★ Article 093 · Canon C1.4 · Reference ★

How to decode any Canon copier model number such as C3520 DX i or F

Canon model designations follow a documented convention that encodes chassis tier, speed bracket, generation, and feature variants into roughly seven characters. The convention applies across the imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX line and adapts for imageCLASS and PIXMA variants.

Anatomy of a typical model number

C3520i

Read left to right · five segments

Color tier

Generation

Speed bracket

Sub-tier

Feature suffix

The leading letter · color or monochrome

Canon prefixes color chassis with the letter C. Monochrome chassis omit the prefix and start directly with the numeric code. The letter appears immediately after the family designation. The convention applies consistently across the imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX line.

C3520i color · 3520i monochrome at the same speed bracket

First digit · generation marker

The first digit indicates the chassis generation within the current series. Higher numbers reflect newer generations within the lineup. The 3 designates the current third-generation DX chassis. Earlier generations carried lower numbers and the next refresh will move to 4.

C3520i third generation · earlier C2520i second generation

Second digit · speed bracket

The second digit encodes the speed bracket. Numbers from 2 through 9 indicate increasing print speed. The 5 marks a mid-bracket chassis at roughly 50 pages per minute on color models. Higher digits indicate faster speed brackets.

2 = ~25 PPM · 5 = ~50 PPM · 8 = ~80 PPM

Last two digits · sub-tier within bracket

The trailing two digits position the chassis within its speed bracket. The number reflects relative tier rather than absolute specifications. The 20 in C3520i indicates a lower sub-tier than the 70 in C3570i within the same speed bracket and generation.

C3520i is the 20-tier · C3570i is the 70-tier · same speed and generation

i / F / DX

Suffix letters · features and platform

The suffix letters communicate feature variants. The i suffix indicates internet-ready chassis with native cloud connectors. The F suffix indicates fax capability included as standard. The DX prefix designates the Digital eXperience platform tier introduced in 2020. Combinations appear in formal model names like iR-ADV DX C3520i.

i = internet ready · F = fax included · DX = Digital eXperience generation

Worked examples across the lineup

C257iF

Color · second generation · 2-bracket · 57 sub-tier · internet-ready · fax. Entry color desktop chassis at 25 pages per minute with cloud connectors and fax module included.

C5870i

Color · fifth generation tier · 8-bracket · 70 sub-tier · internet-ready. Department-class color chassis at 70 pages per minute. Fax sold separately as optional.

8795i

Monochrome · eighth tier · 7-bracket · 95 sub-tier · internet-ready. Upper office monochrome chassis at 95 pages per minute. No color prefix because monochrome.

DX C3826i

Digital eXperience · color · third generation · 8-bracket · 26 sub-tier · internet-ready. The DX prefix appears separately to mark the platform generation that introduced uniFLOW Online and Document Hashing as standard.

C7780i

Color · seventh generation tier · 7-bracket · 80 sub-tier · internet-ready. Upper office color chassis at 80 pages per minute. Sits at the boundary between department and production-leaning brackets.

Differences in the imageCLASS and PIXMA conventions

imageCLASS

The imageCLASS line uses MF prefix for multifunction units. The numeric code follows the same speed and feature logic as imageRUNNER but with shorter overall length. MF752Cdw reads as multifunction · 7-bracket · 52 sub-tier · color · duplex · wireless.

PIXMA

The PIXMA line uses TS, TR, or G prefix depending on segment. The convention diverges from imageRUNNER and imageCLASS because the inkjet line targets consumer rather than office markets. TR8620a reads as TR series · 8-bracket · 620 sub-tier · refresh marker.

The decoding convention helps when comparing chassis across the lineup or when reading service documentation that references multiple model numbers. The companion piece on how to choose between the three Canon lines uses these decoded designations across its line comparison framework.