A color image recording apparatus capable of detachably accommodating an interchangeable process cartridge incorporating plural kinds of developing devices. A plurality of kinds of interchangeable process cartridges are provided differing in the kind of developing devices incorporated therein, and each of such process cartridges has a predetermined operation mode corresponding to the kind of developing devices incorporated therein. Each of the plural kinds of process cartridges is adapted to be associated with a card-shaped memory storing data representing the predetermined operation mode. In the apparatus is provided an electric connection for forming an electrical circuit between the card-shaped memory associated with the accommodated process cartridge and the control device. The control device receives data from the card-shaped memory through the electric connection, and based thereon performs the predetermined operation mode of the accommodated process cartridge.