Comparison Canon PIXMA G3410 vs Canon PIXMA MG3640S

The number of pages the printer can produce per minute in black and white mode. Typically indicated for low print quality, higher print quality takes longer. This setting is important if you need to frequently print text documents.

The number of pages the printer can proceed per minute in colour mode. As like b/w printing, the print speed is usually indicated in the worst quality (at maximum speed), in higher quality the print speed is lower. This setting is worth paying attention to if you need to print colour graphic materials frequently.

Printer's print rate in photographic (highest) quality. Unlike other similar parameters, in this case the speed is usually indicated for a 10x15 sheet (A6 as the most popular format for photos). In addition, photo printing speed is not expressed in pages per minute, but in seconds per page, because such printing takes a lot of time. This option is worth paying attention to if you plan to print photos frequently.

Feature of a double-sided printing function. This mode implies that after printing on one side, a special gear turns over a sheet of paper and feeds it for printing on the other side. This not only saves the user from manual paper turn-overs, but also exclude the risk of printing the second side upside down.

Approximate number of pages that the MFP can print in black and white mode without replacing the cartridge. In fact, this greatly depends on the specs of the images to print, so the actual resource may greatly differ from the claimed one in one way or another. Nevertheless, according to this indicator, it is quite possible to evaluate the capabilities of the MFP and compare it with other models.

Approximate number of pages that the MFP can print in colour mode without replacing the cartridge. In fact, this greatly depends on the specs of the images to print, so the actual resource may greatly differ from the claimed one in one way or another. Nevertheless, according to this indicator, it is quite possible to evaluate the capabilities of the MFP and compare it with other models.

The device has a built-in CISS — a continuous ink supply system. Instead of cartridges, such MFPs use external tanks with ink being pumped to the print heads. This allows you to reduce the cost of consumables: one refill of CISS is much cheaper than several replacement cartridges for the same printing page volumes. And refilling such systems is cheaper than changing the cartridge.

The availability of CISS is especially important if you intend to print often and in large volumes. Note that such devices are available in the form of external attachments; however, the integrated system is more convenient and safer — you do not need to mess with its installation, and the risk of incompatibilities and failures is minimal.

The amount of cartridges required for the full operation of the MFP. In black and white devices, usually, one cartridge is installed. For colour printing, at least 4 colours are required (CMYK colour scheme), however, cartridges in such devices can be installed as 4(one for each colour), or only 2 — black and colour. The last one is essentially three multi-coloured cartridges in one case; This design somewhat reduces the cost, but creates certain inconveniences: when the ink of one colour is empty, the entire colour cartridge becomes inoperative. However, this disadvantage is not critical if the possibility of refueling is provided.

There are printers designed for more than 4 cartridges. This design means that this model uses one of the extended colour schemes; this, on the one hand, contributes to high-quality colour reproduction, on the other hand, it significantly affects the price.

Types of cartridges (both black&white and colour) used in the MFP. Some models of the MFP are able to work with third-party cartridges, but this feature usually refers to undocumented, and the manufacturer's warranty applies only to specific types of cartridges. So, use third-party compatible cartridge models with caution.