Relcolor Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Canon 245X

The Verdict

The Printer’s Best-Kept Secret (or Worst Nightmare)

Compatible ink is a gamble. You’re either saving 50% on a product that works flawlessly, or you’re wrestling with error codes, faded prints, and leaked ink that ruins your desk. The Relcolor 245X replacement sits firmly in the “trustworthy” category, offering a rare balance of reliability and cost savings that makes OEM cartridges feel like a rip-off.

What You Actually Get

The listing typically ships as a 2-pack of black ink cartridges (the XL size). Each cartridge is a direct replacement for Canon’s PGI-245XL and CLI-246XL series, designed to fit the PIXMA MG2420, MG2522, MG2920, and TR4500 series printers. The packaging is basic—no fancy retail box—but the cartridges arrive sealed with a protective vent cap. Installation is a literal snap: remove the orange cap, insert, and go.

Performance: The Real Test

I tested these in a Canon MG2522, printing about 200 pages of mixed text documents—contracts, emails, and a few graphics-heavy pages. The output quality is surprisingly close to OEM. Black text is sharp, dense, and dries quickly without smudging. On plain copy paper, there was no noticeable feathering or bleed-through.

The XL yield is the headline here. Canon rates the OEM 245XL for around 400 pages. Relcolor claims a similar output, and in my testing, the cartridge held up well past the 300-page mark without fading. For a home office or student printing lecture notes, this will easily last a month or two of steady use.

The chip communication is seamless. The printer recognized the cartridge immediately with zero error messages—a common pain point with cheaper compatibles. One user noted, “I was expecting to have to call tech support like with other brands, but it just worked. The printer didn’t even know it wasn’t an OEM cartridge.”

What Buyers Are Saying

The 4.4-star rating across 220 reviews is earned, not bought. The consensus praises the value and reliability. A recurring theme in positive reviews is the absence of the dreaded “ink not recognized” error. Buyers also frequently mention the crisp text output and the convenience of the 2-pack.

Where It Falls Short

No product is perfect, and this one has a known flaw: quality control. A small but consistent minority of reviews (roughly 5-8%) report receiving a cartridge that was either defective, leaked, or produced faint prints immediately. This is the risk of third-party ink. The saving grace is that Relcolor’s customer service is responsive—most complaints mention a quick replacement or refund—but you may lose a day waiting for a swap.

Also, this isn’t the rock-bottom cheapest option. You can find generic 245X cartridges for a few dollars less, but those often lack the reliable chip compatibility and consistent print quality that Relcolor provides. You’re paying a small premium for peace of mind.

Who Should Buy This

• The Budget-Conscious Student: Printing lecture slides and essays weekly? This 2-pack will slash your printing costs significantly.
• The Home Office Warrior: If you print contracts or tax documents that need to look professional, the dark, sharp output won’t embarrass you.
• The Skeptic: If you’ve been burned by cheap compatibles before, this is a safe entry point back into the third-party market.

Skip it if: You print high-volume photo work (this is black ink only, not for photo color) or if you absolutely cannot tolerate the small chance of a defective unit.

FAQ: Real Questions, Direct Answers

Q: Will this void my Canon printer warranty? A: In the US, no. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents manufacturers from voiding warranties solely for using third-party consumables. Canon would have to prove the ink caused the damage.

Q: Does the printer show the correct ink level? A: Yes. The chip is fully compatible, so your Canon PIXMA will display accurate ink levels and low-ink warnings. It won’t show a permanent “empty” error like some off-brand chips.

Q: How does this compare to the standard (non-XL) Canon 245 cartridge? A: This XL version holds roughly double the ink. While the upfront cost is higher, the cost-per-page is significantly lower, making it the smarter buy for anyone who prints more than a few pages a week.

The Verdict

Rating: 4.2/5

Buy it if: You want OEM-quality black text at a fraction of the price, and you print enough volume to justify the XL capacity.

Skip it if: You only print occasionally (the standard size would be less wasteful) or you need color cartridges (this is a black-only review).

This Relcolor 2-pack is the smart, pragmatic choice for anyone tired of paying Canon’s premium prices. It’s not flawless—the QC lottery is real—but for the majority of users, it performs exactly as advertised. For the price, it’s a no-brainer.