Canon PIXMA MG3650 — Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use

The Canon PIXMA MG3650 is a small, affordable all-in-one inkjet aimed at home offices, micro-businesses and branch environments that need decent colour photo output plus everyday print/scan/copy capability in a compact package. It sits above ultra-cheap consumer printers by offering automatic duplexing, Wi-Fi and higher advertised photo resolution, but it still trades off enterprise features (fleet management, high yields, ADFs) for a low purchase price and small footprint. Below is a deep, practical look at the device’s hardware and software, real-world performance, running costs and the business contexts where it makes sense — plus deployment tips and a final recommendation.

Quick technical snapshot (the numbers that matter)

• Functions: Print, copy, scan, cloud link (wireless). 

• Print resolution: Up to 4,800 × 1,200 dpi (colour, enhanced). 

• Print speed (ISO/ESAT): ≈ 9.9 ipm (mono) / ≈ 5.7 ipm (colour).

• Scanner (optical): Up to 1,200 × 2,400 dpi (CIS flatbed). 

• ADF: No automatic document feeder (flatbed only).

• Duplex: Automatic double-sided printing supported (A4/Letter). 

• Cartridges: Two-cartridge system — PG-540 (Black) and CL-541 (Colour) with XL high-yield options. Cartridge yields: Black std ≈ 180 pages, Black XL ≈ 600 pages, Colour std ≈ 180 pages, Colour XL ≈ 400 pages (manufacturer/sample yields).

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), USB, Canon PRINT app, AirPrint and cloud print support (PIXMA Cloud Link).

Those highlights capture the MG3650’s intent: a compact wireless all-in-one that’s photo-capable and reasonably quick for everyday documents, but not designed to be a heavy-duty office workhorse.

Design and ergonomics — small footprint, straightforward controls

Physically the MG3650 is built to sit on a desk or a small side table. It has a simple front cassette for plain paper and a top slot for borderless/photo feeding. The control surface is minimal — a small colour display and intuitive buttons for copy/scan tasks — so most users will manage jobs from a PC, tablet or phone via Canon’s mobile app. Access to cartridges and paper paths is front-facing and user-friendly, which keeps basic maintenance (ink swaps, jam clearing) quick and low-friction. 

Canon positions the MG3650 as part of the MG3600 family; within that family the MG3650 balances price and features — automatic duplexing and cloud connectivity where many cheaper models don’t include them.

Print engine & image quality — what to expect

Text and office documents

For everyday business printing (letters, invoices, internal reports) the MG3650 produces clean, legible results. While inkjets generally cannot match the highest-contrast sharpness of lasers for text-only documents, Canon’s FINE head and optimized black ink give clear fonts at standard sizes, and automatic duplexing helps reduce paper costs for multi-page documents. The ISO/ESAT mono speed — just under 10 ipm — makes it serviceable for low-to-moderate printing loads.

Colour graphics and photos

Where the MG3650 really differentiates itself from monochrome office lasers is photo and colour output. The advertised 4,800 × 1,200 dpi (enhanced) resolution and small droplet sizes produce smooth gradients and detailed 10×15 cm borderless photos in about 44 seconds under Canon’s test conditions. That capability is useful for small studios, boutique shops and customer-facing businesses that occasionally produce client photos, flyers, or product shots in-house. Expect good colour vibrancy for casual marketing pieces, though colour-critical proofing for print-shop quality still requires dedicated proofing devices and RIP workflows.

Scanning & capture — flatbed fidelity, but no ADF

The MG3650 includes a flatbed scanner rated to 1,200 × 2,400 dpi optical resolution. That makes it suitable for scanning single documents, contracts and photographs for archiving or digital distribution. However — important for business buyers — the MG3650 does not include an automatic document feeder (ADF). That means multi-page scanning is manual and therefore slower for workflows that require digitising batches of pages (invoicing, records intake). If you need routine multi-page scanning, look for a model with an ADF or a dedicated sheet-fed scanner.

Connectivity, mobile and cloud features

The MG3650 shines at convenience: built-in Wi-Fi (including access point mode), Canon’s PRINT app, AirPrint and PIXMA Cloud Link let users print and scan from smartphones and tablets without complicated driver installs. For hybrid or BYOD environments this reduces friction and support overhead. The printer’s web admin pages allow basic configuration for network installs, but the MG3650 lacks enterprise-grade remote management features (no CentreWare-class telemetry or advanced accounting built in). For small businesses that rely on simple, driverless printing from mobile devices and laptops, the connectivity story is a big plus.

Real-world performance — daily throughput and reliability

In everyday small-office use you can expect:

• Responsive short-job behavior: Quick first-page returns for single-page jobs, making it feel snappy for reception desks or individual desks. 

• Moderate sustained throughput: The listed ISO speeds represent simple test conditions; mixed documents with images or borderless photos will print slower due to raster and ink layering.

• Reliability within intended duty cycle: The MG3650 is designed for light-to-moderate monthly volumes. Pushing heavy daily runs will increase cleaning cycles and consumable replacement frequency. Canon publishes optional XL cartridges to lower per-page cost and extend time between changes. 

For single users or micro teams (1–4 people) with balanced colour/photo needs, the MG3650 is typically dependable; for larger teams or heavy print days, you’ll want a device with higher monthly duty ratings and larger input/output capacity.

Consumables and running costs — the tradeoffs

The MG3650 uses a two-cartridge FINE system (separate black + tri-colour). That design keeps upfront consumable cost low and lets you change only the colour that runs out — better than single-cartridge systems that force replacement of combined packs. Canon offers XL options (PG-540XL / CL-541XL) which substantially reduce per-page cost: for example, Canon lists Black XL yields around 600 pages and Colour XL around 400 pages versus ~180 pages for standard cartridges — though real-world yields vary with job mix.

Inkjet per-page colour costs typically exceed those of colour laser printers for heavy monochrome/text workloads, so consider your monthly mix:

• If you print lots of black text pages, a mono laser often becomes cheaper per page.

• If you need occasional colour photos or small-run flyers, the MG3650’s convenience and photo quality can justify the higher per-page cost.

Third-party inks are widely available and cheaper, but OEM cartridges give more predictable colour and avoid warranty/support complications.

Best business use-cases — where the MG3650 fits best

• Home offices and freelancers who need a single device for occasional colour materials, photo prints and everyday documents.

• Boutiques, salons and small retail that print small runs of promotional flyers, product photos or receipts and want quick in-house turnaround.

• Micro-studios and photographers who need fast 10×15 cm borderless prints for proofs or customer handouts (not press-grade proofing).

• Small reception or admin desks where occasional colour output and duplexing matter but scanning is typically single-page.

Not a great fit for:

• Workgroups that scan many multi-page documents daily (no ADF).

• Offices that print thousands of monochrome pages monthly (consider a mono laser).

• Organizations that need centralized fleet accounting, secure print release or enterprise management out of the box.

Deployment tips & practical advice

1. Buy XL cartridges when monthly volume justifies them — they reduce your long-term per-page cost. 

2. Set driver defaults to duplex to save paper and present a greener policy. turn0search1

3. Use the Canon PRINT app for mobile users to simplify BYOD printing and avoid driver installs. turn0search6

4. Keep a spare black cartridge on hand for small teams to avoid mid-day interruptions.

5. If you need batch scanning, pair the MG3650 with a small sheet-fed scanner or choose a PIXMA model with an ADF — it will save time in the long run.

Final verdict

The Canon PIXMA MG3650 is a thoughtful, value-oriented all-in-one for micro businesses and home offices that want reliable colour and photo capability plus modern wireless convenience. It’s small, easy to run and produces attractive borderless photos and colour collateral while remaining entirely serviceable for everyday mono text. The tradeoffs are clear — limited input capacity, no ADF and higher per-page costs for heavy mono workloads — but for its target buyer the MG3650 delivers strong practical value: a single device that handles most small-office needs without the footprint or price tag of a business MFP. If your workflow leans heavier toward multi-page scanning or high-volume mono printing, consider stepping up to a model with an ADF or a small office laser; if you value compactness, mobile printing and occasional high-quality photos, the MG3650 is an excellent budget choice. 

Sources & further reading

Canon product pages and specifications for the PIXMA MG3650 series; official datasheets and retail spec sheets used to verify speeds, resolution and cartridge yields.