If you’re looking for an affordable all-in-one printer with excellent print quality, the Canon PIXMA G6020 and G7020 are two great options to consider. Both models deliver superior photo printing and scanning along with versatile copying and fax capabilities.
But which one is better for you? In this detailed comparison guide, we’ll examine the key differences between the PIXMA G6020 and G7020 printers so you can decide which model best suits your home office needs and budget.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Canon PIXMA G6020 | Canon PIXMA G7020 |
| Print Speed (black/color) | 8.8 ipm / 5 ipm | 13 ipm / 6.5 ipm |
| Connectivity | WiFi, WiFi Direct | WiFi, WiFi Direct, Ethernet |
| Maximum Resolution | 4800 x 1200 dpi | 4800 x 1200 dpi |
| Ink System | 5-ink CLI-42 cartridges | 5-ink CLI-42 cartridges |
| Photo Printing | Yes, dedicated photo tray | Yes, dedicated photo tray |
| Auto 2-Sided Printing | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Capacity | 150 sheets | 150 sheets |
| Document Feeder Capacity | 35 sheets | 35 sheets |
| Price | $199.99 MSRP | $229.99 MSRP |
Overview of the Canon PIXMA G6020
The PIXMA G6020 is a wireless inkjet photo all-in-one printer with print/copy/scan capabilities. Key features include:
- Prints up to 8.8 ipm in black and 5.0 ipm in color
- 4800 x 1200 maximum color dpi
- Auto 2-sided printing
- 150-sheet plain paper cassette capacity
- 20-sheet photo paper tray
- 2.7” LCD screen
- Built-in WiFi, WiFi Direct, USB connectivity
- Voice-activated printing
- Prints directly from popular cloud services
This printer uses five individual Canon CLI-42 ink cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow, black) based on Canon’s patented FINE print head technology.
It can handle paper sizes up to 8.5” x 11” for printing documents and photos. An integrated 35-sheet auto feeder allows you to easily copy, scan, or fax multi-page documents.
Overall, the G6020 offers user-friendly operation with robust print quality and paper handling. It’s a great choice for home offices that need to regularly print high quality photos but don’t require extremely fast print speeds.
Overview of the Canon PIXMA G7020
Stepping up from the G6020, the PIXMA G7020 delivers faster speeds along with a few more convenience features for your home office. Key G7020 specs and capabilities include:
- Prints up to 13.7 ipm in black and 6.5 ipm in color
- 4800 x 1200 maximum color dpi
- Auto 2-sided printing
- 150-sheet plain paper cassette capacity
- 20-sheet photo paper tray
- 2.7” LCD screen
- Built-in WiFi, WiFi Direct, USB, Ethernet
- Voice-activated printing
- Prints directly from cloud services
This printer uses the same five-ink Canon CLI-42 cartridge system as the G6020. It supports all the same media sizes and types. The auto document feeder capacity remains 35 sheets.
The faster print engine gives the G7020 a leg up over the G6020 when cranking out everyday text documents or schoolwork.
But both models deliver equal high-quality photo printing with crisp details and accurate colors. Like the G6020, the G7020 provides an easy-to-use control panel and wireless connectivity.
Also Read: Comparison Between Epson WorkForce 5150 and 5170
Key Differences Between Canon PIXMA G6020 and G7020
- Print Speed Comparison
The most significant difference between the PIXMA G6020 and G7020 is print speed.
When printing only black text, the G6020 can output 8.8 pages per minute (ppm) while the G7020 increases the maximum black text print speed to 13 ppm. So the G7020 gives you about a 30% faster throughput when printing documents, webpages, or other text-heavy content.
For full color printing, the G6020 has a rated speed of 5 ppm compared to 6.5 ppm on the G7020. So you’ll enjoy a similar 30% advantage in color printing with the G7020.
While not dramatically faster, the extra speed boost will be noticeable when printing longer documents or multiple copies. The G7020 is the clear winner if you frequently print high volumes of color or black text pages. But both models still deliver adequate speed for typical home office needs.
When printing photos, the speed difference evens out again. Both printers have a maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi and use the same 5-ink system, so photo print times will be very similar between the two models.
- Print Quality Comparison
Print quality from the PIXMA G6020 and G7020 is comparable across the board. Both utilize Canon’s latest FINE print head technology with a maximum color resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi.
The five CLI-42 inks provide a wide color gamut for vivid graphics and photos. A minimum 1pl ink droplet size allows the printers to achieve subtle blends and gradients.
No matter which model you choose, you can expect crisp, professional-looking prints from business documents to family photos.
The G6020 and G7020 support printing directly onto printable DVD/CDs as well. For the best photo printing results, use Canon’s premium Photo Paper Pro Platinum. Text documents will look great printed on regular copy paper.
The only print quality difference may be seen in densely filled graphics or photos printed at the highest quality setting.
Here, the G7020’s faster print engine can lay down more precise ink droplets and produce smoother color transitions. But for general use, print quality is excellent from both models.
- Design & Build Comparison
Canon gave the PIXMA G6020 and G7020 nearly identical physical designs. Both weigh around 18 pounds and measure approximately 15 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 6 inches tall.
The two models share the same clean, rectangular case with rounded corners. Buttons and ports are located in the same positions on both printers.
The main control panel consists of a 2.7” LCD screen with backlit buttons along the bottom. Intuitive menus guide you through setup, maintenance, and printing options.
Both models include a 150-sheet paper cassette which extends from the front to hold 8.5” x 11” sheets. A vertical feed behind the input tray accommodates 20 sheets of 4” x 6” photo paper.
Output printed pages land in an angled tray near the top. The auto document feeder sits on top and holds 35 pages for copying, scanning, or faxing stacks of documents. Overall build quality feels sturdy and reliable on both models.
The only slight design difference is the Canon G7020 offers an Ethernet port for wired network connectivity. The G6020 relies on wireless only. But the G7020 retains integrated WiFi and WiFi Direct too.
With nearly identical exteriors and footprints, the PIXMA G6020 and G7020 are equal when it comes to design and construction. Just note that the G7020 gives you the flexibility of using either wired or wireless networking if needed.
- Connectivity Comparison
As mentioned above, both printers provide dual band WiFi for connecting wirelessly to your home network and devices. This allows printing from computers as well as mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Additionally, the PIXMA G6020 and G7020 both include WiFi Direct. This lets you establish a direct peer-to-peer connection between the printer and your mobile device without needing a WiFi router.
The G7020 adds an Ethernet port if you want the reliability of a wired network connection. But the G6020 should work fine for most users relying on wireless connectivity only.
Finally, both models allow printing directly from popular cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, OneDrive, and more.
Just link your accounts through the Canon PRINT app. This gives you easy access to documents and photos stored in the cloud to print without needing your computer turned on.
- Setup & Maintenance Comparison
Setting up either printer is quick and straightforward. Just insert the ink cartridges, load paper, download the Canon printer software, and connect the G6020 or G7020 to your wireless network. If using Ethernet with the G7020, simply plug in the cable after installing the software.
The installation process takes about 10-15 minutes total. Canon provides clear on-screen prompts in the software to walk you through network setup. The printers come with starter cartridges, but you may need to replace them sooner based on initial usage.
From there, both models feature easy pop-open access to the five ink cartridges under the front cover when it’s time to replace them.
The intuitive LCD interface reminds you which colors are low and need changing. Expect typical ink costs with these Canon models.
Another maintenance item is keeping the print head clean for optimum print quality. Both printers can automatically clean and maintain the print head. You can also initiate deeper cleanings from the control panel.
Overall maintenance is light on these reliable Canon printers. Just be prepared to swap cartridges relatively frequently depending on your printing habits. And perform periodic print head cleanings for best results.
Also Watch This Review Video:
- Cost Comparison
As you may expect based on the faster performance, the Canon PIXMA G7020 carries a slightly higher MSRP price versus the G6020:
- Canon PIXMA G6020: $199.99
- Canon PIXMA G7020: $229.99
But you can often find both models discounted $50-100 below list price if you shop around online or look for sales.
At those street prices, the G6020 and G7020 are very competitively priced against other printers offering similar features and print capabilities.
Replacement CLI-42 ink cartridge packs for both models retail around $30-35 on average. But again, shopping around can save you money here.
Just make sure to buy cartridges with model numbers specifically for the G6020 or G7020 for compatibility.
Taking into account the faster performance and extra Ethernet connectivity, the modest $30 premium of the G7020 over the G6020 seems worth it for many home office users.
But if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t need blazing text printing speeds, the G6020 still represents a great value choice.
Key Differences At-a-Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the major differences between the Canon PIXMA G6020 and G7020:
- Print Speed: The G7020 prints 30% faster for black text (13 ipm vs 8.8 ipm) and color graphics (6.5 ipm vs 5 ipm)
- Connectivity: The G7020 adds Ethernet networking while the G6020 is wireless only
- Price: The G7020 carries a $30 higher MSRP but street pricing is very similar between the two models after discounts
- Performance: The G7020 holds the edge for printing high volumes or batch jobs faster
- Print Quality: Output is equal from both models for documents, graphics, and photos
- Design: Nearly identical footprint with just an extra Ethernet port on the G7020
Also Read: Comparison Between Canon Pixma G620 and G6020
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Canon Pixma G7020 is an inkjet printer, not a laser printer. It uses five separate ink cartridges – black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black – to produce high quality prints.
Yes, the Canon Pixma G7020 comes with initial starter ink cartridges in the box. This allows you to set up the printer and print right away before needing to replace the cartridges.
Yes, the Canon Pixma G6020 is capable of printing high quality photos. It uses a 5-ink system with photo black ink and can print at up to 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution. The G6020 also includes a rear feeder tray specifically for photo paper.
The Canon Pixma G6020 is an inkjet printer, not a laser printer. It uses five separate Canon CLI-42 ink cartridges to produce prints with excellent quality and vibrant colors.
Final Thought
Choosing between the Canon PIXMA G6020 vs G7020 comes down to a couple key factors:
Print Speed Needs
The G7020’s faster engine gives it better throughput for long text documents and bulk printing. If you routinely print high volumes, the extra speed makes a difference. Light home office use is fine with the G6020 however.
Budget Constraints
With very similar street pricing, cost likely won’t be the deciding issue. But if you want to save every dollar, the G6020 gives you equivalent performance and quality for less.
Connectivity Preferences
Do you need wired Ethernet? Go with the G7020. Wireless-only setups can use the G6020 to save a bit.
Print Quality Priorities
If photographic printing is your primary goal, save with the G6020. But the G7020 delivers the same superb photo output.
For most home office needs, the PIXMA G7020 is the best all-around choice if you can swing the small price premium. Faster speeds, Ethernet connectivity, lower running costs, and outstanding print quality make it an excellent workhorse printer.
But don’t count out the G6020 either. It still produces fantastic prints at slightly slower pace. If you’re on a budget or print infrequently, the G6020 gets you fantastic Canon quality for less.
Either way, both PIXMA models offer the printing performance, quality, and ease of use to satisfy home office users. We hope this detailed comparison of the Canon PIXMA G6020 vs G7020 printers helps guide you to the right model for your needs and budget!