Epson EcoTank ET-2800 vs Canon MegaTank G3270: Which Refillable Tank Printer Saves You More?

The Tank Printer Showdown: Epson EcoTank ET-2800 vs Canon MegaTank G3270

When you’re tired of cartridge roulette, refillable tank printers promise liberation. But not all tanks are created equal. We tore into the specs and long-term costs of two popular models to see which delivers on the ink-saving promise.

Ink Economics: The Numb3rs Don’t Lie

• Epson ET-2800: Includes ~6,500 black/6,500 color pages worth of ink (about $0.006/black page)
• Canon G3270: Ships with ~6,000 black/7,700 color pages (roughly $0.005/black page)

While Canon’s starter ink goes further, Epson’s replacement bottles (B0G1R37VJC) currently cost $12.99 for black vs Canon’s (B0FVY8TTVN) at $14.99. Over 10,000 pages, Epson saves ~$23 on black ink alone.

Speed Test: When Patience Runs Thin

• Document Printing: Canon edges out with 10.5 ipm (black) vs Epson’s 8.5 ipm
• Photo Printing: Epson finishes 4x6 photos in 45 seconds; Canon takes 65
• First Page Out: Both hover around 12 seconds for black text

The Hidden Costs

Both printers suffer from:

1. Ink Clog Roulette: 3rd-party reports show 14% more nozzle clogs with Epson in humid climates
2. Waste Tank Woes: Canon’s integrated waste pad costs $29.99 (B0DVT2JTRN) to replace vs Epson’s external tank

Verdict

For high-volume text printing: Canon’s faster speeds and marginally cheaper per-page cost win For mixed use with photos: Epson’s better photo quality and cheaper ink refills pull ahead

Pro Tip: Both work with third-party inks (like B0B2RM68G2), but warranty voids apply. Calculate your actual page yield before committing to OEM ink.