March 2024
3D Printers: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of 3D printers rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2024.
Summary
On 7 Mar 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 92 3D printer endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
68 3D printers were endorsed in total, only 18 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 7 Mar 2024, Bambu Lab A1 Mini takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed 3D printer with 4 expert endorsements. 1 expert out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 3D printer' this month.
Brand breakdown
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Anycubic: 7 3D printers
(#1 is Anycubic Kobra 2)
-
Creality 3D: 6 3D printers
(#1 is Creality Ender 3 V3 SE)
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FlashForge: 5 3D printers
(#1 is FlashForge Adventurer 4)
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Bambu: 4 3D printers
(#1 is Bambu Lab A1 Mini)
-
Prusa: 4 3D printers
(#1 is Original Prusa MK4)
Price breakdown
At a glance - March Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | 3D Printer |
CNET
|
Popular Mechanics
|
Digital Trends
|
PCMag
|
Omnicore
|
Tom's Guide
|
TechRadar
|
All3DP
|
Tom's Hardware
|
Wirecutter
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
+6 | Check price |
Bambu Lab A1 Mini
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
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-
|
-
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2
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
-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.
|
1
|
-
|
-
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-
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-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
1
|
-
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3
|
-1 | Check price |
Bambu Lab P1P
The Bambu Lab P1P 3D printer is a high-performance machine with advanced features, capable of handling complex geometries and a variety of materials, suitable for professional and hobbyist use.
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-
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
New * | Check price |
Bambu Lab X1 Carbon
|
-
|
-
|
-
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-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
-1 | Check price |
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.
|
2
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
|
-
|
7
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-
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6
|
-1 | 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
|
10
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
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7
|
+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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-
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4
|
3
|
-
|
8
|
+2 | $208 |
Creality Ender 3 V2
The Creality Ender 3 V2 is an affordable and reliable 3D printer that produces high-quality prints and is suitable for hobbyists, makers, and small businesses.
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-
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4
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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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9
|
-6 | $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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15
|
+3 | Check price |
Formlabs Form 3+
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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7
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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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16
|
+6 | $285 |
Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro
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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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6
|
-
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4
|
-
|
17
|
+2 | $1999 |
Dremel Digilab 3D45
The Dremel Digilab 3D45 3D Printer is a reliable and consistent printer that delivers exceptional print quality and accuracy, making it an excellent choice for professionals and small businesses.
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-
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5
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-
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-
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7
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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
|
+2 | $2600 |
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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6
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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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19
|
+2 | Check price |
FlashForge Adventurer 4
The FlashForge Adventurer 4 is a versatile and reliable 3D printer suitable for a variety of use cases, producing excellent quality prints with complex geometries and intricate details, and offering advanced features and tools for easy use.
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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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5
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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20
|
+3 | Check price |
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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7
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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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21
|
-15 | $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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9
|
-
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-
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
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22
|
+2 | $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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13
|
-
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23
|
-15 | $560 |
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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12
|
-
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We ranked Bambu Lab A1 Mini #1 in March 2024 because:
- 4 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
Suprisingly fast
|
No real modification path
AMS Lite is wobbly
Awkward shape and footprint
|
All3DP
Best 3D Printer Under $500
Quick and quiet printing
Fully automatic calibration and setup
Excellent layer uniformity
|
Tom's Hardware
Best Compact 3D Printer
Speed
Quick change nozzle
Direct Drive
Auto bed leveling
Inexpensive AMS (optional)
|
AMS takes up a lot of space
|
We ranked Bambu Lab P1S #2 in March 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Bambu Lab P1S as #1.
CNET
Best overall 3D Printer
Fully enclosed
AMS compatible
Very fast
Great finished product
|
Control screen is unhelpful
|
All3DP
Best Enclosed 3D Printer
Excellent software & UI
Fast, effective printing & 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
|
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 March 2024 ranking
We ranked Bambu Lab P1P #3 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Bambu Lab P1P as #1.
TechRadar
A 3D printer everyone can enjoy
Fast setup and printing
Power Loss Recovery, resume your print if you lose power
Customizable add-ons and 16 color printing
|
Would have benefitted from a heavier metal base
Doesn’t come with sides (templates provided to print your own)
Only comes with a single .4mm nozzle
|
All3DP
Best 3D Printer Under $1000
Enclosed volume with temperature regulation
Fast, high-quality printing & effective cooling
AMS compatible
|
We ranked Bambu Lab X1 Carbon #4 in March 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
All3DP
Best Premium
Fabulous design and build quality
High print speeds
Simple, slick user-friendly experience
|
Tom's Hardware
Best Professional 3D Printer
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 Original Prusa MK4 #5 in March 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
CNET
Best 3D Printer for Quality
Excellent quality prints
Fast but not jerky
Excellent support
Open Source
|
Too expensive
Wi-Fi setup is unfriendly
|
TechRadar
A high-speed 3D printer with smart innovations
Reliable and efficient
Versatile and customizable
Easy to use
Open-source
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Relatively expensive for beginners
|
Tom's Hardware
Best Premium 3D Printer
Fully assembled or DIY kit
Faster than MK3
Direct drive
Linear rods
Dual Z axis
Auto bed leveling
PEI Steel flex plate
All metal hotend
Very quiet
REASONS TO AVOID
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Expensive
Released without Input Shaping
|
We ranked LulzBot Mini 2 #6 in March 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best Open-Frame 3D Printer for Hobbyists and Schools
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.
|
Print quality inconsistent at times.
No bundled filament.
Open frame increases risk of burns from a hot extruder.
Relatively sparse connectivity options.
|
We ranked Creality Ender 3 V3 SE #7 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
All3DP
Under $200
Reliable auto-bed leveling system
It’s quiet
Great bang-for-buck ratio – cheap and capable
|
Tom's Hardware
Fastest Budget 3D Printer
Klipper firmware
Excellent Auto bed leveling
Direct drive
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Accelerometer not included
|
We ranked Anycubic Kobra 2 #9 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
CNET
Best budget fast 3D printer
Entry-level pricing
Auto bed leveling
Extremely fast
|
Needs more part cooling
|
PCMag
Best Budget 3D Printer for First-Timers / Editors' Choice
Affordable
Prints fast and accurately
Easy to assemble
|
Very noisy fans
Leveling software is inconsistent
Can get worryingly hot
|
We ranked Formlabs Form 3+ #10 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best 3D Resin Printer for Rapid Prototyping and Parts Production
Excellent print quality
Full SLA workflow solution
Nearly fume-free operation
USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connectivity
Responsive phone customer service
|
Difficult to remove printed objects
Problematic resin-tray seating process
Steep learning curve for using supports
Requires lots of isopropyl alcohol
|
Tom's Guide
The best resin-based 3D printer / Editor's Choice
Fast printing
High-quality results
Extensive amount of resins available
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No third-party resin support
Expensive
|
We ranked Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro #11 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
TechRadar
A great choice if you're learning the ropes
Fast and precise
User-friendly design
Reliable print quality
|
Limited filament compatibility
May be expensive for new starters
Initial setup complexity
|
Tom's Hardware
Best 3D Printer for Beginners
Powerful direct drive extruder
“Sport” mode part cooling fan
Linear rods enable fast printing speed
Synchronized dual Z-axis threaded rods
Textured PEI build platform excels at part adhesion
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Build platform leveling requires manual input
|
We ranked MakerBot Replicator+ #13 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Product Designers/Engineers / Editors' Choice
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.
|
Printer setup through MakerBot Mobile app can be tricky.
Somewhat pricey filament.
|
We ranked FlashForge Adventurer 4 #14 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
CNET
Best 3D printer for ease of use
Easy swap nozzles
Great for schools
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Smaller build plate
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Tom's Guide
Best intermediate 3D printer
Swappable nozzles provide material flexibility
Handles multiple materials with ease
Good price
|
No automatic bed leveling and filament loading
Changing nozzle is rather a tricky process
|
We ranked Anycubic Photon Mono 2 #15 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
CNET
Best inexpensive resin 3D printer
Small footprint
Astounding quality
Great price
|
Too small for anything but minis
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Tom's Hardware
Best Resin 3D Printer for Beginners
Detailed 4K prints
Fast setup
Effortless print removal
Easy to navigate menus
Generous anti-scratch film to protect the glass
|
Slippery feet on the base
Lightweight and cheap feel
|
We ranked Toybox 3D 1-Touch #16 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
PCMag
Best 3D Printer for Kids / Editors' Choice
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
|
Tiny build area
Not ideal for importing 3D files created elsewhere
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All3DP
Best Toy 3D Printer
Massive toy library to print
Kid-friendly experience
Snappy on-device UI and app-based control
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We ranked SnapMaker Artisan #17 in March 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best 3D printers” rankings.
All3DP
Best 3-in-1 3D Printer, CNC, Laser
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
|
Very expensive
Huge footprint
Can't handle TPU Filament
|
We ranked Anycubic Photon Mono M5S #18 in March 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
|
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
|