August 2022
3D Printers: Meta Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of 3D Printer rankings posted by key online experts, as of August 2022.
Summary
As of 8 Aug 2022, Anycubic Vyper takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed 3d printer with 5 expert endorsements. 1 experts out of 5 recommended it as the '#1 3d printer' this month. It is followed by Creality Ender 3 V2 and Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ , with 4 and 4 expert endorsements respectively.
At a glance - August 2022 Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | 3D Printer |
Popular Mechanics
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Digital Trends
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Omnicore
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Tom's Guide
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CNET
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PCMag
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Tom's Hardware
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All3DP
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3d Sourced
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TechRadar
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1
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- | $430 |
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-
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-
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-
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1
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7
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10
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-
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8
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5
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2
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- | $279 |
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-
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3
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-
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-
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8
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-
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8
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1
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-
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3
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- | $1000 |
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-
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-
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-
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-
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1
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5
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4
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12
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-
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4
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- | $2200 |
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-
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2
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8
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6
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-
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10
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-
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-
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-
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8
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5
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+1 | $175 |
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3
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-
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3
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4
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6
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-
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-
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-
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-
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6
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+1 | Check price |
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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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-
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6
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1
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7
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+1 | Check price |
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1
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-
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2
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-
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-
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-
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17
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-
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8
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+2 | $1800 |
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4
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-
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7
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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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-
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-
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9
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-4 | $600 |
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-
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-
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2
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-
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12
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-
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5
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-
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10
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-1 | $463 |
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-
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-
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4
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6
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-
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-
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-
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9
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-
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11
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- | $299 |
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9
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9
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-
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-
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4
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-
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12
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- | Check price |
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10
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15
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9
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13
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- | $226 |
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2
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3
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14
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New * | $270 |
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4
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2
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20
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-1 | $429 |
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3
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7
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21
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-1 | $1920 |
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5
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4
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-
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22
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-1 | $280 |
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4
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5
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23
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-1 | $849 |
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5
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7
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24
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-1 | $6950 |
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3
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19
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25
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-1 | $270 |
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10
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7
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26
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-1 | $3499 |
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12
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6
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27
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-1 | Check price |
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16
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4
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28
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+1 | $599 |
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11
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11
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29
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-2 | $649 |
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9
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14
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30
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-2 | $333 |
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13
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10
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We ranked Anycubic Vyper #1 in August 2022 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Anycubic Vyper as #1.

PCMag
Best Budget 3D Printer for Large Objects
Pros
Relatively large build area
Automatic bed leveling
Simple assembly
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Cons
Short (one-year) warranty
Includes only a small starter filament coil
Using Cura software with the Vyper requires tweaking a couple of settings
Test prints showed some "hairy" filament residue
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Tom's Hardware
Best 3D Printer for a Print Farm
Pros
Automatic bed leveling system
High print speeds
Advanced cooling design
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Cons
Included Cura profile needs optimizing
Kickstater-style launch may turn off some users
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TechRadar
The best beginner friendly FDM 3D printer
Pros
Built-in accessories drawer
Reliable automatic bed-leveling
Great value for the features you get
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Cons
Excessive initial stringing
Questionable assembly
Cura profile needs fine-tuning
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We ranked Creality Ender 3 V2 #2 in August 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Creality Ender 3 V2 as #1.

PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Tinkerers and DIY Types
Pros
Inexpensive
Slightly above-average print quality
Good-size build area for its price
Supports several filament types
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Cons
Manual print-bed leveling can be tricky
Setup instructions could be deeper, more legible
Questionable quality control on some parts
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All3DP
Best Beginner 3D Printer
Pros
Huge community
Great out-of-the-box print quality
Easy to use
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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 2022 ranking










We ranked Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ #3 in August 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ as #1.

PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Serious Hobbyists, Makers / Editors' Choice
Pros
Consistently high-quality prints
No misprints in our testing
Supports multiple filament types
Includes a 1-kilogram PLA spool
Useful, professionally printed user guide
Great support resources
Versatile, user-friendly software
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Cons
Build volume a bit small for the price
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Tom's Hardware
Best High-End 3D Printer
Pros
PrusaSlicer provides best-in-class model slicing
Swappable flexible build platforms make switching materials easy
Automatic bed leveling sensor is fast and accurate
Stealth Mode enables a nearly silent printing experience
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Cons
Assembled printer is pricey
Monochrome interface feels outdated
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All3DP
Under $1,000
Pros
Exceptional print quality
Advanced calibration and print monitoring
Excellent support and involved community
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We ranked LulzBot Mini 2 #4 in August 2022 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Guide
A good 3D printer option if you can find it
Pros
Prints are fast and of high quality
Supports a wide range of materials
Printer is quiet
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Cons
More expensive than many comparable models
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PCMag
Best Open-Frame 3D Printer for Hobbyists and Schools
Pros
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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Cons
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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TechRadar
Another Great 3D Printer for Beginners
Pros
Very easy to use while being high quality
Open-source and supports a range of materials
Much quieter than expected
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Cons
Open frame design
More expensive than many FDM printers
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We ranked Monoprice MP Mini Delta #5 in August 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Guide
The best 3D printer under $200
Pros
Prints PLA, ABS, PETG, and other materials
Excellent print quality for the price
Costs less than $200
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Cons
Smaller build volume than other low-cost printers
Software has some rough edges
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PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Beginners
Pros
Sub-$200 price
Quick, nearly misprint-free printing
Easy setup and operation
Sturdy steel-and-aluminum frame
Supports multiple filament types
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Cons
Tiny build area
So-so print quality
Mere one-year warranty
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We ranked Original Prusa Mini #6 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Original Prusa Mini as #1.

PCMag
Best Budget 3D Printer Editors' Choice
Pros
Top-notch object quality
Supports a variety of filament types
Useful, professionally printed user guide
Great support resources
Versatile, user-friendly software
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Cons
First-layer calibration can be tricky
Only includes starter packets of filament
Requires monitoring if young children or pets are around
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TechRadar
Small,affordable and remarkable 3D printer
Pros
Great value
Easy to use
Supports a variety of filament types
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Cons
Reel sits separately
Imperfect print quality
Calibration can be tricky
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We ranked FormLabs Form 3 #7 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked FormLabs Form 3 as #1.

Tom's Guide
The best resin-based 3D printer
Pros
Fast printing
High-quality results
Extensive amount of resins available
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Cons
No third-party resin support
Expensive
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We ranked Dremel Digilab 3D45 #8 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Professionals and Small Businesses / Editors' Choice
Pros
Very good print quality.
Easy to use.
User-friendly yet powerful software.
Prints via USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi, and from a USB thumb drive.
Safe design.
Relatively quiet.
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Cons
Limited filament colors compared with competitors.Touch screen is not particularly responsive.
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We ranked Anycubic Kobra Max #9 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Hardware
Best 3D Printer for Props and Cosplay
Pros
Massive build size
+Accurate auto bed leveling
+Build plate releases when cool
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Cons
Massive footprin
-No profile in Cura
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We ranked Anycubic Photon Mono X #10 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Guide
The best 3D printer for low-cost SLA printing
Pros
Fast printer with high-quality output
Costs a fraction of what other SLA printers cost
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Cons
Slicing software produces inconsistent supports
Some print failures
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We ranked Toybox 3D 1-Touch #11 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Guide
A Fun Printer For Creating Your Own Toys
Pros
Prints simple toys quickly and efficiently
Easy setup
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Cons
Exposed hot and moving parts
Unheated print bed means prints don't always stick.
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PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Children and Young People / Editors' Choice
Pros
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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Cons
Tiny build area
Not ideal for importing 3D files created elsewhere
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We ranked Snapmaker 2.0 A350 #12 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

All3DP
3-in-1
Pros
Wi-Fi connectivity
Modular and expandable
Large work volume for the price
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TechRadar
Best 3-in-1 3D Printer
Pros
3D printer, CNC, and Laser cutter in one
Solid design and build quality
Easy to understand software
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Cons
Switching between uses takes time
Enclosure purchased separately
Very noisy when printing
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We ranked Elegoo Mars 2 Pro #13 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Hardware
Best Budget Resin 3D Printer
Pros
Spring-loaded self-leveling build platform
Integrated air filtration system
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Cons
Build volume can feel limited
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We ranked Anycubic Kobra #14 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Hardware
Best 3D Printer for Beginners
Pros
Quality prints
Direct drive
Auto bed leveling
Easy assembly
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Cons
Difficult to upgrade
Tool head hard to maintain
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All3DP
Best 3D Printer under 300$
Pros
Reliable auto-bed leveling
Easy filament handling via direct extruder
Great bang-for-buck ratio – cheap and capable
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We ranked MakerBot Replicator+ #16 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Product Designers/Engineers / Editprs' Choice
Pros
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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Cons
Printer setup through MakerBot Mobile app can be tricky.
Somewhat pricey filament.
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We ranked FlashForge Adventurer 4 #18 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Guide
Best intermediate 3D printer
Pros
Swappable nozzles provide material flexibility
Handles multiple materials with ease
Good price
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Cons
No automatic bed leveling and filament loading
Changing nozzle is rather a tricky process
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We ranked Ultimaker S5 #19 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

PCMag
Best Pro-Level 3D Printer for Large Objects / Editors' Choice
Pros
Dual extruders.
Large build volume.
Quiet.
Good print quality.
Easy setup and operation.
Touch screen.
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Cons
Pricey.
Relatively slow printing at default resolution.
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We ranked Anycubic Photon M3 #20 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Guide
The cheapest resin-based 3D printer
Pros
Low cost
Good print quality
Easy setup
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Cons
Software has some issues with preparing prints
Smaller print area compared to other resin printers
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TechRadar
Detailed 3D modelling for beginners
Pros
Good value
Detailed models
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Cons
Print size is small
Poorly placed USB port
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We ranked Raise3D E2 #21 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

TechRadar
The Best Workhorse 3D Printer
Pros
High-resolution print capability
Innovative ouch screen interface
Dual Extruder system can work independently
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Cons
Huge and heavy, not ideal for home use
Careful placement of bed required
Needs manual assistance for filament loading
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We ranked Elegoo Saturn #25 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D Printers” rankings.

Tom's Hardware
Best Large Format Resin 3D Printer
Pros
Exceptionally large build-volume-to-price ratio
Rigid dual-Z linear rail system
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Cons
Difficult to find in stock
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