Canon PG-640 & CL-641 Ink: Which Should You Buy? 🖨️
The Canon PIXMA MG3660 and TS5160 are two of the most popular Canon all-in-ones sold through Australian retailers. Compact, wireless, capable of decent photo prints. And when ink runs out — which happens faster than you'd expect — it pays to know exactly what to buy.
Noodle had to explain this to Ollie three times before he got it sorted (he kept trying to use CL-641 for text documents 🐾). Here's the complete picture.
Which Printers Use PG-640 and CL-641?
The PG-640/CL-641 range covers a substantial Canon PIXMA lineup:
MG Series:
- MG2160, MG2260, MG3160, MG3260, MG3560, MG3660 (one of the most common AU models)
MX Series (Office All-in-Ones):
- MX376, MX396, MX436, MX456, MX476, MX516, MX526, MX536
TS Series (newer compact):
- TS5160 — a recent compact wireless all-in-one popular at Officeworks
PG-640 vs CL-641: Understanding the Difference
| Cartridge | Type | Purpose | |-----------|------|---------| | PG-640 / PG-640XL | Pigment Black | Documents, text, sharp lines | | CL-641 / CL-641XL | Dye Tri-colour | Colour printing, photos |
PG-640 is pigment-based — crisp, smudge-resistant, ideal for text documents and forms. CL-641 is dye-based tri-colour — cyan, magenta, and yellow in one cartridge — better for photos and colour output.
Most printing tasks use the pigment black heavily and colour cartridge sparingly, unless you print a lot of photos.
Page Yield: Standard vs XL
| Cartridge | Standard | XL | |-----------|---------|-----| | PG-640BK / PG-640XLBK | ~180 pages | ~400 pages | | CL-641 / CL-641XL | ~180 pages | ~400 pages |
Yields based on Canon ISO standard at 5% coverage.
The XL delivers 2.2× more pages across both cartridges. Standard PG-640 and CL-641 are very poor value — at ~180 pages each, you'll be replacing them frequently.
Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible
At typical Australian retail prices:
| Cartridge | Genuine XL (est.) | Compatible XL | Saving | |-----------|-------------------|---------------|--------| | PG-640XLBK | ~4.2¢/page | ~1.7¢/page | ~60% | | CL-641XL | ~6.8¢/page | ~2.7¢/page | ~60% |
For a household printing ~100–150 pages/month, compatible XL saves approximately $120–$160 per year.
PG-640 vs PG-645 — Common Confusion
Canon's numbering is confusing. Both look similar, but they're not interchangeable:
| | PG-640 / CL-641 | PG-645 / CL-646 | |--|----------------|----------------| | Fits | MG3660, MX476, TS5160 (and older MG2x/MG3x/MX4-5x series) | MG2460, MG2560, MG2960, MG2965, MX496 | | Interchangeable? | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Check your printer model before ordering. The cartridge slot label will show the cartridge number if you're unsure.
The 2-Cartridge System
PG-640/CL-641 use a simple 2-cartridge setup:
- PG-640XLBK (pigment black)
- CL-641XL (tri-colour: cyan + magenta + yellow)
The tri-colour design means one colour depleting (typically cyan) requires replacing the whole colour cartridge. At typical AU home print ratios, black runs out 2–3× faster than colour.
Ollie & Noodle's Verdict
- ✅ Always buy XL — standard versions at ~180 pages are very poor value
- ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% — approximately $120–$160/year
- ✅ Don't confuse PG-640 with PG-645 — different models, not interchangeable
- ✅ Replace individually — you can swap black and colour separately
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law
Australian Consumer Law and Canon Warranties
Canon Australia cannot void your statutory warranty simply because you used compatible ink. Under the Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010), Canon must demonstrate the compatible cartridge directly caused a specific fault. Routine faults — paper jams, printhead clogging from infrequent printing, scanner issues — are mechanical and unrelated to ink brand.
Summary
- ✅ PG-640 (pigment black) + CL-641 (tri-colour) — both needed for full function
- ✅ XL versions deliver ~400 pages vs ~180 for standard (2.2× more)
- ✅ Compatible XL saves ~60% — approximately $120–$160/year for a typical household
- ✅ Fits: MG3660, MX476, TS5160, MX516, MX526 and related models
- ✅ NOT interchangeable with PG-645/CL-646 (different printer range)
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law