Canon sweeps 2026 print awards for imageFORCE, uniFLOW

Canon has received multiple 2026 awards from Keypoint Intelligence for its office print hardware and cloud print management software, including an A3 Line of the Year honour for its imageFORCE multifunction printer range and a Pick Award for uniFLOW Online.

Keypoint Intelligence, which runs lab-based tests and market research in the office equipment sector, awarded Canon the BLI 2026 A3 Line of the Year Award. The group also named uniFLOW Online as an Outstanding Cloud Output Management Solution, marking the eighth consecutive year the platform has received a Pick Award in that category.

The A3 Line of the Year Award is presented to a single vendor based on hands-on testing across an A3 multifunction printer line-up. The award assesses overall performance along with factors such as ease of use, features and value across a portfolio.

Keypoint Intelligence highlighted several elements of Canon's imageFORCE range. These included high-definition OLED exposure technology and a unified user interface. The testing organisation also pointed to the range's security approach, which Canon frames around zero-trust policies.

The imageFORCE range sits in Canon's business print portfolio and targets workplace print, scan and document workflows. Canon has positioned the series around imaging quality, device management and security controls that reflect changes in how organisations run office infrastructure across sites.

Software recognition

Canon's uniFLOW Online also secured a BLI 2026 Pick Award. Keypoint Intelligence cited features including secure pull printing, multi-factor authentication, cost tracking, mobile printing and centralised cloud administration.

Cloud print management products have gained prominence as organisations spread print fleets across headquarters, satellite offices and employee home set-ups. They also reflect the shift towards managing devices and user access through central policies rather than local printer-by-printer configuration.

Keypoint Intelligence noted uniFLOW Online's security functions. These included end-to-end encryption and audit redaction, alongside authentication and pull-print controls intended to reduce uncollected documents on shared devices.

The testing organisation also drew attention to centralised administration features, including Remote Device Access. That approach can reduce the need for on-site visits for routine configuration and troubleshooting, particularly in mixed office and remote environments.

Additional Pick Awards

Alongside the headline A3 Line of the Year recognition, Keypoint Intelligence issued further model-level awards across Canon's A3 and A4 ranges. The imageFORCE 6170, C5140 and C5150 A3 devices received 2026 A3 Pick Awards.

On the A4 side, the imageFORCE C1333 Series and the i-SENSYS X C1538iF II received 2026 A4 Pick Awards. Canon markets the i-SENSYS line as part of its smaller format office print offering, while imageFORCE spans both A3 and A4 segments.

The spread of awards across A3 and A4 devices reflects how manufacturers address different office requirements. A3 multifunction printers often anchor shared departmental printing, while A4 devices are widely deployed for individual teams and smaller spaces.

Canon has previously won the A3 Line of the Year award multiple times. The latest result brings its total to 13 wins, which Canon said is more than any other manufacturer in the multifunction printer category.

In a statement, Canon linked the recognition to workplace pressures around productivity, security and user experience across IT systems that employees use day-to-day.

"Businesses today face numerous challenges, whilst striving to transform and innovate. They need to achieve sustainable growth, drive secure productivity and equip employees with IT solutions which are accessible, deliver a strong user experience and help them perform their role. uniFLOW Online and imageFORCE empower our customers to achieve these goals, and we're proud that both technology solutions have been honoured with prestigious Keypoint Intelligence BLI 2026 Awards. This recognition highlights our market leadership, our ongoing commitment to enhancing the performance of innovative technologies, and the added value that our comprehensive portfolio of products and services delivers to customers and partners," said Khalid Aziz, Marketing Director, Digital Printing & Solutions, Canon UK & Ireland.

Canon said imageFORCE and uniFLOW Online work together across its wider print device portfolio, with cloud management features aligned with organisations that maintain shared office print infrastructure alongside flexible working patterns.