INKJET PRINTER: Canon Pixma TS6550i

The TS6590i ought to sitin the sweet spot for Canon's new Pixma range, but huge running costs let it down.

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Canon's TS6550i sits in the middle of the three new Pixma models released just ahead of this test. As with many product lineups, that's typically the sweet spot where you'd expect to find the best combination of features and value. The TS6550i certainly scores well for the latter; while it's not a particularly highly specified device, it is very affordable, undercutting similar models from rivals.

The Pixma TS6550i offers a control panel with a mono screen, which immediately distinguishes it from the screen-less Pixma TS4150i reviewed on p91. There's also a more subtle improvement over its cheaper sibling: the scanner bed is supported by a damped strut, a bit like an expensive car bonnet.

Other than that, you'd be hard pressed to see what your extra £14 or so buys you: the two MFPs are substantially the same.

Still, this remains a good-value device, and quite well suited to sharing among family members.

It's easy to get it onto a Wi-Fi network, after which you can follow Canon's directions to set it up with the Windows app or from a smartphone. Sticklers for PC software, we bypassed this step, searching and downloading the full software suite from Canon's website. You can always connect smartphones and tablets later.