Canon Printer vs. the Competition: A Cost Controller’s Perspective on Total Cost of Ownership

Why Most Printer Buying Advice Misses the Real Cost

I’ve been a procurement manager for a 150-person marketing agency for over six years. In that time, I’ve tracked every single invoice related to printing—machines, ink, paper, even the permanent marker strain we use to label cartons. When I first started, I made the same mistake nearly every buyer makes: I focused on the sticker price. A $99 printer looked like a steal. Two years and four ink cartridges later, that “steal” had cost us $450 more than a $299 model.

That’s why I want to walk you through a real comparison using the Canon PIXMA G3416, the Canon TS3722, and a popular HP alternative. I’ll show you the numbers I actually see in my cost tracking system, the hidden fees nobody talks about, and a simple variance calculator you can use to avoid the same trap.

Here’s the question most people ask: “Which printer costs less upfront?” The question they should ask: “Which printer costs less over three years?”

Dimension 1: Initial Purchase Price vs. Setup Reality

Canon PIXMA G3416

As of January 2025, the Canon PIXMA G3416 is listed at $249.99 on Canon’s official site. It comes with enough ink for up to 6,000 color pages out of the box—no separate ink purchase needed for months. Shipping is free if you buy direct. Setup took me about 15 minutes following the Canon printer TS3722 manual (the process is nearly identical for the G series). The manual is available as a PDF, which is a nice touch for anyone who hates paper manuals.

HP Smart Tank 515 (Comparable Model)

A similar HP model costs $279.99 at major retailers as of the same date. It also includes starter ink, but the yield is slightly lower—about 5,000 pages. HP’s online setup process requires creating an account and connecting to their cloud service, which some users find annoying. If you’re curious how to get HP printer online, their support page walks you through it, but I’ve had two instances where the setup stalled because of firmware updates.

Initial cost difference: $30 in Canon’s favor. But that’s just the beginning.

Dimension 2: Ink & Consumable Costs – Where the Real Money Hides

Here’s the part most buyers miss. The Canon PIXMA G3416 uses refillable ink bottles—a $12.99 bottle prints about 6,000 pages. The HP Smart Tank uses similar bottles at $14.99 for a slightly lower yield (5,000 pages). Over three years at our agency’s average volume (2,000 pages/month), the math looks like this:

• Canon: 72,000 pages ÷ 6,000 pages per bottle = 12 bottles × $12.99 = $155.88
• HP: 72,000 pages ÷ 5,000 pages per bottle = 14.4 bottles (round up to 15) × $14.99 = $224.85

That’s a $68.97 difference in ink alone. But variance matters too. I built a quick variance calculator in our procurement spreadsheet. It shows that if page volume fluctuates by ±20% (which happens when we have seasonal campaigns), the Canon’s lower per-page cost keeps total variance tighter. The HP’s higher per-page cost amplifies the budget swing by about 15%—meaning you need a bigger contingency reserve.

I learned this the hard way. I assumed starter ink in both printers would last roughly the same duration. Didn’t verify. Turned out the Canon lasted 30% longer in real-world mixed-color printing.

Dimension 3: Maintenance, Support & Hidden Fees

Canon’s Support Reality

When we needed a replacement part for our first G3416 (the paper feed roller wore out after 18 months), Canon’s online support was straightforward. I called the toll-free number, gave them the serial number, and a new roller arrived in three days. No cost because it was under warranty. The Canon printer TS3722 manual also includes a detailed troubleshooting section that saved me a service call twice.

HP’s Support Reality

HP’s support is good, but I’ve noticed a pattern: their chat agents push a “printer protection plan” for $29/year. On the surface it sounds cheap, but over three years that’s $87—more than the ink cost difference above. One of my colleagues who went through how to get HP printer online ended up accidentally subscribing to HP Instant Ink during setup. She didn’t catch it for six months, costing an extra $12/month. That’s $72 in unintended fees.

I went back and forth between Canon and HP for weeks. I’d compare specs, read reviews, build spreadsheets. The numbers said Canon was cheaper. My gut said HP was more established. Ultimately I chose Canon because the total cost difference was too large to ignore—especially when I factored in the hidden fees I’d seen at my last company.

Bottom line: Canon’s total three-year TCO for our agency was $405.87 (printer + ink + no extras). HP’s? $591.84 (printer + ink + Instant Ink mishap + higher per-page cost). That’s a 31% difference on the same volume.

What About the Canon TS3722? A Lower-Cost Option

If your volume is lower—say, 500 pages/month—the Canon TS3722 (about $79.99) might make more sense. It uses traditional ink cartridges (PG-275 and CL-271). The per-page cost is higher, but for low volume you won’t feel it. I keep one in my home office. The Canon printer TS3722 manual is a single PDF that covers everything from wireless setup to cleaning the print head.

The catch: if you ever need to print a high-volume project, the cartridge replacement will sting. Know your volume before you buy.

One More Thing: The Permanent Marker Strain

I promised I’d mention permanent marker strain. Yes, it’s a real thing in our office—we use Sharpies to label shipping boxes, and they dry out in a week if the cap isn’t sealed. We switched to a different brand that lasted twice as long, cutting our annual marker spend from $240 to $110. It’s a small example, but it illustrates the same principle: value over price. The cheapest marker isn’t the most cost-effective either.

Same logic applies to printers. When you’re evaluating a purchase, don’t just compare the initial numbers. Use a variance calculator to see how cost range changes with usage. Check the fine print on setup and subscription services. And always ask: “What will this cost me over three years, not just today?”

Final Choice: Which One Should You Pick?

Choose the Canon PIXMA G3416 if:

• You print more than 1,000 pages per month
• You want the lowest per-page cost
• You prefer a simple, no-subscription ink refill system

Choose the Canon TS3722 if:

• You print less than 500 pages per month
• You need a very low upfront cost
• You’re comfortable buying cartridges occasionally

Consider HP or other brands if:

• You already have a fleet of HP printers (consistency matters)
• You need a specific feature like high-speed duplex scanning
• You’re happy with a subscription model (like Instant Ink)

But if you’re the one signing the POs, run the numbers yourself. Download a variance calculator, plug in your expected volume, and see which option gives you the lowest total cost with the least risk. For us, the answer was clear. For you, it might be different—and that’s exactly why you should look past the price tag.