E-Z Ink TS9120 Compatible Cartridges: Worth It? 8.6/10
A recurring theme in owner comments is that this budget ink “passes” as the real thing—sometimes literally. One reviewer quoted in TheReviewIndex’s verified-review analysis wrote: “when i load these cartridges into my canon printer, it responds with ‘genuine canon ink cartridge installed’.” For a product that exists mainly to undercut OEM prices, that single moment of acceptance is the make-or-break detail for many buyers. E-Z Ink Compatible TS9120 Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon PIXMA TS8320 TS8220 TS8120 (6 Pack) lands a conditional thumbs-up based on user feedback—impressive when it works, but not without real compatibility and mess-risk reports. Score: 8.6/10.
Quick Verdict
Yes—conditionally. If your Canon PIXMA accepts compatible tanks and you prioritize savings, many buyers say this prints “indistinguishable” from Canon. If you can’t tolerate the chance of “ink not compatible” errors or leaking, the downside stories are sharp.
| What buyers keep mentioning | Verdict from user feedback | Evidence (platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Printer recognition / “genuine” message | Often positive, but not universal | “genuine canon ink cartridge installed” (TheReviewIndex); “recognized them as genuine” (Revain) |
| Print quality (text + photos) | Frequently praised | “text is crisp… no strange differences” (Revain); “indistinguishable” (TheReviewIndex) |
| Value vs Canon OEM | Major win for many | “huge price difference” (TheReviewIndex); “good ink at a reasonable price” (Revain) |
| Installation / fit | Usually easy | “fit perfectly” (Revain); “cartridges fit very well” (TheReviewIndex) |
| Compatibility errors | Real risk for some | “ink not compatible” (TheReviewIndex); “would not work until i removed it” (TheReviewIndex) |
| Leaks / ink mess | Reported by a subset | “ink ran all over my hands” (TheReviewIndex); “ruined a shirt” (TheReviewIndex) |
Claims vs Reality
One of the loudest product promises across listings is simple: compatibility with Canon PIXMA models like TS8120/TS8220/TS8320/TS9120. Official copy frames it as “compatible” and “premium quality ink delivers crisp text and graphics” (Amazon listing). Digging deeper into user reports, that claim often holds—until it doesn’t. A verified-review excerpt aggregated by TheReviewIndex captures the ideal outcome: “works very well with my canon printer.” On Revain, Napoleon R. describes a best-case scenario for cautious buyers: “the printer recognized the replacement ez-ink cartridges as genuine and is working properly.”
But compatibility isn’t purely “fits in the slot.” Multiple users in TheReviewIndex excerpts describe a hard stop where the printer refuses to continue: “unfortunately i got a ‘ink not compatible’ error when i tried to print ) :.” Another excerpt spells out the frustration loop: “i reinstalled it several times and the printer kept giving me a message that it could not recognize it and would not work until i removed it.” For users running an office printer that can’t go down mid-job, those stories turn “compatible” into “maybe compatible.”
The second marketing promise is output quality. Product pages emphasize “crisp text and graphics” (Amazon) and high-yield language across pack listings. Many buyers echo that they can’t tell the difference. Carlos L. on Revain said: “text is crisp and there are no strange differences in color prints,” adding they “really didn't notice any differences” versus originals. TheReviewIndex’s excerpts push it further into photo territory: “did a bunch of photo prints with canon photo plus paper and did not see any noticeable difference in color fidelity.”
Still, quality isn’t unanimous. TheReviewIndex compilation includes complaints that cut against the “premium” message: “the color isn't great and also the color never dries completely.” Another negative detail appears around output defects and cleanup: “printouts have large, egregious streaks,” paired with “our new carpet is ruined.” While these are not the dominant storyline in the aggregated review analysis, they represent the failure modes buyers fear most—bad prints and a bigger mess than the savings justify.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
The most consistent praise across platforms is the cost-to-quality tradeoff—people buy this because Canon OEM ink hurts, and many feel they found a workable substitute. In TheReviewIndex’s verified-review excerpts, one buyer sums up the motivation bluntly: “compare to the original ink cartridge, this product is very cost effective without compromising the quality.” Another calls out the savings explicitly: “huge price difference from original canon cartridges.” For budget-sensitive home users—students printing assignments, families printing school forms—this shows up as permission to print without rationing. As one excerpt puts it: “i’m comfortable just printing away at these prices.”
Print quality is the second pillar of the “it’s worth it” narrative, especially among owners printing photos on Canon paper. One TheReviewIndex excerpt reports: “print quality is indistinguishable from previously used canon cartridges.” On Revain, Napoleon R. describes color satisfaction in plain terms: “the prints look beautiful and the colors are vibrant.” For photo hobbyists using a PIXMA TS9120 or similar as a casual photo lab, this matters because the whole point of the extra color tanks (including photo blue) is smoother gradients and richer tones—owners are essentially saying the compatible ink still delivers the look they bought the printer for.
A third recurring bright spot is installation and fit. This isn’t glamorous, but it’s the part that decides whether compatible ink feels like a bargain or a hassle. Revain reviewer Zack F. said the cartridges “fit perfectly,” and Carlos L. echoed: “installation was easy.” TheReviewIndex includes parallel fit language: “the cartridges fit very well and went in quickly!” For small offices or home offices that just need the printer to stay alive, “easy to install” is the difference between a quick swap and a wasted afternoon.
Finally, a surprisingly emotional win for some buyers is printer recognition—getting the printer to treat the cartridge as legitimate. Napoleon R. on Revain wrote: “the printer recognized the replacement ez-ink cartridges as genuine.” TheReviewIndex excerpt makes it even more explicit: “it responds with ‘genuine canon ink cartridge installed’.” For users who’ve been burned by incompatible tanks before, that “genuine” message reads like relief, not just a status pop-up.
After those patterns, the praise can be summarized like this:
- Cost savings without obvious quality loss (Amazon reviews via TheReviewIndex; Revain)
- Strong text and photo output for many users (Revain; TheReviewIndex)
- Fit and installation usually straightforward (Revain; TheReviewIndex)
- Printer acceptance often smooth, sometimes even “genuine” messaging (Revain; TheReviewIndex)
Common Complaints
The most serious complaint pattern is compatibility failure at the software/recognition layer. These aren’t subtle gripes—they describe printers refusing to print. In TheReviewIndex excerpts, one user reports: “i get an error message… is not recognized.” Another describes repeated attempts: “i reinstalled it several times” and the printer “would not work until i removed it.” One particularly alarming excerpt alleges a lingering issue: “after removing ezink still got error, printer would not work.” For buyers who depend on a Canon TR8520/TS-series printer for time-sensitive tasks, this is the nightmare scenario: an aftermarket cartridge that doesn’t just fail, but potentially triggers an error state that’s hard to clear.
The second complaint cluster is leakage and handling mess. This is the kind of downside that makes savings feel insignificant fast. TheReviewIndex compilation includes: “ink spilled out very easily on my hands and ruined a shirt,” and another: “ink ran all over my hands and dripped on my pants.” There’s also a more severe household cost note: “our new carpet is ruined.” These stories affect anyone swapping cartridges in a home setting—especially if the printer lives near carpet or in a shared family space. Even if leaks are not the majority experience, the severity makes it a key risk.
A third issue is performance inconsistency: running out earlier than expected or not matching OEM behavior. TheReviewIndex includes: “they seem to run out faster than expected,” and another reviewer concedes: “not the same quality as the original ones but its cheao and gets the job done.” For users who print frequently—small businesses, teachers, high-volume households—yield predictability matters as much as price. If a compatible tank empties sooner, the effective savings shrink, and the annoyance grows.
After those patterns, the recurring complaints can be summarized like this:
- Recognition/compatibility errors that block printing (TheReviewIndex)
- Leaks and ink mess during handling (TheReviewIndex)
- Reports of faster-than-expected depletion or quality not matching OEM (TheReviewIndex)
Divisive Features
Longevity is the most divisive theme. Some buyers claim these tanks last unusually well. In TheReviewIndex excerpts, one says: “i've never had a name brand ink cartridge last as long as these have without drying out!” Revain reviewers also describe longer stretches without replacement; Jason K. wrote: “i haven't had to replace them since i installed them four months ago.” For light-to-moderate printers, that reads like huge value—buy once, forget about it.
But other users pull the opposite direction. TheReviewIndex includes: “they seem to run out faster than expected.” That contradiction matters because the product copy leans on “high yield” and huge page-yield figures in some listings. While officially claimed yields include numbers like “photo blue is 9140 pages per cartridge at 5% coverage” (Amazon listing), user experiences don’t consistently confirm that kind of longevity. While officially rated as very high-yield in listings, multiple users report earlier depletion or inconsistent performance.
Another divisive detail is color drying/smudging. One TheReviewIndex excerpt praises clean output: “loved value price colors are clear ink does not smudge.” Yet another warns the opposite: “the color never dries completely.” For photo printers, drying time and smudge resistance are non-negotiable, so this split suggests some variability—possibly by batch, printer model, paper choice, or settings.
Trust & Reliability
Trust signals are unusually polarized in the feedback: buyers either feel they found a reliable OEM alternative or they feel burned by errors and mess. On Revain, the confidence story is strong—Napoleon R. says the printer “recognized the replacement ez-ink cartridges as genuine,” while Carlos L. emphasizes there was “no non-genuine cartridge warning.” That kind of experience builds trust fast because it suggests the printer’s own checks aren’t flagging the tanks.
Digging deeper into longer-term reliability, Revain includes multi-month usage claims. Jason K. writes: “i haven't had to replace them since i installed them four months ago,” and another Revain entry similarly states: “after using these cartridges… for four months i can confidently say, that they are excellent.” Those “months later” notes matter for people worried about clogs, drying, or fading over time.
On the other hand, TheReviewIndex excerpts contain the trust-breaking stories: “not worth the money it keeps on saying error code in the printer and won’t let print,” plus return frustration like “i really want my money back!” and “now i don't see a ‘return product’ option!” Even when those are a minority of total reviews in the aggregation, they shape perceived risk because the downside is a non-functioning printer, not just mediocre output.
Alternatives
The only consistently referenced “alternative” in the feedback is sticking with Canon OEM cartridges—the baseline people compare against when they talk about cost and quality. TheReviewIndex excerpts repeatedly frame it as OEM vs compatible: “so much better than paying full price for cannon brand name,” and “works just like oem at a much cheaper price.” For buyers who just want to avoid the OEM premium but keep OEM behavior, Canon remains the safer (but pricier) fallback.
Another alternative path mentioned in the provided data is refillable cartridge systems sold through marketplaces. For example, a Newegg listing describes “empty refillable ink cartridge… with permanent chip,” warning that “printer will not show ink level but can working well” and instructing users to hold the stop button after ink-level warnings (Newegg). That’s a different risk profile: potentially cheaper long-run printing, but more user maintenance and ignored ink monitoring—better for hobbyists comfortable with hands-on workflows than for typical home users.
Price & Value
Price talk in user feedback is constant because the entire purchase is a financial decision framed against Canon OEM. TheReviewIndex excerpts repeatedly emphasize savings: “half the price and so far so good,” and “just as good as canon at a fraction of the cost.” Revain reviewers mirror that framing with simple value language like “good ink at a reasonable price” (Napoleon R.) and the decision to stop shopping elsewhere after fit and availability worked out (Zack F.).
Market listings in the provided data reinforce the spread: Amazon shows the E-Z Ink 6 pack positioned as a “small business” item with a listed price around the low-to-mid $30s in the search snapshot, while eBay shows many compatible multi-packs floating in the teens (eBay market results). That gap suggests two value tiers: brand-name compatibles (like E-Z Ink) priced higher than no-name bundles, with buyers implicitly paying for perceived consistency and packaging.
Community buying tips, indirectly, come from the complaint patterns: if you’re risk-averse, prioritize sellers with easy returns and test one set early. That aligns with TheReviewIndex excerpts about return-window frustration (“return window ended yesterday”)—a reminder that value isn’t just sticker price; it’s also what happens if your printer rejects a cartridge.
FAQ
Q: Do E‑Z Ink TS9120 compatible cartridges get recognized as genuine Canon ink?
A: Often, according to user feedback, but not always. Napoleon R. on Revain said the “printer recognized the replacement ez-ink cartridges as genuine.” A verified-review excerpt in TheReviewIndex reported the printer message: “genuine canon ink cartridge installed.” Other users, however, describe “ink not compatible” errors.
Q: Is print quality close to Canon OEM for photos and documents?
A: Many reviewers say yes, especially for everyday documents and casual photo printing. Carlos L. on Revain noted: “text is crisp” and saw “no strange differences in color prints.” A TheReviewIndex excerpt said photo prints showed “no noticeable difference in color fidelity.” A smaller set reports streaks or color issues.
Q: What’s the biggest risk buyers report with this 6-pack?
A: Compatibility/recognition errors and leakage. TheReviewIndex includes reports like “could not recognize it and would not work until i removed it” and “ink not compatible.” It also includes mess complaints such as “ink ran all over my hands” and “ruined a shirt,” which matter if you can’t tolerate cleanup risk.
Q: Do these cartridges last longer than Canon cartridges?
A: Experiences conflict. One TheReviewIndex excerpt claims: “i've never had a name brand ink cartridge last as long as these have without drying out!” Revain’s Jason K. said they lasted “four months” without replacement. But another TheReviewIndex excerpt warns: “they seem to run out faster than expected.”
Q: Are refillable cartridges a better alternative than compatible replacements?
A: Only for hands-on users, based on the marketplace descriptions provided. A Newegg refillable set notes the printer “will not show ink level” and instructs users to bypass warnings by pressing the stop button. That approach can reduce costs, but it adds manual steps compared to drop-in compatible cartridges.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a budget-focused Canon PIXMA TS9120/TS8320/TS8220/TS8120 owner who can tolerate some compatibility risk in exchange for major savings—and you value reports like Napoleon R.’s Revain experience: “recognized… as genuine” with “colors… vibrant.” Avoid if your printer can’t afford downtime or you’ve been burned by “ink not compatible” errors before, since TheReviewIndex includes multiple accounts of printers refusing to print. Pro tip from the community: test the cartridges early—one TheReviewIndex excerpt warns, “the return window ended yesterday.”
