Canon CLI-271 BK/CMY 4-Pack Review: Verdict 8.4/10
“Great ink… just wish it didn’t go so fast!” That single complaint sits inside an otherwise glowing crowd verdict: Canon CLI-271 Genuine BK/CMY 4 Color Value Pack lands as a dependable, high-quality OEM set that many buyers keep returning to—despite ongoing frustration about cost and cartridge longevity. Verdict: 8.4/10.
Quick Verdict
For most Canon Pixma owners who care about consistent photo color and hassle-free installs, Canon CLI-271 Genuine BK/CMY 4 Color Value Pack is a Yes (Conditional): buy it when it’s on sale or bundled, and be ready for the “standard capacity” reality.
| Call | Evidence from users | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Yes—if you prioritize print quality | Best Buy reviewers repeatedly call it “great ink” and “images look awesome” | Better-looking photos and clean documents |
| Yes—if you want easy installs | Best Buy user JasonF said: “easy to install” | Less time troubleshooting recognition issues |
| Conditional—if you print a lot | Best Buy user JasonF warned: “goes fast” | Standard tanks can feel short-lived |
| Conditional—if you need full MG7720 set | Best Buy user EH PDX said the pack “doesn’t come with ‘gray’” | Some printers need extra tanks beyond BK/CMY |
| No—if you’re price-sensitive | Amazon reviewers complain it’s “Expensive for what you get” | Cost-per-page can sting |
| Rare but serious—if you fear leaks | Best Buy user Leto reported magenta “literally poured out” | Defect risk exists even with OEM |
Claims vs Reality
Canon’s marketing emphasizes improved color, a wider gamut, and better color fastness—positioning Canon CLI-271 Genuine BK/CMY 4 Color Value Pack as the safe, premium route. Digging deeper into user reports, the “premium” part often reads as true for output quality, but the “value pack” name is where expectations can clash with real-world usage.
One marketing-adjacent expectation is that OEM ink avoids headaches. Many users reinforce that idea indirectly by contrasting it with third-party problems. On Best Buy, Reddit-style community language shows up in reviews like EH PDX’s long rationale for sticking with genuine: “I’ve always had perfect prints with no problems… I have encountered problems… including leaks and poor quality” with generics, ending with “the quality is perfect as usual.” On Amazon, a reviewer bluntly framed it as: “there is a drastic difference in quality between oem ink cartridges and generics… if you want the best performance… buy oem cartridges.”
But a recurring pattern emerged: while people accept OEM for reliability, they don’t always accept the runtime. The pack is standard capacity, and several comments sound like sticker shock colliding with how quickly color tanks deplete. Best Buy user JasonF summed it up: “Great ink… just wish it didn’t go so fast! and it’s gotten pretty pricey.” On Amazon, one reviewer echoed the same pain point more simply: “Product doesn't last long.”
Finally, Canon’s compatibility story is mostly affirmed, but not without a practical wrinkle. Official listings highlight compatibility with printers like Pixma MG5720/MG6820/MG7720/TS series. Users agree it “fits my printer,” as an Amazon reviewer put it: “Easy to install. Fits my printer. Happy with product.” Yet MG7720 owners in particular flag that BK/CMY alone may not be the full shopping list—EH PDX noted needing “gray” and “the larger black cartridge pgbk… purchased separately,” turning a “value pack” into a multi-item hunt.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A strong throughline across Best Buy, Amazon, and Staples is that Canon CLI-271 Genuine BK/CMY 4 Color Value Pack delivers the kind of color and photo output that casual printers and hobbyists actually notice. For anyone printing family photos, crafts, or school projects, that translates into fewer “why does this look dull?” moments. Best Buy user Photo Printer praised realism: “The ink colors are very true to what you really see… resulting photo prints are excellent.” Another Best Buy reviewer, The Bob, kept it short but telling: “very happy with photo quality.”
For detail-oriented users—people printing invitations, small business paperwork, or photo projects—consistency seems to be the quiet win. Best Buy user Merlin described output stability: “The quality of the ink remains consistent until the cartridge is empty.” And Review Chick 22 leaned into the mess-free expectation many OEM buyers want: “No spill and no smudging! Easy to insert every time!”
Ease of installation shows up as a practical benefit for less technical households. If you’re replacing ink under time pressure (kids’ homework, last-minute forms), the value is in avoiding error loops and fiddly alignment. An Amazon reviewer wrote: “easy to install… fits my printer.” Staples reviewers echo the “works as expected” sentiment; one simply said: “Ink works as expected,” while another described it as “easy to install and remove.”
There’s also a “buy the pack to simplify life” theme. For users who don’t want multiple trips or mismatched tanks, the bundle itself is the convenience. Best Buy user Merlin explained the shopping logic: “It saves time when purchasing to get all the colors in one package.” Another Best Buy reviewer, Matt, framed it as a deal strategy: “Buying the value pack is helpful to get a better deal… very easy to install.”
What people repeatedly praise (after the stories):
- Photo output that looks “very true”
- Predictable, consistent ink performance
- Easy installs and clean handling
- Bundle convenience vs. buying singles
Common Complaints
Price is the loudest complaint—and it isn’t subtle. Even satisfied buyers keep returning to the same frustration: ink feels expensive relative to how fast it disappears. Best Buy user JasonF called it “expensive” and said it “goes fast.” Staples reviewers sound almost resigned; one wrote: “the price of ink cartridges is shameful,” and another summed it up as “costly.” On Amazon, a reviewer put it plainly: “Expensive for what you get.”
Longevity complaints hit hardest for frequent printers: parents printing school packets, hobbyists doing lots of photo runs, or home-office users pushing color charts. That’s where “standard capacity” becomes the real issue. One Amazon reviewer complained: “Product doesn't last long.” Meanwhile, Best Buy user TRebormesos loved output but still wanted price relief: “photos look great. just wish it was a little more competitive on price.”
A second recurring issue is incomplete coverage for certain printer setups—especially the Canon Pixma MG7720 crowd. This pack is BK/CMY, but some users say they also need gray or the separate pigment black cartridge. EH PDX explained the downstream hassle: “the set doesn't come with 'gray'… the larger black cartridge pgbk… must also be purchased separately.” Staples reviewers echo that desire: “I wish that they carried the black 270 in the package. as well as the gray.”
And then there’s the rare but dramatic defect story. Best Buy user Leto reported a messy failure: “the magenta ink literally poured out… onto my hands, printer,” and said the blue cartridge started to run out too. That kind of incident is uncommon in the dataset, but it’s memorable—and for users who print infrequently and store cartridges, it raises anxiety about getting a bad unit.
What users complain about most (after the stories):
- High cost and weak “value” perception
- Standard tanks can run out quickly
- Not a complete set for some Canon models
- Occasional defects/leaks reported
Divisive Features
The biggest split is the “worth it” question. Some buyers accept the OEM price as insurance against headaches—especially those who’ve tried generics before. On Amazon, one reviewer argued it’s “worth the extra money.” Best Buy user EH PDX took the same stance: “the reason I continue to purchase genuine ink… I’ve always had perfect prints with no problems.”
Others don’t dispute quality, but still resent the economics. JasonF liked the results but didn’t like the pace or price: “great ink… goes fast… pricey.” Staples reviewers similarly praise brand reliability while calling the cost “shameful” or “too expensive.” The divide isn’t about whether it prints well—it’s about whether printing well should cost this much.
Trust & Reliability
Digging deeper into user reports, the reliability narrative is mostly about avoiding the weird behaviors people associate with off-brand ink: recognition errors, poor color, or leaks. Best Buy user EH PDX described generics as sometimes fine for text, but said they’d “encountered problems… including leaks and poor quality,” while genuine ink stayed trouble-free: “I’ve always had perfect prints.”
Long-term durability stories come through indirectly via replacement cadence. Some users frame it as routine and stable—David Ins said the set lasts “about 5 to 7 months” for “light printing,” suggesting predictable household use. PJB Papa added an interesting longevity note: “these cartridges seem to go forever after the warning says to replace,” hinting that warnings may be conservative for some printers and print habits.
Still, the Leto leak report shows that “genuine” doesn’t mean “impossible to fail.” That same user emphasized they weren’t a novice: “I install these same cartridges about once a month for the last 3 years,” which makes the defect story harder to dismiss as user error.
Alternatives
Only a few direct alternatives appear in the provided data, and they’re mostly framed as “generic” or “aftermarket” rather than named competitors. The alternative most frequently mentioned is simply not buying OEM. But the user sentiment around that is cautious: EH PDX said generics can be cheaper and sometimes okay for text, yet still bring “leaks and poor quality” risk.
There’s also an internal Canon alternative in the dataset: Best Buy’s Canon “270 XL / CLI-271 5-pack Special Edition” bundle. That pack is discussed as “long lasting” and includes an XL black; users still complain it’s “expensive,” but several comments praise the convenience and supply depth. If your printer needs more than BK/CMY, this kind of bundle may reduce the “hunt” EH PDX described.
Price & Value
Prices in the data vary widely by retailer and configuration, which helps explain the emotional whiplash around “value.” Best Buy lists the 4-pack around $64.99, while other retailers show different numbers (and eBay listings vary even more). Users respond to that spread by chasing promotions and bundles. A Staples reviewer celebrated a deal: “love the promotion i received to purchase my ink.” Best Buy user Matt treats the pack itself as a discount strategy: “Buying the value pack is helpful to get a better deal.”
Resale/market listings on eBay show that ink is frequently traded, sometimes as lots or partial sets, which suggests a secondary market driven by price sensitivity. That doesn’t replace the trust of buying retail OEM, but it shows where bargain hunters go when they can’t justify retail pricing.
Buying tips implied by the community:
- Buy multipacks when discounted (Staples promotions, Best Buy “best price” claims).
- Confirm whether your printer needs extra tanks like gray or PGI-270/PGI-270XL (EH PDX’s warning).
- If you print frequently, consider larger-capacity bundles to reduce replacement cycles.
FAQ
Q: Does the Canon CLI-271 BK/CMY 4 Color Value Pack work well for photos?
A: Yes—many buyers describe strong photo output and realistic color. A Best Buy reviewer noted: “The ink colors are very true to what you really see… the resulting photo prints are excellent,” while another said they were “very happy with photo quality.”
Q: Is it easy to install and recognized by printers?
A: Generally yes. An Amazon reviewer said it’s “easy to install” and “fits my printer.” Best Buy reviewers repeatedly mention easy replacement, and one wrote it’s “easy to insert every time,” reflecting low-friction installs for typical users.
Q: Do the cartridges last a long time?
A: It depends heavily on print volume. Some light users report months of use—Best Buy user David Ins said the set lasts “about 5 to 7 months” for light printing—while others complain it “doesn’t go so fast” and that the product “doesn't last long.”
Q: Is this pack a complete set for Canon Pixma MG7720 owners?
A: Not always. Best Buy user EH PDX warned the pack “doesn’t come with ‘gray’” and said the larger black cartridge “pgbk… must also be purchased separately,” meaning some printers may require additional cartridges beyond BK/CMY.
Q: Are there leak or defect issues?
A: They appear rare but do show up. Best Buy user Leto reported a severe defect: “the magenta ink literally poured out… onto my hands, printer,” and said another cartridge started leaking too. Most other reviewers describe clean handling like “no spill and no smudging.”
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a photo-focused Canon Pixma owner who wants predictable OEM results and easy installs—because reviewers consistently describe “perfect prints,” “very true” colors, and hassle-free replacement. Avoid if you’re printing heavily on a tight budget, since multiple buyers complain it “goes fast” and is “expensive for what you get.” Pro tip from the community: follow EH PDX’s warning and confirm whether your printer also needs gray or the separate PGI-270/PGI-270XL cartridge before assuming the “value pack” covers everything.
