August 2024
3D Printers: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of 3D printers rankings posted by key online experts, as of August 2024.
Summary
On 19 Aug 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 91 3D printer endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
65 3D printers were endorsed in total, only 16 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 19 Aug 2024, Bambu Lab P1S takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed 3D printer with 4 expert endorsements. 3 experts out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 3D printer' this month.
Brand breakdown
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Creality 3D: 9 3D printers
(#1 is Creality Ender 3 V3 SE)
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Anycubic: 9 3D printers
(#1 is Anycubic Photon Mono 2)
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Elegoo: 5 3D printers
(#1 is Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro)
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Bambu: 4 3D printers
(#1 is Bambu Lab P1S)
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FlashForge: 4 3D printers
(#1 is FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite)
Price breakdown
At a glance - August Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | 3D Printer |
CNET
|
Popular Mechanics
|
Digital Trends
|
PCMag
|
techadvisor
|
Tom's Guide
|
TechRadar
|
All3DP
|
Tom's Hardware
|
Wirecutter
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | Check price |
Bambu Lab P1S
The Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer is highly regarded for its print quality, accuracy, consistency, and ability to handle complex geometries and intricate details, making it a versatile and high-performing printer suitable for a wide range of printing projects.
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3
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-
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-
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-
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1
|
-
|
-
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1
|
1
|
-
|
|
2
|
- | Check price |
Bambu Lab A1 Mini
|
7
|
-
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-
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4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
10
|
1
|
|
3
|
- | Check price |
Bambu Lab A1 Combo
|
1
|
-
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-
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-
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2
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-
|
-
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2
|
-
|
-
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|
4
|
- | $1193 |
Original Prusa MK4
The Original Prusa MK4 3D printer is highly regarded for its exceptional print quality, reliability, and ease of use, making it a top choice for professionals, hobbyists, and educators.
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2
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-
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-
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1
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-
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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5
|
+2 | $219 |
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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2
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4
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2
|
-
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|
6
|
-1 | Check price |
Bambu Lab X1 Carbon
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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8
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2
|
|
7
|
-1 | $200 |
Anycubic Photon Mono 2
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is a highly recommended resin-based 3D printer that offers excellent print quality, a larger build volume, and user-friendly features, making it ideal for printing miniatures and intricate designs.
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8
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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16
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13
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-
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8
|
New * | $300 |
AnkerMake M5C
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-
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-
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-
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2
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-
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-
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6
|
-
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-
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-
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9
|
-1 | $300 |
Anycubic Kobra 2
The Anycubic Kobra 2 3D printer is highly praised for its impressive print quality, user-friendly interface, and range of convenient features, making it a versatile and reliable option for both beginners and experienced users.
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5
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-
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-
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3
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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14
|
-1 | Check price |
Formlabs Form 3 Plus
The Formlabs Form 3+ 3D printer is highly praised for its exceptional print quality, precision, and consistency, making it suitable for a wide range of professional applications.
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-
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-
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-
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6
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-
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3
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-
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-
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-
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-
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|
15
|
- | Check price |
LulzBot Mini 2
The LulzBot Mini 2 is a versatile and reliable 3D printer that produces high-quality prints with a wide range of materials and an easy-to-use interface.
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-
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-
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2
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9
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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|
16
|
New * | $598 |
Creality K1C
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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4
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-
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-
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-
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17
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-1 | $2099 |
MakerBot Replicator+
The MakerBot Replicator+ 3D printer is a reliable and accurate option for professionals who require faster and more precise printing, as well as easier management and monitoring of projects through the powerful software solution.
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-
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6
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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|
18
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-1 | $299 |
Toybox 3D 1-Touch
The Toybox 3D 1-Touch printer is a user-friendly and reliable 3D printer designed for children and beginners, with a simple one-touch interface, access to a large library of printable toys and projects, and compatibility with safe and biodegradable PLA filaments.
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-
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-
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-
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8
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-
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-
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-
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12
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-
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-
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|
19
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-1 | $549 |
SnapMaker Artisan
The SnapMaker Artisan 3-in-1 3D printer is highly praised for its high print quality, large build volume, ease of use, and compatibility with various materials, making it a reliable and versatile option for users in need of precise and high-quality prints.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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11
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16
|
-
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|
20
|
-1 | Check price |
Anycubic Photon Mono M5S
The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is a highly recommended resin 3D printer that offers exceptional print quality, ease of use, and compatibility with various resin materials, making it suitable for users who prioritize high-resolution and detailed prints.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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14
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15
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-
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We ranked Bambu Lab P1S #1 in August 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Bambu Lab P1S as #1.
CNET
Best enclosed 3D Printer
|
Fully enclosed
AMS compatible
Very fast
Great finished product
|
Control screen is unhelpful
|
techadvisor
Best 3D printer for most people
|
Excellent print quality
Automatic colour changing
Fast CoreXY motion system
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Basic non-touchscreen control panel
Filament wastage can be high in multicolour printing
No failed print detection
|
All3DP
Best 3D Printer Under $1,000
|
Enclosed volume with temperature regulation
Fast, high-quality printing & effective cooling
AMS compatible
|
Tom's Hardware
Best 3D Printer Overall
|
Blazing speed
Enclosure for high temperature printing
Simple auto bed leveling
All metal hotend
Optional 4 color AMS
|
Pricey
Mediocre UI
|
We ranked Bambu Lab A1 Mini #2 in August 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Bambu Lab A1 Mini as #1.
CNET
Best budget 3D printer with color
|
The best setup experience
4-color printing on a budget
Good app experience
Surprisingly fast
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No real modification path
AMS Lite is wobbly
Awkward shape and footprint
|
PCMag
Best Multi-Color Budget 3D Printer / Editor's Choice
|
Excellent-quality prints at low cost
Fast standard print speed
Quick assembly
Optional four-color print capability via reasonably priced accessory
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Small print bed
Cramped touch-screen control panel
Printing with multiple colors results in filament waste
|
All3DP
BEST BEGINNER 3D PRINTER
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Fast, with self-calibrating smarts
High-uniformity prints
Beginner-friendly experience
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Tom's Hardware
Best Compact 3D Printer
|
Speed
Quick change nozzle
Direct Drive
Auto bed leveling
Inexpensive AMS (optional)
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AMS takes up a lot of space
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Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend 3D printers.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of 3D printers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for August 2024 ranking
CNET
Popular Mechanics
Digital Trends
PCMag
techadvisor
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
All3DP
Tom's Hardware
Wirecutter
We ranked Bambu Lab A1 Combo #3 in August 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Bambu Lab A1 Combo as #1.
CNET
Best overall 3D Printer
|
Setup is flawless
App is excellent
Amazing Quality
Well designed
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Filament waste could be an issue
The “poop flinger” is not good design
|
techadvisor
Best budget 3D printer
|
Fast, reliable printing
Fully automatic levelling
Excellent value
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Doesn't support more exotic filament
AMS Lite adds significantly to the price
|
All3DP
BEST 3D PRINTER UNDER $500
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Quick and quiet printing
Fully automatic calibration and setup
Excellent layer uniformity
|
We ranked Original Prusa MK4 #4 in August 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Original Prusa MK4 as #1.
CNET
Best 3D Printer for Quality
|
Excellent quality prints
Fast but not jerky
Excellent support
Open Source
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Too expensive
Wi-Fi setup is unfriendly
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PCMag
Best 3D Printer Overall / Editor's Choice
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Field-topping ease of use
Supports a wide variety of filament types
High-quality prints
Problem-free operation in our tests
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Relatively expensive
|
TechRadar
Effortlessly reliable 3D printing
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Reliable and efficient
Versatile and customizable
Easy to use
Open-source
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High upfront cost
Single filament support
No enclosure included
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We ranked Creality Ender 3 V3 SE #5 in August 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
TechRadar
Affordable, reliable, user-friendly 3D printing
|
Affordable accessibility
Reliable performance
User-friendly features
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No touchscreen
No filament sensor
No camera
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All3DP
Under $200
|
Reliable auto-bed leveling system
It’s quiet
Great bang-for-buck ratio – cheap and capable
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Tom's Hardware
Best Budget FDM 3D Printer
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Affordable
Easy assembly
Excellent Auto bed leveling
Direct drive
Easy Interface
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PC coated plate
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We ranked Bambu Lab X1 Carbon #6 in August 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
All3DP
Best Premium
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Fabulous design and build quality
High print speeds
Simple, slick user-friendly experience
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Tom's Hardware
Best Professional 3D Printer
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AMS features intuitive guided operations for loading and unloading material
Rigid steel frame, aluminum shell, and CoreXY motion system
LIDAR-assisted automatic calibration and inspection
High speed multicolor printing with AMS
Enclosed build volume
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Cool Plate and glue stick included instead of PEI Textured Plate
Default purging process involves wasting material
|
We ranked Anycubic Photon Mono 2 #7 in August 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
CNET
Best inexpensive resin 3D printer
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Small footprint
Astounding quality
Great price
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Too small for anything but minis
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All3DP
Under $200
|
High-resolution prints
Deceptively large build volume
Compact footprint
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Tom's Hardware
Best Resin 3D Printer for Beginners
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Detailed 4K prints
Fast setup
Effortless print removal
Easy to navigate menus
Generous anti-scratch film to protect the glass
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Slippery feet on the base
Lightweight and cheap feel
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We ranked AnkerMake M5C #8 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best Overall Budget 3D Printer
|
Great quality prints
Fast standard print speed
Print bed offers large print volume and easy print removal
Quick assembly
Easy-to-use slicer software
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Requires Wi-Fi to connect to a PC
No real-time video monitoring or time-lapse capability
No on-device screen or control panel
Needs mobile app to load and unload filament
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TechRadar
Precision 3D printing excellence
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Precise printing accuracy
Fast and efficient
Easy to use
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No enclosure included
No physical interface
Limited advanced features
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We ranked Anycubic Kobra 2 #9 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
CNET
Best budget fast 3D printer
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Entry-level pricing
Auto bed leveling
Extremely fast
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Needs more part cooling
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PCMag
Best Budget 3D Printer for First-Timers / Editors' Choice
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Affordable
Prints fast and accurately
Easy to assemble
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Very noisy fans
Leveling software is inconsistent
Can get worryingly hot
|
We ranked Formlabs Form 3 Plus #10 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best 3D Resin Printer for Rapid Prototyping and Parts Production
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Excellent print quality
Full SLA workflow solution
Nearly fume-free operation
USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connectivity
Responsive phone customer service
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Difficult to remove printed objects
Problematic resin-tray seating process
Steep learning curve for using supports
Requires lots of isopropyl alcohol
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Tom's Guide
The best resin-based 3D printer / Editor's Choice
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Fast printing
High-quality results
Extensive amount of resins available
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No third-party resin support
Expensive
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We ranked LulzBot Mini 2 #11 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best Open-Frame 3D Printer for Hobbyists and Schools
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Easy to set up and use.
Powerful software.
Quiet operation.
Supports a variety of filament types.
LCD with SD-card slot.
Self-leveling print bed.
Easy to remove finished objects from print bed.
Works with Windows, macOS X, and Linux.
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Print quality inconsistent at times.
No bundled filament.
Open frame increases risk of burns from a hot extruder.
Relatively sparse connectivity options.
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We ranked Creality K1C #12 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
techadvisor
Best for exotic filaments
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Can print carbon fibre filaments out of the box
Can print ASA, nylon, ABS as well as PLA and PETG
Built in camera
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Single colour printing only
Can be very noisy
Frustrating to change filament
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TechRadar
Great for schools, classrooms, and academia
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High-quality build
Fast print speeds
Refined AI camera
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Speed affects quality
No multi-material support
Higher price point
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We ranked MakerBot Replicator+ #13 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Product Designers/Engineers / Editors' Choice
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Easy to use.
Very good print quality.
User-friendly yet powerful software.
Prints via USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi, and from a USB thumb drive.
Safe design for an open-frame printer.
Relatively quiet.
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Printer setup through MakerBot Mobile app can be tricky.
Somewhat pricey filament.
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We ranked Toybox 3D 1-Touch #14 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Kids / Editors' Choice
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Reliable, misprint-free printing
Easy setup
One-touch operation
Well-composed help resources
Access to more than 2,000 printable toys and projects
Lets you create your own printable designs
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Tiny build area
Not ideal for importing 3D files created elsewhere
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All3DP
Best Toy 3D Printer
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Massive toy library to print
Kid-friendly experience
Snappy on-device UI and app-based control
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We ranked SnapMaker Artisan #15 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
All3DP
Best 3-in-1 3D Printer, CNC, Laser
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Three creative tech tools in the footprint of one
Overall presentation of the Artisan is premium
Decent dual extrusion printing experience
|
Tom's Hardware
Best Combo 3D Printer / Laser Engraver
|
Huge build volume
Great at printing, laser cutting and CNC machining
Included enclosure
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Very expensive
Huge footprint
Can't handle TPU Filament
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We ranked Anycubic Photon Mono M5S #16 in August 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
All3DP
Best Resin 3D Printer Under $500
|
Capable of fast, high-res printing
Resin level & print failure smarts
Well-implemented Wi-Fi connectivity
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Tom's Hardware
Best Ultra High Resolution 3D Printer
|
Eye-popping 12K prints
Auto leveling
High speed printing
Smart sensors
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Release film has short life span
Specialty resin is pricey
|