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Looking for the right multifunction printer for your office can be an overwhelming task due to the number of brands on the market and the research it requires.
There’s a lot of tedious information that, if you’re not in the printing industry, can be difficult to comprehend, and might cause you to make a costly purchase that doesn’t perfectly meet your printing needs.
Being a copier/printer vendor for 35 years has provided us with a vast amount of knowledge and experience when it comes to finding the right machine for a company’s office productivity goals.
To help you get a feel for what different printer brands have to offer, we’re going to use our industry expertise to compare two similarly sized color multifunction printers, the Xerox AltaLink C8135 and the Canon iR C5535i III.
We’ll compare their basic printing features and choose which one has the edge in the print, copy, scan and fax categories that form the fundamental functions of a printer. Then we will outline the costs of each model and assess which machine will be a better fit for you.
To establish complete transparency, we sell Xerox products specifically, which you might suspect makes us prone to bias and favoritism.
But that’s not what we’re about. The purpose of this article is to accurately and objectively compare two separate devices to inform you of the different options on the market.
We know Xerox is not for everyone, and the last thing we want to do is engage in sales-speak and go on and on about all the ways our product is better than our competitors.
We take pride in creating genuine content that is both informative and forthcoming to help in your printer-buying journey, no matter where it ends up.
Comparing the Printers’ Basic Stats
First things first, let's compare the printers' basic stats and specifications, which include the simple performative features of each machine, such as print speed and resolution.
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Stats
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Print Speed: 35 pages per minute
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Print Resolution: 1200 x 2400 dpi
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Copy Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
Xerox AltaLink C8135 First Page-Out Time Copying (Black-and-White): 4.5 seconds
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Base Model Weight: 353 pounds
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Domestic Release Date: July 2020
Xerox AltaLink C8135 Standard Retail Price (SRP): $17,900
Canon iR C5535i III Stats
Canon iR C5535i Print Speed: 35 pages per minute
Canon iR C5535i Print Resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
Canon iR C5535i Copy Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
Canon iR C5535i First Page-Out Time Copying (Black-and-White): 4.9 seconds
Canon iR C5535i Base Model Weight: 311 pounds
Canon iR C5535i Domestic Release Date: February 2019 (manufacturing discontinued)
Canon iR C5535i SRP: $16,500
Xerox AltaLink C8135 (Photo via SHI):
Canon iR C5535i III (Photo via Canon):
Which Printer Offers Better Printing?
Let’s go over the printing function and see how these printer models compare on key printing features:
Xerox AltaLink C8135
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Print resolution of 1200 X 2400 dpi.
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Allows you to print directly from your phone and to cloud-based services through Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive.
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Contains features such as Secure Print with Timed Deletion, Saved Job Scaling, Delay Print and Imaging Security.
Canon iR C5535i III
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Print resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi
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Allows you to directly print from a USB port, an advanced box, a remote user interface or the internet.
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Contains features such as Forced Hold Printing, Toner Reduction, Suspend Job Timeout and Subset Finishing (PS only)
And the Winner Is?
Because the AltaLink C8135 has more printing features, a higher print resolution and easier cloud and mobile connectivity capabilities, it gets the nod in the printing category over its competitor at Canon.
Winner: AltaLink C8135.
Which Printer Offers Better Copying?
Now, let’s look at the copying function of the multifunction printers and see which model comes out on top.
Xerox AltaLink C8135
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Copy resolution of 600 x 600 dpi.
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Make image alterations with the Image Quality Adjustment, Image Shift and Invert Image features.
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Other features include Duplex Booklet Creation, Touchless Workflow Accelerators, Bates Stamping and Auto Paper Select.
Canon iR C5535i III
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Copy resolution of 600 x 600 dpi.
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Basic copy features include Preset Reduction/Enlargement Ratios by Area, Density Adjustments and Finishing options.
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Special copy features include Booklet Copying, Page Numbering, Repeat Images and Job Done Notice.
And the Winner Is?
Both models contain the same copy resolution and the AltaLink C8135 has a quicker first-copy-out-time. However, Canon’s C5535i III comes with more special features that can enhance the copying function, which gives them the edge in this category.
Winner: Canon C5535i III.
Which Printer Offers Better Scanning?
Let’s go through the third basic printing function, scanning, to see how these particular Xerox and Canon devices compare.
Xerox AltaLink C8135
There are multiple scanning destinations available for the AltaLink C8135, including Email, FTP, SMB, HTTP, SFTP, HTTPS, and more. Additional features include:
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Embedded Optical Character Recognition (OCR) converts scanned images into PDFs with search functions that can recognize all text
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Direct scan to repositories such as SFTP and HTTPS without any additional software needed.
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Preview function allows for the ability to zoom or add additional images.
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A “Scan To” option within the main screen that supports uploading to Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive without any third-party app solutions.
Canon iR C5535i III
The Canon C5535i III also has multiple scanning destinations, including Email, SMB, FTP, Mobile and WebDAV (HTTP). Additional features include:
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Embedded OCR allows users to select OOXML formats that can be used for Word or PowerPoint.
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Preview function allows deletion of images, zooming, and moving/switching an image’s position in the file.
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Scan to mobile devices and cloud-based services through third-party extensions.
And the Winner Is?
Both models include numerous scanning destinations and features, but because of the AltaLink C8135 model’s ability to directly scan to repositories and cloud-based services, it narrowly defeats Canon’s C5535i III model in the scanning category.
Winner: AltaLink C8135.
Which Printer Offers Better Faxing?
The final basic category to go over with the two models is faxing. Below are some of the features associated with the AltaLink C8135 and Canon C8135i III.
Xerox AltaLink C8135
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Build a Fax Job feature lets you fax an assorted group of originals and customize the settings for each one.
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The Internet Fax feature allows you to scan a document at the printer’s control panel and send them to an email address.
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Access to optional fax features such as direct fax, fax forward to email and walk-up fax or any optional fax applications found in the Xerox App Gallery.
Canon iR C5535i III
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Comes with a fax memory of up to 30,000 pages and allows you to send a fax to a maximum of 256 addresses.
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Allows you to set a maximum of 200 addresses to speed dial and 199 to group dials/destinations.
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Contains features such as Density for Scanning, Erase Frame, Job Done Notice and Detect Feeder Multi Sheet Feed.
And the Winner Is?
Both machines fax at similar efficiency levels and the Canon C8135i III mode has more faxing features by a considerable margin. However, the AltaLink C8135 has more fax-specific applications that are easier to navigate through on the user interface.
Because of the fax applications and easier navigation, the AltaLink C8135 wins out over the features of the Canon C8135i III.
Winner: AltaLink C8135
Difference in Printer Cost
Now that we’ve gone over how the two models compare to each other in the basic printing functions, let’s go over cost and what you can expect to pay if you decide to purchase one of these printers.
Cost can be a little complicated to predict, mostly because prices can fluctuate a lot depending on certain things. Adding accessories and upgrades to your printer and opting into a service contract will increase the total cost of the machine.
Without including any form of service agreements or upgrades, the standard retail price for the Canon C5535i III is $16,500 and the retail price for the Xerox AltaLink C8135 is $17,900.
For more insight into printer pricing and costs, read the blogs below:
Which Printer Is Right for You?
Both the Xerox AltaLink C8135 and Canon C5535i III are solid models capable of accomplishing the basic printing functions at a high level while also providing advanced features like a tablet interface that can be customized to your preferences.
The printers also come with strong security features, and both Xerox and Canon partner with external security companies, like McAfee, which further enhances document security and reiterates their commitment to providing safe and secure products.
If you prefer having a machine that prints at a higher resolution and has easier cloud and mobile connectivity, then Xerox’s AltaLink C8135 would be a better fit for you.
If you desire a machine that has extensive options for color imaging and contains more copying and faxing features, then the Canon C5535i III would be the better fit.
Both models contain unique features beyond the basics, including Canon’s MY ADVANCE feature and Xerox’s ConnectKey technology, which should be considered when purchasing one of these printers.
Reading comparison articles between two businesses or products can help contribute to finding the right company to make a purchasing decision with. If you’d like to read more comparison articles, check out our other comparison blogs:
Need Help Finding the Right Printer?
The two models we went over today, the Xerox AltaLink C8135 and Canon iR C5535i III, are both quality machines made by reputable companies that can fit specific printing needs and goals.
This guide will help provide you with some basics to consider in your research process, but in order to make the best decision for your company, think about your budget, what you require in a multifunction machine and what features would benefit your business the most.
At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas, we not only want to share our industry knowledge to help guide you to your ideal machine, but also equip you with the information you need to know when vetting out potential printing options, so you don’t make a costly mistake.
If you have any additional questions or need help understanding which printer will best fit your needs, reach out to us and an experienced business consultant will be happy to assist you.
