Design & Build Quality

Both printers share Canon’s modern MegaTank design with integrated front-facing ink tanks that make it easy to monitor ink levels. Their compact footprint allows them to fit comfortably on most desks without occupying excessive space.

The G3270 is slightly lighter at 13.2 pounds, while the G3290 weighs 14.2 pounds because of its additional hardware for automatic duplex printing and the larger touchscreen. In everyday use, this small weight difference is negligible.

The biggest visual difference is the control panel. The G3270 features a basic 1.35-inch LCD, which is functional but limited. The G3290, on the other hand, includes a vibrant 2.7-inch color touchscreen that feels much more modern and intuitive.

Overall, the G3290 provides a more premium user experience despite their similar appearance.

Winner: Canon G3290

Print Quality & Performance

Print quality is essentially identical between these two printers.

Both offer:

• Maximum resolution of 4800 × 1200 dpi
• Sharp black text
• Rich color reproduction
• Borderless photo printing
• Excellent graphics for presentations
• Suitable output for school, home, and office documents

Print speeds are also identical:

• 11 ppm black
• 6 ppm color

Since both use Canon’s MegaTank ink system and similar print engine, users should expect nearly identical print results.

Winner: Tie

Ink Efficiency & Running Cost

One of the biggest advantages of both printers is the incredibly low cost per page.

Each printer includes enough ink to print approximately:

• 6,000 black pages
• 7,700 color pages

Canon estimates savings of up to $1,000 on ink compared with traditional cartridge printers.

The refillable ink bottles are easy to use thanks to Canon’s keyed bottle design, which helps prevent accidental spills or filling the wrong color tank.

For users printing homework, office documents, or family photos, both printers offer exceptional long-term savings.

Winner: Tie

Automatic Duplex Printing

This is where the biggest difference appears.

Canon G3290

• Automatic two-sided printing
• Saves paper
• Saves time
• Great for reports
• Ideal for business documents

Canon G3270

• Single-sided printing only
• Duplex requires manually flipping pages

If you print dozens of pages every week, automatic duplex becomes a feature you’ll appreciate almost immediately.

Winner: Canon G3290

Scanner & Copy Features

Both printers include a flatbed scanner capable of:

• Scanning documents
• Copying photos
• Copying ID cards
• Digitizing paperwork

For home users and students, the scanners perform similarly, producing clear and accurate scans.

Neither printer includes an automatic document feeder (ADF), meaning multi-page documents must be scanned one page at a time.

Winner: Tie

Connectivity & Mobile Printing

Wireless printing is excellent on both models.

Each printer supports:

• Wi-Fi
• USB connection
• Canon PRINT App
• Smartphone printing
• Tablet printing
• Borderless mobile photo printing

Users can print directly from Android and iPhone devices without needing a wired connection.

Setup is straightforward on both models.

Winner: Tie

Paper Handling

Both printers include:

• 100-sheet rear paper tray
• Support for Letter
• Legal
• A4
• A5
• A6
• Envelopes
• Photo paper
• Cards
• Custom paper sizes

The major advantage again belongs to the G3290 because it automatically handles two-sided printing.

If you regularly print contracts, manuals, or long assignments, this feature significantly improves efficiency.

Winner: Canon G3290

Ease of Use

The G3290 clearly offers a more user-friendly experience.

Its large touchscreen allows users to:

• Navigate menus quickly
• Adjust printer settings
• Connect to Wi-Fi
• Start copies
• Perform maintenance

The G3270’s smaller display gets the job done but requires more button presses and menu navigation.

For users unfamiliar with printers, the touchscreen is much easier to operate.

Winner: Canon G3290

Home Office Performance

If you’re working from home or running a small business, productivity matters.

The G3290’s automatic duplex printing helps reduce manual work, while the touchscreen speeds up everyday tasks.

The G3270 is still an excellent home printer, but users who print frequently may eventually wish they had duplex capability.

For occasional printing, the G3270 is more than sufficient.

For regular office use, the G3290 is the stronger choice.

Winner: Canon G3290

Price & Value for Money

Price is where the G3270 shines.

• Canon G3270: $159
• Canon G3290: $229

That’s roughly a $70 difference.

If you only print homework, occasional documents, and family photos, the G3270 delivers outstanding value because print quality and ink savings remain virtually identical.

However, users who print regularly will likely recover the extra cost of the G3290 through improved convenience and paper savings over time.

Winner:

• Best Budget Value: Canon G3270
• Best Overall Value: Canon G3290

Final Verdict

The Canon MegaTank G3290 is the better printer for most buyers. It combines the same excellent print quality, ultra-low ink costs, and wireless functionality found in the G3270 with two valuable upgrades: automatic duplex printing and a 2.7-inch color touchscreen. These additions make everyday printing more efficient and user-friendly, especially for home offices and frequent users.

The Canon MegaTank G3270 remains an outstanding budget choice. It delivers the same print speeds, page yields, and overall print quality at a significantly lower price, making it ideal for students, families, or anyone with lighter printing needs.

Choose the Canon MegaTank G3290 if you want a more convenient, feature-rich printer that will save time over the long run.

Choose the Canon MegaTank G3270 if your priority is minimizing upfront cost while still enjoying Canon’s reliable MegaTank ink system and excellent printing performance.