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Introduction

Canon has just launched the new ImageFORCE 5100C series of Colour SRA3 multi-function printers.

We pit their top of the range 70 page per minute ImageFORCE C5170 against the top of the range Xerox AltaLink C8270. This is a comprehensive review, we’ll give you a complete comparison, best prices, service costs, all the stats, everything you need to know.

This review will also help you if you’re looking to buy or rent any of the following Canon office multi-Function printers;

Canon ImageFORCE C5140

Canon ImageFORCE C5150

Canon ImageFORCE C5160

You can download the Canon ImageFORCE Brochure HERE

The review will also help if you are looking to buy or rent any of the following Xerox AltaLink office Multi-Function Printers;

Xerox AltaLink C8230

Xerox AltaLink C8235

Xerox AltaLink C8245

Xerox AltaLink C8255

You can download the Xerox AltaLink C8200 Series brochure HERE

Key hardware and software differences

Included Hardware and Software

Trying to find out detailed specifications for the Canon is a lot easier than with most other manufacturers. It is clear Canon have done a great job with the ImageFORCE 5100 Series, and they’re keen to shout about their accomplishment.

The key difference that we find with almost all manufacturers, including Canon, is that Xerox include everything in their basic specifications. In this review of the Canon ImageFORCE C5170C, we have identified the minimum key components that need to be added to the Canon ImageFORCE C5170 to bring it to an operational standard.

The following three items highlighted in Red and Bold are chargeable extras on the Canon ImageFORCE C5170.

Paper Cassettes / Cabinet

The Xerox AltaLink C8270V has two upper 520 sheet SRA3 drawers and two lower high capacity A4 drawers (867 & 1,133) giving a total paper capacity, including the bypass, of 3,140 sheets. All trays can handle paper up to 300GSM weight.

The Canon ImageFORCE C5170 comes with a plain cabinet, an upper A4 only tray with 550 sheets capacity and a 550 sheet A3 drawer below that. The bypass can take 100 sheets up to SRA3. Giving a measly total standard paper capacity of just 1,200 sheets.

To bring the Canon ImageFORCE C5170 to a near equivalent capacity to the Xerox AltaLink C8270, you will need to add the High-Capacity Cassette Feeding Unit-F1. This unit holds 2,450 sheets of A4 paper (52 – 300GSM).

Print Separation Tray

There is an inner job separation tray that is standard on the AltaLink. The tray can be used to separate print jobs from copy jobs, ensuring users do not inadvertently remove a colleagues printouts. This is an extra cost item on the Canon (M1 inner 2 way tray).

Secure Hard Drive

The Xerox AltaLink Hard drive is encrypted and has a complete and highly specified set of security tools as standard. Surprisingly, a secure hard drive (SSD-A1) is an optional extra on the Canon ImageFORCE C5170.

Software integrations

Apps

The Xerox AltaLink C8270 comes with quite a lot of cloud software integrations and apps out of the box that are included as standard. You can find out more about the Xerox App Gallery HERE. Whilst some Xerox apps are totally free, some are credit based and these will expire at some point. You can buy more credits without committing to a subscription. Xerox has a customer facing portal where end users can purchase credits or apps directly. Xerox has an open software platform; partners can create apps for customers according to a customer’s specific needs. Customers can link their own apps to Xerox’s connector.

Some of the apps available to download to your Xerox Multi-Function printer include Google Drive, Dropbox, DocuSign etc.

Canon does have some cloud services integrations and apps, but most of these are chargeable and appear to be available by request from Canon; they do not appear to have a customer facing App store. Canon does not offer an app building, app linking or customisation service.

Cloud Print and integration

Xerox are named a Leader in Quocirca’s Cloud Print Services 2024 Landscape Report.

Xerox have taken a big step in the direction of cloud printing and have deeply integrated the AltaLink with Microsoft’s Universal Print offering, meaning that you do not need to use Microsoft’s Universal Print Connecter.

Canon list “Microsoft Cloud Printing” on the C5170 brochure, but do not state if this is Microsoft Universal Print (MUP), nor how it connects. If it is MUP, you will need to use Microsoft’s Universal Print Connecter, which may introduce limitations on functionality.

The Xerox AltaLink C8200 series has Cloud Identity Provider (IdP) Integration, including Active Directory, Ping Identity, Okta. Canon offer IDP integration.

With Xerox you can scan to and print from Dropbox / 365 / OneDrive / Box / Google Drive / SharePoint and many other cloud print services. There are copious apps in the Xerox App Gallery and partners have access to create customised apps. Scriptum can connect your Xerox MFP to most cloud and hosted solutions. For example, Scriptum have completed integrations with SOS legal, as well as other industry specific software solutions.

Canon lists its integrations as OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive and Box.

Security

Xerox has the highest rating of all manufacturers in the Quocirca’s Global Print Security Landscape 2024 Report. Xerox are named a “Leader”. https://www.xerox.com/en-us/services/managed-print-services/quocirca-security-report – In the same report Canon have also been rated as a leader, but behind HP and Xerox.

Canon has produced a brochure “Information Security with Canon” as well as lots of webspace asking you to submit your information for a security audit. However, what’s lacking is what printers have what security protocols; there is no definitive list or statement from Canon.

The Xerox AltaLink C8270 has certification for Common Criteria Security  (ISO/IEC 15408). The Canon C5170 is awaiting approval.

Monthly Print Capability

Canon do not state a recommended average monthly print volume on the ImageFORCE C5170. Its predecessor, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5870i, was rated for 30,000 prints. Xerox state that the AltaLink C8270 is suitable for average monthly print volumes of 40,000 pages.

Basic Specifications

Screen features and access control

The screens on the Xerox AltaLink C8270 and Canon ImageFORCE C5170 start out on an even footing, both have a tilting 10.1 inch screen. The Xerox pulls away thereafter with a much higher level of screen and user customisation and productivity features built in.

Apps and Ai features

Printing Features and Cloud Print Services

Both the Xerox AltaLink C8200 Series and the Canon ImageFORCE C5170 Series do the traditional basics really well. When it comes to modern methods of printing and accessing cloud services Xerox have chosen to include what users are asking for, on the device straight out of the box and free of charge. Canon offers advanced cloud services, but much of this only works if you have a paid subscription to Canon’s Uniflow cloud solution.

Scanning features and cloud scanning services

Memory, Hard Drive & Processor capability

The headline specifications are evenly matched. Whilst the hard drive capacities are the same, Xerox uses the latest NV RAM chip, which is up to 5 times faster than an SSD Drive, as Canon do not state the type of SSD we can only assume it’s a SATA. The Xerox AltaLink Hard drive is encrypted and has a complete and highly specified set of security tools as standard. Surprisingly, Canon does not include a secure hard drive as standard on the ImageFORCE C5170. A secure hard drive (SSD-A1) is an optional extra.

Paper Capacities & Options

As with the Xerox AltaLink C8200 series the Canon can be equipped with an optional A4 Hi-Capacity side Feeder. Canon offers the Paper Deck Unit-F2, this unit holds 2,700 sheets with a maximum weight of 256GSM, which is slightly below the spec of Xerox’s unit that holds 3,000 sheets up to 300GSM.

The AltaLink C8200 Series can auto-duplex any size paper from any tray and up to 300GSM. The Canon Imageforce only takes SRA3 paper through the bypass, and duplex’s a maximum of 256GSM.

Canon takes Top Trump in the total paper capacity count at 6,350 versus Xerox at 6,140

The Xerox AltaLink will duplex onto 300GSM SRA3, the Canon can only duplex on A3 up to 256GSM

Weight & Dimensions

Security and Access Control

Xerox is very open and transparent in respect of their security offering. They also produce an exceptionally detailed security document specifically for the AltaLink C8200 series.

You can download the full Xerox Security Guide specific to the AltaLink C8200 Series HERE

Canon also produce a comprehensive guide to their security offering, even though they don’t make it clear up front that a lot of their security requires a subscription to UniFLOW and / or other chargeable options.

You can download Canon’s “Information Security” brochure HERE

Toner capacities and supplies lifespan

Toner capacities may not be the top of users considerations when it comes to choosing an office duty Multi-Function Printer. Both machines have really high toner capacity, so that means you’ll be changing toners a lot less frequently when compared to most other machines. You’ll need to hold fewer drums with Xerox, as the drums have a universal fit across CMYK.

Environmental and power consumption

Optional Extras

Canon and Xerox have a vast selection of accessories. In our experience, users rarely buy any of these 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Fiery Print Controller Options

For the uninitiated, a Fiery is best described as a print driver / print engine on steroids. It’s not only going to get you highly accurate colour matching, it handles those large complex files with ease. The Xerox AltaLink C8270 and Canon ImageFORCE C5170 can both be fitted with a Fiery Controller.

If you intend to double up your machine as an in-house marketing printer, then Canon has got you covered. The Fiery option is superior to the Xerox offering; Xerox uses the FS-350 platform, whereas Canon uses the later FS-500 platform.

Prices

We found a low price of £8,599 for the Canon C5170 that included a Dual Scan Document Feeder and 2 x 500 sheet pedestal.

The price from Scriptum for the Xerox AltaLink C8270 is £7,037.00 for a comparable machine. You can buy a Xerox AltaLink C8270 HERE 

As important as the cost of the machine is, it’s more important to check the running cost. Over the life of the printer, you will spend at least double the purchase cost of the printer running it, you didn’t mis-read that. The running cost of the printer will be your biggest outlay, easily outstripping the initial purchase cost, or the monthly rental. So, you should do your due diligence and make sure that you get complete transparency from a supplier as to what they include, what’s extra, and what the tie-in to the contract involves.

Running costs on the AltaLink C8200 Series start from as low as 2.9p per colour print.

Conclusion

This is a battle between the two top of class heavyweights. The Xerox AltaLink C82701 and the Canon ImageFORCE C5170, really are the top of the tree Multi-Function Printers, it doesn’t get much better.

Canon have done a fantastic job with this new ImageFORCE range, they really have. The C5170 has great specifications, a strong set of security tools, excellent image quality, reliability, lots of additional cloud services. With a 4,800 x 2,400 print DPI and the option of the latest FS500 series Fiery, not only is it a colour tour de FORCE, overall it’s a FORCE to be reckoned with. Just trying to cram in the puns here!

Xerox have always included just about everything in the standard offering, the AltaLink C8270 follows that mandate. It slightly upsets the Canon with what’s included as standard. Plus, Xerox has a stronger set of cloud tools, their system is far more open, allowing you to add other manufacturers printers to the Xerox cloud ecosystem. Xerox also comes out Top Trumps in the Security arena, exceeding everything that Canon has to offer, much of which Xerox include for free.

It’s a tough one, we would like a unanimous decision, but we’re going to 2 – 1 to Xerox.

One vote for Canon’ superior colour offering

One vote for Xerox’s stronger security and better cloud connectivity

Second vote for Xerox AltaLink C8270 because of the better value; the Canon C5170 is 22% more expensive.