An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming mechanism configured
to form an image, and a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image
formed on a recording medium. The fixing unit includes a fixing device
having a first endless moving member configured to rotate, and a second
endless moving member configured to rotate to form a nip area together
with the first endless moving member to fix, at the nip area, a toner
image disposed on the recording medium onto the recording medium with
heat and pressure, the second endless moving member including a surface
layer having a universal hardness HU and a maximum nip surface pressure P
each within a predetermined range.