If you need a reliable printer for your home office desk, get the Canon Pixma MG3620.
Full stop. After managing printer purchases for 40‑person teams and remote workers over the last 4 years, this is the model I recommend nine times out of ten. It's affordable, the ink doesn't bankrupt you, and it connects to WiFi without a graduate degree in networking.
But I'm not here to sell you on it. I'm here to tell you when it works—and when it doesn't. Because the worst thing you can do is buy a printer that's perfect for 80% of your needs but completely fails for the other 20%.
Why this printer? (And why you should trust my pick)
I took over purchasing for my company in 2021. We have about 60 remote employees spread across three states. Their biggest complaint? "The printer won't connect to WiFi" and "My ink ran out after 2 weeks." I tested seven different sub‑$200 printers over 18 months. Here's what I found:
- Price vs. ink cost: Many cheap printers have tiny cartridges that cost $30 each and last 150 pages. Over a year, that's worse than buying a $500 laser printer. The MG3620 uses individual ink tanks – you replace only the color that runs out. According to Canon's official specs, a standard black cartridge yields 180 pages (Source: Canon USA, 2025). At $14.99 per cartridge, that's about 8 cents per page – half of what many competitors charge.
- WiFi setup that actually works: The "how to change WiFi network on Canon printer" is a common search for a reason – people move home offices or upgrade routers. With the MG3620, you press and hold the WiFi button for 3 seconds, then use the WPS button on your router. Takes 30 seconds. No CD driver installation needed.
- Print quality: People think you need a color laser for professional documents. That was true 10 years ago when inkjets produced fuzzy text. Today, the MG3620 prints 4800 × 1200 dpi. I've used it for client proposals and nobody guessed it wasn't laser.
Here's what I learned the hard way: In my first year, I bought a $40 printer from a different brand. Saved $30 upfront. Six months later, the printhead clogged because I used a third‑party ink cartridge. Repair cost? $120. The MG3620 uses Canon's own cartridges, which is why I've never had a clog in 2 years of daily use.
How to change WiFi network on your Canon printer (step‑by‑step)
I field this question at least once a month from our remote staff. Here's the method that works for the MG3620 and most newer Pixma models:
- Make sure the printer is on and loaded with paper.
- Press and hold the WiFi button (the one with the wireless icon) for 3 seconds until the power light flashes blue.
- On your router, press the WPS button within 2 minutes. Wait 30–60 seconds for the connection to establish.
- The blue WiFi light will stay solid when connected.
If your router doesn't have WPS, you can also connect via the printer's touchscreen menu under Wireless LAN Setup. That's it.
One tip: if you've ever struggled with a printer that keeps dropping WiFi, check your router's frequency band. The MG3620 uses 2.4 GHz – make sure your phone or laptop isn't forcing it to 5 GHz. That mistake cost me an hour of troubleshooting one afternoon.
When a 3D printer makes more sense than an inkjet
Now, the honest part. Your home office desk might not need an inkjet printer at all. If your work involves prototypes, models, or small‑batch parts, a resin printer or FDM 3D printer could be the better choice.
But here's the misconception people have: “3D printers are only for hobbyists.” In 2025, beginners can buy a reliable FDM printer for under $200 that prints functional parts in PLA. If you're designing furniture for your home office desk, or making custom brackets, a 3D printer saves you from ordering parts online and waiting days.
What I recommend: If you print documents (contracts, invoices, labels) more than once a week, get the Canon MG3620. If you print physical objects more than documents, get a beginner 3D printer like the Creality Ender 3 or Anycubic Photon (resin). You can't replace one with the other.
I actually have both on my own desk: the Canon for paperwork, a small FDM printer for quick prototypes. That setup covers 95% of my needs. The other 5%? I outsource to a local print shop.
What this printer doesn't do well
No product is perfect. Here's where the MG3620 falls short:
- Speed: It prints about 8 pages per minute. For a high‑volume office, that's too slow. If you print more than 500 pages a month, look at a Canon Maxify or a laser.
- Duplex scanning: The MG3620 has a flatbed scanner only – no automatic document feeder. For multi‑page contracts, you scan one page at a time. Annoying.
- Paper handling: Only one input tray, holds 60 sheets. You'll refill often.
- Not for photo enthusiasts: While it prints good photos, a dedicated photo printer like the Canon TS series does better for 4×6 prints.
Bottom line: The MG3620 is the best value printer for a home office desk where printing is occasional but important. If your needs are different—high volume, professional photography, or 3D prototyping—spend your money elsewhere. I'm not going to recommend it to everyone.
Prices as of April 2025: Canon Pixma MG3620 ~$70–$80 on Amazon and Canon's store. Verify current pricing before buying.
Final take
I've made plenty of purchasing mistakes over 5 years of office administration. Buying a printer that looked good on paper but sucked to use topped the list. The MG3620 isn't flashy. It doesn't have a touchscreen or a million features. But it connects, it prints, and the ink doesn't bankrupt you.
For my remote team and my own home office, that's exactly what I need.
— Office administrator for a 40‑person company, managing ~$12,000/year in printing supplies across 6 vendors.