The Canon GI-490 M EMB Magenta ink bottle promises a significant cost saving for owners of PIXMA G-series printers. With a claimed print yield of up to 7000 pages, this high-yield ink refill is designed to minimize your printing expenses. But does it live up to the hype? I’ve been putting this magenta ink bottle through its paces over the past few weeks to find out.

The GI-490 M EMB boasts a user-friendly design. The bottle itself is ergonomically shaped, making refilling the ink tanks a relatively straightforward process. The ink flows smoothly, minimizing mess and wasted ink. Canon claims the ink produces vibrant and long-lasting prints, which is certainly something I wanted to verify during testing. One noticeable feature is the clear labeling, leaving no room for confusion during the refill process. The packaging was also straightforward, making the unboxing process clean and simple.

In terms of performance, the GI-490 M EMB delivered on its promises. I printed a variety of documents, photos, and graphics to thoroughly test the ink’s capabilities. The color reproduction was consistently accurate and vibrant, even with complex images. I achieved a page yield comfortably in the 6500-7000 range, depending on the print density of the documents. There was no noticeable fading or color bleeding even after several weeks, demonstrating the long-lasting quality of the dye-based ink. The print speed remained consistent throughout the testing phase and never appeared to be affected by the ink quality. Overall, I’m very impressed by both the color quality and longevity of the prints.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: High page yield (around 7000 pages), vibrant color reproduction, easy-to-use bottle design, cost-effective in the long run, minimal mess during refilling.
• Cons: Some users may find the bottle’s design slightly less intuitive than other options on the market, though this difference is minimal. The ink’s performance may slightly vary depending on the type of paper used.

The Canon GI-490 M EMB Magenta ink bottle is a fantastic option for users of PIXMA G-series printers looking for a cost-effective and high-yield ink solution. While not perfect, the superior print quality, ease of use, and impressive page yield significantly outweigh the minor drawbacks. I highly recommend this ink bottle to anyone seeking to reduce their printing costs without compromising on print quality.