Valuetoner 245XL Black Ink Cartridge, High-Yield Replacement for Canon PIXMA

The 245XL format is designed to provide black ink for compatible Canon PIXMA printers, making it a straightforward replacement for everyday documents and other black-and-white printing. Its built-in chip is intended to display ink levels, so you can monitor the cartridge through the printer rather than relying only on print quality to tell when ink is running low.

This package contains one black cartridge. Compatibility and yield are the main details to weigh before choosing it.

Key features

Valuetoner identifies this as a compatible 245XL black ink cartridge, not a Canon-branded cartridge. The stated printer list includes models from the TR, MX, MG, iP, and TS PIXMA lines, such as the TR4520, MX492, MG2520, and TS3320. The full model number matters: check that your specific printer appears in the compatible list, rather than relying on the PIXMA name alone. Buyer feedback is mixed on compatibility, with reports of successful recognition as well as cases where the cartridge did not work with a printer.

Yield information differs across the supplied product details. One section says up to 500 pages at 5% coverage, while the product description states 400 pages at 5% coverage on A4 paper. Actual results may vary with what you print, so neither figure should be treated as a guaranteed page count. The cartridge is also described as non-refillable, a practical drawback if you want to refill cartridges instead of replacing them.

Buyers mention straightforward installation and clear black output, including for photos and graphics. Those experiences are not universal: some report mixed cartridge life, and a few mention printer problems after use. These are individual reports, not a confirmed cause-and-effect finding, but they reinforce the importance of checking exact compatibility.

Who it’s for

This cartridge may suit someone who needs a single black replacement for a listed PIXMA model and wants the 245XL format rather than a standard-capacity cartridge. It can cover routine printing such as forms, letters, or school and home documents. If your printing also requires color, this one-cartridge package does not include color ink, choose supplies that meet that need separately.

It makes sense if your printer model is explicitly listed and you are comfortable choosing a compatible alternative to a brand-name cartridge. It’s not for you if you need a refillable cartridge or a color cartridge. Before ordering, compare the exact model on your printer with the compatibility list, particularly if you have experienced recognition problems with replacement cartridges before.

How to use it

Install the cartridge in the compatible printer according to the printer’s instructions, then use the displayed ink-level information to keep track of remaining ink. The product details say its chip supports ink-level tracking. If the printer does not recognize it, the manufacturer’s suggested first steps are to reinstall the cartridge, turn the printer off with the cartridge installed, unplug it for two minutes, and then restart it. That guidance is specific to recognition issues, it does not establish that every error will be resolved this way.

For a home scenario, a compatible TR4520 owner could use this single black cartridge for documents and check the printer’s level display as printing continues. The page estimate will be more relevant to light coverage than to pages filled with heavy black graphics.

Is it worth it?

The main case for this Valuetoner 245XL is simple: one black cartridge for a selection of listed PIXMA printers, with an ink-level chip and a higher-yield designation. Compared with choosing a brand-name cartridge, this is a compatible replacement approach, whether that tradeoff suits you depends on your printer model and tolerance for variable buyer experiences. The inconsistent yield figures make it hard to plan around a precise page count, and the cartridge cannot be refilled. Choose it when the exact printer appears on the list and those caveats fit your needs, if reliable model-specific compatibility or refillability is your priority, look for an option that clearly meets that requirement.