Canon Pixma MP460

CNET Editors' Rating 7.5/10 Very good Editorial policies >>
Average user rating from 5 users 4.0/10 Mediocre Read user opinions >>

Product Summary

The good: Inexpensive; media card slots; PictBridge port; IrDA port; excellent print quality.

The bad: Color-handling problems in scans; limited paper-handling options.

The bottom line: The Canon Pixma MP460 is a minor update to the MP450. We still like its print quality but were disappointed by its scans. Still, it's one of our top choices for a photo-centric budget all-in-one.

Specs: Office Machine Functions: Copier, Printer, Scanner; Printer type: Multifunction printer; Printing Technology: Ink-jet See full specs >>

Price range: $69.00 - $113.16

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Felisa Yang
Edited by: Matthew Elliott
Reviewed on: 08/31/2006
Released on: 08/16/2006

Canon's Pixma MP460 is the 2006 version of the Pixma MP450, but we didn't find many changes to the photo-centric all-in-one printer--even the $130 price is the same (please refer to the MP450 review for additional details). The body of the MP460 is slightly larger than that of its predecessor: it's about four inches taller and deeper, and it weighs about two pounds more. Also, the shiny black exterior has been replaced by a shiny light gray. It still has the same A4 size flatbed scanner, basic paper handling (one input and one output tray), media card slots, a PictBridge port, and an IrDA port for wireless printing. The control panel remains unchanged, with the same 1.9-inch LCD. The MP460 supports both Windows and Mac platforms via USB. The MP460 also boasts a new dual color gamut technology that wasn't included on the MP450. It automatically optimizes copy quality according to the type of original: text, photo, or mixed. Like the MP450, the MP460 is a great budget all-in-one for photo hobbyists. If you already have the MP450, you don't need to update your printer. But if you're buying a new printer, the MP460 prints photos slightly faster than the earlier model.

In terms of performance, Canon's estimated print speeds are the same for both models, with a slight improvement in printing borderless 4x6 photos (Canon estimates 55 seconds for the MP450 and 52 seconds for the MP460). This was more or less borne out in our Labs-based tests. The MP460 posted text print speeds of 5.8ppm and photo print speeds of 1.36ppm for a 4x6 photo. The MP450 scored a 6.78ppm and a 0.58ppm, respectively (the MP450 photo test speed is for an 8x10 print). The Pixma MP460's scan speeds are on a par with those of the MP450: 5.68ppm for black-and-white and 5.6ppm for color. The MP450 scored 5.19ppm and 4.88ppm, respectively.

Print quality is on a par between the two models, as well. Like the MP450, the MP460 handled text beautifully for an inkjet printer. When viewing the results under a loupe, we noticed minor imperfections and jagged edges--problems that are inescapable for an inkjet printer. But to the naked eye, the characters were clean, well formed, and legible down to very small point sizes. The color graphic prints revealed clean, sharp edges; excellent color handling (with only some minor banding in color gradients); smooth curves; and well-rendered photo elements. The photo prints showed sharp detail, great color, and realistic flesh tones. We liked the scans from the MP450 better, though. The MP460's color scans were overly dark and a bit muddy, though they had excellent detail. The same criticism applies to the black-and-white scan: compression on the dark ends resulted in lost details in the shadows.

CNET Labs' multifunction printer performance
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Copy speed

Color scan speed

Grayscale scan speed

Photo speed

Text speed

Canon Pixma MP500

4.25

5.31

5.17

0.56

7.08

Canon Pixma MP450
N/A

4.88

5.19

0.58

6.78

Canon Pixma MP460
N/A

5.6

5.68

1.36

5.8

HP PSC 2335

1.01

2.92

5.13

0.43

2.92

Epson CX7800

1.7

2.72

6.14

0.48

1.57

CNET Labs' multifunction printer quality
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Color scan

Grayscale scan

Photo

Graphics on inkjet paper

Text on inkjet paper

Canon Pixma MP450

Good

Excellent

Canon Pixma MP460

Fair

Good

Excellent

Canon Pixma MP500

Fair

Excellent

HP PSC 2335

Fair

Good

Epson CX7800

Good

Fair

Good

Canon provides a one-year warranty for the MP460 all-in-one, as well as a year of free, toll-free phone support, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can extend the warranty to three years for $95. You can also get tech support via e-mail, and Canon says it will respond within 24 hours. Canon's site has FAQs, a troubleshooting tool, downloadable drivers and software, and PDFs of product and software manuals.

See more CNET content tagged:: Canon Pixma,; Canon Inc.,; multifunction printer,; scan,; photograph

User opinions

4.0/10 Average user rating from 5 users Mediocre

WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW How would you rate this product?

8/10 Excellent February 25, 2007

by papadsmurf (see profile)

"Delightful Home Printer" Read more >>
3/10 Poor February 10, 2007

by 20computeryears (see profile)

"a brick would be cheaper for a door stop" Read more >>
2/10 Terrible February 11, 2008

by andsail (see profile)

"Whats Happened to Canon?" Read more >>
WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW See all 5 user opinions >>

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