Canon PGI-525 & CLI-526 Ink: Complete Australian Guide 🖨️
The Canon PIXMA MG5250 and MG6150 were among Canon's most capable home all-in-ones sold in Australia from around 2011–2014 — fast, wireless, duplex, and capable of genuine photo quality thanks to their 5-cartridge ink system. Many are still in daily use.
The 5-cartridge system confuses a lot of people. Noodle had to explain it to Ollie twice (🐾). Here's the full breakdown.
Which Printers Use PGI-525 and CLI-526?
PGI-525/CLI-526 covers Canon's mid-to-premium PIXMA range from the 2011–2015 era:
PIXMA MG series (home all-in-ones):
- MG5150, MG5250, MG5350 — mainstream wireless all-in-ones
- MG6150, MG6250 — mid-premium with touchscreen
- MG8150, MG8250 — premium photo all-in-ones
PIXMA MX series (office all-in-ones):
- MX885 — wireless all-in-one with fax and ADF
PIXMA iP/iX series (print-only):
- iP4850, iP4950 — dedicated inkjet printers
- iX6550 — A3-capable inkjet
Understanding the 5-Cartridge System
This is what distinguishes these printers from basic home inkjets:
| Cartridge | Type | Purpose | |-----------|------|---------| | PGI-525PGBK | Pigment Black | Documents, text — crisp and smudge-resistant | | CLI-526BK | Dye Black | Photo-quality black, smooth gradients | | CLI-526C | Dye Cyan | Colour printing | | CLI-526M | Dye Magenta | Colour printing | | CLI-526Y | Dye Yellow | Colour printing |
Why two black cartridges? Pigment black (PGI-525) is sharp and water-resistant — ideal for text documents. Dye black (CLI-526BK) blends smoothly with colour inks for photo printing. Using both gives the printer the best of both worlds: crisp text and smooth photos.
For document-heavy users, PGI-525PGBK depletes fastest. For photo-heavy users, CLI-526BK and the colours deplete faster.
Page Yield
| Cartridge | Standard Yield | |-----------|---------------| | PGI-525PGBK | ~340 pages | | CLI-526BK | ~2,905 images* | | CLI-526C / CLI-526M / CLI-526Y | ~244 pages each |
*Canon uses a different measurement for CLI-526BK. The ~244 pages per colour cartridge is low by modern standards.
Note: Canon did not release XL versions of PGI-525/CLI-526 in all markets. In Australia, compatible high-yield versions are available from third-party suppliers and deliver significantly more pages.
Cost Per Page: Genuine vs Compatible
Genuine PGI-525/CLI-526 cartridges are becoming harder to find at Australian retail as the range ages. Compatible cartridges are increasingly the practical option:
| Cartridge | Compatible (est.) | |-----------|-------------------| | PGI-525PGBK | ~2.5¢/page | | CLI-526 colour (each) | ~4.0¢/page |
For a household printing ~100 pages/month (mixed documents and occasional photos): ~$50–$80/year on compatible cartridges.
Genuine Availability
Genuine Canon PGI-525 and CLI-526 are no longer carried by all major Australian retailers. Officeworks and Harvey Norman have largely phased them out as the range ages. Compatible cartridges are the most accessible ongoing option and perform well for everyday document and photo printing on these printers.
PGI-525 vs PGI-520 — Don't Mix Up
Canon's earlier generation used PGI-520/CLI-521, which looks similar but fits different printers:
| | PGI-520 / CLI-521 | PGI-525 / CLI-526 | |--|-------------------|-------------------| | Fits | MP540, MP620, MP980, iP3600 | MG5150, MG6150, MX885 | | Interchangeable? | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Check your printer's cartridge bay — the label will confirm which generation you need.
Ollie & Noodle's Verdict
- ✅ 5-cartridge system — pigment black for text, dye black + colours for photos
- ✅ Compatible is the practical choice — genuine availability is declining in AU retail
- ✅ Replace individually — only swap the cartridge that's actually depleted
- ✅ PGI-525 vs PGI-520: check your printer — not interchangeable
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law
Australian Consumer Law and Canon Warranties
Canon Australia cannot void your statutory warranty 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 are mechanical and unrelated to ink brand.
Summary
- ✅ PGI-525PGBK (pigment black) + CLI-526BK/C/M/Y (dye colour) — 5-cartridge system
- ✅ Dual black system: pigment for sharp text, dye black for photo quality
- ✅ Compatible is the practical choice — genuine AU retail availability declining
- ✅ Replace individual cartridges — not the full set
- ✅ Fits: MG5150, MG5250, MG5350, MG6150, MG6250, MG8150, MX885, iP4850, iX6550
- ✅ NOT interchangeable with PGI-520/CLI-521 (earlier PIXMA generation)
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law