LEMERO 245XL Ink Cartridge PG-245 CL-246 Replacement for Can

The Verdict

Let’s cut through the ink cartridge noise. Canon’s proprietary 245/246 cartridges are notoriously expensive, and the aftermarket is littered with junk that leaks, throws error codes, or prints streaky garbage. The LEMERO 245XL set claims to fix all that at roughly half the price. I’ve dug through the specs, user reports, and the 4.6-star aggregate across 229 ratings to see if it holds up.

What You Actually Get

The package includes one black PG-245XL and one color CL-246XL cartridge. Both are pre-filled, sealed in foil pouches with a plastic cap over the print head. The XL designation matters: it’s roughly double the page yield of standard capacity. LEMERO lists black at 400 pages and color at 300 pages (at 5% coverage — the industry standard). In real-world testing, several buyers report getting close to that with standard text documents.

Physically, the cartridges are dimensionally identical to OEM. The chip on the bottom is pre-installed and recognized by Canon printers without any firmware hack or reset button press. As one reviewer put it: “Popped them in, closed the lid, printer recognized them instantly. No setup menu, no error.” That’s the single biggest hurdle with third-party ink, and LEMERO clears it.

Build Quality and Real-World Performance

The housing is solid — no flex or thin plastic feel. The print head sits flush, and the foam sponge inside holds ink consistently even when the cartridge is down to its last few pages. Users report no banding or streaking in normal text documents. Color output is slightly less saturated than Canon OEM on photo paper, which is expected for dye-based ink at this price point. For everyday documents, charts, and school assignments, the difference is negligible.

One caveat: these are dye inks, not pigment. If you’re printing photos and immediately handling them, you’ll get minor smudging. Wait 30 seconds and it’s fine. This isn’t a dealbreaker for most, but photo purists should know.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

The recurring theme across reviews is reliability. “I’ve bought cheap cartridges before that leaked or the printer wouldn’t recognize. These worked first try,” reads one top review. Another notes: “For the price of one OEM black cartridge, I got both colors. Print quality is fine for school and home office use.”

Cost savings are the headline. At typical street pricing, this two-pack lands at roughly 50-60% of what two OEM XL cartridges cost. For a family printer that churns through homework and shipping labels, that difference adds up quickly.

Where It Falls Short

The color cartridge drains faster than black. If you print mixed documents — headings, charts, images — the CL-246 side will run out first, often with black still at half. That’s not a defect; it’s physics. But it means you’ll be buying replacement color cartridges more often. Budget accordingly.

Also, the chips are single-use. Once a cartridge is empty, you can’t refill it and reset the counter. Some competitors offer refillable options, but LEMERO doesn’t. If you’re a heavy refiller, this isn’t your product.

Who Should Buy This

• Home office workers printing documents, forms, and occasional labels — the savings are immediate.
• Parents with school-age kids who blow through ink on assignments and projects.
• Budget-conscious Canon users with MX492, TS3122, TS5120, or MG2522 who are tired of OEM pricing.

Skip it if you print professional-grade photos or need pigment-based ink for archival documents. Stick with OEM for that.

FAQ

Q: Will these work in my Canon MG3620? A: Yes, if your printer accepts PG-245/CL-246 cartridges. Compatible models include the MG2420, MG2522, MG2920, MX492, TS3120, TS3122, TS3125, TS5120, and TR4520. Check your model number against that list.

Q: How many pages will I actually get? A: LEMERO rates 400 pages black, 300 color at 5% coverage. Light text documents will exceed that. Photo-heavy prints will fall short. Realistic mixed-use estimate: 300-350 pages black, 200-250 color.

Q: Do I need to install drivers or reset anything? A: No. The chips are pre-programmed. Install, close the lid, and the printer recognizes the cartridge like an OEM unit.

The Verdict

Buy it if you want OEM-level reliability at half the cost, without wrestling with error codes or leaks.

Skip it if you demand pigment inks for archival prints, or you refuse to accept slightly less vibrant color on glossy photo paper.

Rating: 4.6/5 — The LEMERO 245XL set delivers on its core promise: compatible ink that works without fuss, at a price that makes sense. The color cartridge drain rate is the only real knock, and it’s a minor one for most users. For the price, this is a solid, dependable choice for everyday printing.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.