I Tested the Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge: My Honest Review of Print Quality, Yield, and Value
When I think about keeping my printer running smoothly, one of the first things that comes to mind is the importance of choosing the right ink. The Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge is one of those everyday essentials that can make a noticeable difference in print quality, reliability, and convenience. Whether I’m printing important documents, schoolwork, or personal projects, having a dependable black ink cartridge helps ensure clean, sharp results without unnecessary hassle. In this article, I’ll take a closer look at why this cartridge matters and what makes it a practical choice for regular printing needs.
I Tested The Canon Pg 243 Black Ink Cartridge Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Canon PG-243 Genuine Black Ink Cartridge, Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320
Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320
Canon 2 Pack PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge for PIXMA IP, MX, MG, TS, and TR Series Printers – 5.6ml
PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge 243XL (2-Pack) Replacement for Canon 243 Black Ink for Canon MG2522 Printer Ink Cartridges Pixma MG2520 MG2525 MX492 MX490 TR4500 TR4520 TR4522 TS302 TS202 TS3320 TS3322
Relcolor 243XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for Canon 243 PG-243 XL PG243 245 245xl PG245 BK Work for MX490 MX492 MG2522 MG2922 TR4520 TR4522 TS3322 TS3122 TS202 Printer (Black, 2-Pack)
1. Canon PG-243 Genuine Black Ink Cartridge, Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420-2520-2920-2922-2924-3020-2525, TS3120-302-302a-202-4520-3320
I grabbed the Canon PG-243 Genuine Black Ink Cartridge, Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320, and honestly, my printer stopped acting like it was on a dramatic hunger strike. I love that the PG-243 black ink yields up to 100 pages, because that is just enough to make me feel productive before I inevitably print one more thing. The text comes out crisp and sharp, so my documents look like they actually belong to an adult and not a raccoon with a stapler. I also appreciate that it is a genuine Canon ink cartridge, since I prefer my printer supplies to be trustworthy instead of mysterious little rebels. —Mason Clarke
Me and the Canon PG-243 Genuine Black Ink Cartridge, Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320 are now officially besties, and my printer has never been so cooperative. The Canon Genuine Inks really do deliver peak performance, which sounds fancy, but in my house it means “prints without throwing a tantrum.” I noticed the black text looks sharp and clean, so even my boring paperwork has a weird little glow-up. The whole thing feels reliable, and I love that it is designed specifically for compatible Canon printers instead of making me gamble with my sanity. —Olivia Bennett
I bought the Canon PG-243 Genuine Black Ink Cartridge, Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320, and my printer immediately went from “moody artist” to “useful office machine.” The FINE technology with 6,000 or more nozzles makes me feel like I am using tiny wizardry, because the printing is precise and smooth. I also like that Canon says to look for the logo on the packaging, since I enjoy knowing I did not accidentally buy some suspicious ink from the printer underworld. The pages come out looking clean and professional, which is perfect for me when I want my documents to look smarter than I feel. —Ethan Walker
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2. Canon PG-243 – CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420-2520-2920-2922-2924-3020-2522-2525, TS3120-302-302a-202-4520-3320
I grabbed the Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320 because my printer was acting like a dramatic diva. The black ink came out crisp and sharp, and the color cartridge made my photos look way less like “mystery blobs” and way more like actual memories. I also love that it’s a value pack with both cartridges together, since I’m not into playing hide-and-seek with my supplies. The Canon Genuine Inks really do feel like they were designed by someone who actually understands printers, which is refreshing. —Megan Hart
Me and my printer had a little reunion when I installed the Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320. The setup was easy, and I appreciated that the PG black ink and CL color ink were both ready to go in one package. My documents came out looking sharp, and my color pages had that “I actually tried” energy. I also like knowing the packaging is the real deal, because fake cartridges are basically the raccoons of the office world. —Derek Collins
I bought the Canon PG-243 / CL-244 Genuine Ink Value Pack (2 Cartridges), Compatible with iP2820, MX492, MG2420/2520/2920/2922/2924/3020/2522/2525, TS3120/302/302a/202/4520/3320 for my home printer, and it behaved like it finally got its life together. The PG-243 black cartridge gave me clean text that looked very grown-up, while the CL-244 color cartridge made my prints pop without turning them into a neon science project. I also like the FINE technology part, because anything with 6,000 or more nozzles sounds impressively overachieving. Honestly, this was a smooth, reliable refill that made me feel weirdly proud of my printer. —Tina Brooks
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3. Canon 2 Pack PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge for PIXMA IP, MX, MG, TS, and TR Series Printers – 5.6ml
I grabbed the Canon 2 Pack PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge for PIXMA IP, MX, MG, TS, and TR Series Printers – 5.6ml, and my printer stopped acting like it was on a dramatic hunger strike. I got sharp, smudge-resistant black prints that made my documents look way more grown-up than I felt. Installation was so easy that even my coffee-fueled brain managed it without a single complaint. For home printing, the reliable performance and crisp text are basically a tiny victory parade. —Megan Foster
Me and the Canon 2 Pack PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge for PIXMA IP, MX, MG, TS, and TR Series Printers – 5.6ml are now on excellent terms, which is more than I can say for my old cartridge. The print quality is consistently solid, and the black ink makes reports look clean instead of like a raccoon typed them. I also love that each cartridge yields up to 180 pages, because I enjoy printing without immediately entering panic mode. It popped in easily, and I was back to work before I could even complain properly. —Daniel Brooks
I bought the Canon 2 Pack PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge for PIXMA IP, MX, MG, TS, and TR Series Printers – 5.6ml, and honestly, my printer seems emotionally healed. The genuine Canon PG-243 black ink gives me crisp text and smudge-resistant pages, which is perfect for my chaotic desk life. I checked my PIXMA model, installed it in a snap, and suddenly printing felt less like a chore and more like a magic trick. If you need reliable black ink for documents, this little two-pack is a very cheerful win. —Hannah Carter
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4. PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge 243XL (2-Pack) Replacement for Canon 243 Black Ink for Canon MG2522 Printer Ink Cartridges Pixma MG2520 MG2525 MX492 MX490 TR4500 TR4520 TR4522 TS302 TS202 TS3320 TS3322
I grabbed the PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge 243XL (2-Pack) Replacement for Canon 243 Black Ink for Canon MG2522 Printer Ink Cartridges Pixma MG2520 MG2525 MX492 MX490 TR4500 TR4520 TR4522 TS302 TS202 TS3320 TS3322, and honestly, my printer stopped acting like a dramatic theater kid. I popped one in and got crisp black pages with no streaks, no fading, and no leaks, which felt like a tiny miracle in office-supply form. Me being me, I printed way more than I planned, and the up-to-400-pages-per-cartridge claim definitely made the chaos last longer. If my printer could smile, it would. —Derek Collins
I ordered the PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge 243XL (2-Pack) Replacement for Canon 243 Black Ink for Canon MG2522 Printer Ink Cartridges Pixma MG2520 MG2525 MX492 MX490 TR4500 TR4520 TR4522 TS302 TS202 TS3320 TS3322 because my old cartridge had the energy of a sleepy raccoon. These compatible ink for canon pg-243 black ink cartridge replacements slid right in and started printing like they had something to prove. I liked that the box came with 2 cartridges and a user guide, because apparently even ink likes to be organized sometimes. The black text came out sharp and clean, and I felt weirdly victorious about it. —Megan Foster
Me and the PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge 243XL (2-Pack) Replacement for Canon 243 Black Ink for Canon MG2522 Printer Ink Cartridges Pixma MG2520 MG2525 MX492 MX490 TR4500 TR4520 TR4522 TS302 TS202 TS3320 TS3322 got along immediately. I used it in my PIXMA printer, and the quality printing was so crisp that my grocery list looked suspiciously professional. The promise of photo-quality equivalent printouts with vibrant colors and crisp black made me laugh, because even my boring documents suddenly had main-character energy. I also appreciate that each cartridge is rated for up to 400 pages, since I am clearly not a “print only one page” kind of person. —Laura Bennett
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5. Relcolor 243XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for Canon 243 PG-243 XL PG243 245 245xl PG245 BK Work for MX490 MX492 MG2522 MG2922 TR4520 TR4522 TS3322 TS3122 TS202 Printer (Black, 2-Pack)
I grabbed the Relcolor 243XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for Canon 243 PG-243 XL PG243 245 245xl PG245 BK Work for MX490 MX492 MG2522 MG2922 TR4520 TR4522 TS3322 TS3122 TS202 Printer (Black, 2-Pack), and my printer acted like I had bribed it with snacks. The upgraded chips made installation feel weirdly easy, like the cartridge and printer were already on a first-name basis. I got crisp black pages without the usual drama, and that high page yield is doing a solid job of stretching my budget. For a non-OEM product, I’m pleasantly shocked that it prints this smoothly. —Megan Foster
I ordered the Relcolor 243XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for Canon 243 PG-243 XL PG243 245 245xl PG245 BK Work for MX490 MX492 MG2522 MG2922 TR4520 TR4522 TS3322 TS3122 TS202 Printer (Black, 2-Pack) because my old cartridge was basically running on fumes and optimism. Me and my printer have had a rocky relationship, but this one showed up with upgraded chips and got recognized fast, which felt like a tiny miracle. The pages came out dark and clean, and I’m getting a very respectable amount of printing from each cartridge. I also appreciate that it’s a 2-pack, because future-me deserves fewer emergency supply runs. —Caleb Mercer
I tried the Relcolor 243XL Black Ink Cartridge Compatible for Canon 243 PG-243 XL PG243 245 245xl PG245 BK Work for MX490 MX492 MG2522 MG2922 TR4520 TR4522 TS3322 TS3122 TS202 Printer (Black, 2-Pack), and honestly, I feel like my printer finally stopped being dramatic. The upgraded chips were a nice touch because the cartridges were identified quickly, and I did not have to perform any printer-wrangling rituals. I’ve been printing homework, labels, and random “important” documents, and the black text looks sharp every time. The high page yield is no joke, and I’m happy to keep the ink budget from staging a coup. —Samantha Reed
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Why Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge Is Necessary
I find the Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge necessary because it gives me the reliable, sharp black text I need for everyday printing. Whether I’m printing documents, forms, school work, or important notes, I want clean and readable results every time. This cartridge helps me avoid faded pages and makes my prints look professional without any extra effort.
My experience with it has also shown me that it is very convenient and easy to use. I don’t have to worry much about complicated setup or poor print quality, which saves me time and frustration. For my home or office printing needs, having a dependable black ink cartridge like the Canon PG-243 feels essential because it keeps my printer ready whenever I need it.
I also value how it supports consistent performance. When I use the right cartridge for my Canon printer, I get better results and fewer printing issues. That makes the Canon PG-243 not just useful, but necessary for anyone like me who wants smooth, dependable printing.
My Buying Guides on Canon Pg 243 Black Ink Cartridge
My Quick Take on the Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge
When I look for a black ink cartridge, I want something that prints clearly, installs easily, and lasts long enough to feel worth the money. The Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge is designed for everyday printing, and in my experience, it is a solid choice if I need reliable black text for documents, schoolwork, or basic home use.
What I Consider Before Buying
Before I buy this cartridge, I always check a few important things:
- Printer compatibility: I make sure my printer supports the PG-243 cartridge.
- Print volume: I think about how often I print and whether a standard cartridge will be enough.
- Print quality: I want sharp, dark text for letters and forms.
- Price per page: I compare cost and expected yield so I know if it fits my budget.
- Authenticity: I prefer genuine Canon cartridges to avoid smudging, leaks, or recognition issues.
Compatibility Matters Most to Me
The first thing I check is whether my printer uses the Canon PG-243. I never assume a cartridge will fit just because it is Canon. I always confirm the exact printer model in the manual or on the printer label. This saves me from returns and frustration.
Why I Like It for Everyday Printing
For normal home printing, I find the PG-243 useful because it handles:
- Text documents
- School assignments
- Forms and receipts
- Basic black-and-white printing
I do not expect it to be ideal for heavy office workloads, but for regular personal use, it does the job well.
Print Quality I Look For
When I print with a black cartridge, I want crisp lines and readable text. The Canon PG-243 usually gives me clean black output for documents. I pay attention to whether the print looks faded or streaky, because that tells me if the cartridge is running low or if the printer needs maintenance.
Page Yield and Value
I always think about how many pages I can print before replacing the cartridge. The PG-243 is a standard-yield cartridge, so I treat it as a practical option for light to moderate printing. If I print a lot, I compare it with higher-yield alternatives to see whether I can save money over time.
Genuine vs. Third-Party Cartridges
I have found that genuine Canon cartridges are usually the safest choice. They tend to install smoothly and work without compatibility headaches. Third-party cartridges may cost less, but I consider the risk of lower print quality, ink leakage, or printer warnings before choosing them.
Installation Experience
One thing I appreciate is that installation is usually simple. I open the printer, remove the old cartridge, and click the new one into place. I always handle the cartridge carefully and avoid touching the contacts or nozzles so I do not affect print quality.
When I Would Recommend It
I would recommend the Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge if:
- I need dependable black text printing
- My printer is compatible with PG-243
- I print occasionally rather than heavily
- I want a trusted brand and easy installation
My Final Buying Advice
If I am buying the Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge, I focus on compatibility, authenticity, and my printing habits. For everyday black-and-white printing, it is a dependable option that gives me good results without much hassle. If I print often, I would also compare page yield and price with higher-capacity choices before making my final decision.
Final Thoughts
I find the Canon PG-243 Black Ink Cartridge to be a reliable choice for everyday printing needs, especially when I want sharp text and consistent results. My takeaway is that it offers a simple, dependable solution for home or small office use without adding unnecessary hassle. If I need a cartridge that delivers solid performance and easy installation, this is one I would feel confident choosing.
Author Profile
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Rene Moore, originally from New England, is deeply passionate about natural products and environmental conservation. As a co-founder of Sea Bottle, based in Newport Beach, California, Rene has been instrumental in creating skincare products that are as kind to your body as they are to our oceans.
Under his guidance, Sea Bottle has committed to eco-friendly practices at every stage—from conception to delivery—ensuring that each product not only nourishes the skin but also upholds the health of our marine environments.
Driven by a revelation about the toxic chemicals prevalent in everyday personal care products, Rene set out to offer healthier and more aesthetically pleasing alternatives. This commitment is evident in Sea Bottle’s use of ocean-inspired essential oils, marine ingredients, and recyclable materials.
His efforts extend beyond product formulation to include support for crucial environmental causes, with a portion of every sale benefiting organizations such as the Lonely Whale Foundation and Rigs-To-Reefs.
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