities, making it a true 4-in-1 workhorse. While its purchase price is higher, its larger ink cartridges can offer a lower cost-per-page. If you print frequently, run a home business, and need to scan stacks of documents, the extra investment for the Epson is easily justified.

2. Canon PIXMA TS5150 All-in-One Wireless Printer

Think of the PIXMA TS5150 as the TS3450’s more capable older sibling. It occupies a middle ground, offering a modest upgrade in features and performance for a slightly higher price. It boasts faster print speeds, a higher-resolution scanner, and a small colour LCD screen for easier navigation without needing a smartphone app for every function. It also uses a five-ink system, which can produce slightly better photo quality. If you like the Canon ecosystem but want a bit more speed and a more user-friendly onboard interface, the TS5150 is a logical and worthwhile step up from the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer.

3. Brother MFC-L2835DW All-in-one Mono Laser Printer

The Brother MFC-L2835DW represents a completely different approach. As a monochrome laser printer, it prints only in black and white, but it does so with incredible speed (up to 32 ppm) and a very low cost-per-page. The toner cartridges last for thousands of pages, making it exceptionally economical for text-heavy printing. This is the ideal choice for students printing long essays, home offices churning out invoices and reports, or anyone who values speed and low running costs above all else. If you rarely need colour printing but still want scanning and copying, this Brother laser printer is a far more practical and cost-effective choice than any inkjet.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer Right for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer is clear: it is an excellent printer for the right person. Its greatest strengths lie in its low initial purchase price, surprisingly high-quality output for both text and photos, and its incredibly simple app-based wireless setup. It successfully delivers on its promise of being a simple, compact, all-in-one solution for the modern home.

However, its significant weaknesses—namely the slow print speed and the very high cost of replacement ink cartridges—cannot be ignored. These are not flaws so much as deliberate design trade-offs to achieve its accessible price point. Therefore, we wholeheartedly recommend this printer to students, families, and individuals who print infrequently. If you need a reliable machine for the occasional boarding pass, school assignment, or handful of holiday photos, you will be very pleased with its performance and value. If your printing needs are more substantial, we strongly advise considering one of the alternatives with a lower long-term running cost.

If you’ve decided the Canon PIXMA TS3450 Multifunction Inkjet Printer is the right fit for your light-duty printing needs, you can check its current price and purchase it here.