xTool X1: The Best In Class Laser Engraver Today

I also should mention that xTool chose me as a Beta Tester and that the X1 and other accessories were provided to me free of cost. Having said that they have exercised no editorial control on my content other than release dates for various stages of the X1 roll out.

All the readers in the xTool X1 group wondering why information was trickling out………well, now you know. This was all part of their pre-release roll out. Not only are their engineers brilliant so are the marketing folks. While people might have been wanting answers, this also built excitement.

Let’s get to it now, shall we?

Release Date

October 28th, 2026 is the official release date. Here is the official press release link. And here is the official launch link video from xTool. Great information there. Be sure to check it out.

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xTool X1 – The Ultimate Consumer Laser

I don’t think most people realize that the consumer level laser engraver has only been around a handful of years. xTool was one of the first to market with their desktop laser which was released in 2020. In six short years we have gone from a basic plotter moving along an X and Y axis to the current offering of the xTool X1 and Hybrid Motion.

I’ve been reviewing lasers since 2019 or so and about the time I think the engineering limits of consumer laser engravers has been reached I get proven wrong. And boy, did the xTool X1 prove me wrong yet again. This is the most advanced laser to date that I have come across.

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xTool X1 Next-Gen All-In-One Laser

Just a little bit less than 4 years I got an email from xTool asking me if I would review their then Flag Ship Laser Engraver, the xTool D1 Pro 20 watt. Since that time I have reviewed some more items for them, all of which were innovative. In fact I used to tell my Point of Contact there how stunned I was at their innovation. The xTool engineers always have been ingenious and as they said in the movie Apollo 13, “You Sir are a Steely Eyed Missile Man”.

The engineers at xTool are indeed Steely Eyed Missile Men.

Now I have caught wind of their latest innovation which they are calling the X1. The X1 is a combined 20 watt diode laser AND a 55 watt CO² Laser. If that isn’t enough you can perform modular upgrades to include a 30 watt fiber laser, a 60 watt MOPA laser and, get this, a 5W UV laser.

Let’s unpack this a minute. In my workshop I have a fiber laser, a CO2 laser, a diode laser, and a couple of IR lasers. This occupies a lot of real estate in my hobby room.

Now I can perform all those functions and more in a large format enclosure AND DO IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

These higher speeds are achieved by taking normal X and Y gantry movements and mixing them with high speed galvo movements in a four axis motion that they call Hybrid Motion.

Did I mention xTool was innovative?

One of the best parts of this is their Unicast Frame Design. The first lasers to hit the streets had dozens of parts and installation was generally not that fun. The Unicast Frame has just three die cast pieces.

Software too!

The greatest hardware needs great software or the implementation will always end up short. Atomm is the intelligent digital engine for this amazing new hardware.

The Best Part Of All

I get to review and test one! So you’ll be seeing plenty more about the xTool X1 right here! Stay tuned!

TOOCAA NOVA Smart Home Laser Engraver Review

I found that to be a good machine and I passed it along to a good friend of mine who uses it to this day. To sum it up, I have had good experiences with TOOCAA. Also, it needs to be stated that they provided me the TOOCAA NOVA to review and have in no way attempted to influence any kind of editorial control at all. What you read here will reflect my thoughts and my thoughts alone.

I was specifically sent the 20 Watt Creator Bundle ($1164.90). Additional modules can be purchased to include a 2 Watt IR module.

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Best Beginner Laser – Mecpow M1 Review

The purchase cost is currently around $159 for a 3.5 watt and $179 for the 5 watt version. That is a steal for a laser engraver.

NOTE: My readers can get an additional 15% off by using the Code JOHNM1 at checkout.

Additionally, Mecpow will be offering a giveaway on their social media on February 26th! Be sure to check that out!

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LaserPecker LX2 Laser Cutter Review

What you read here is what I really think of the LX2.

Spoiler Alert: The LX2 stacks up in a huge way, but I did have a temporary issue with the Auto Focusing Probe or Distance Sensor. I was able to resolve it easily and brought it to the attention of LaserPecker Support. They are looking into it.

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Best Budget Laser Engraver – Mid 2025

Everyone wants a bargain. In the diverse world of laser engraving the start up costs can vary from inexpensive to very expensive. So many side hustle enthusiasts buy in at top tier. Then they realize that it isn’t as easy as it seems. They might master the machine but then can’t figure out the sales end of the side hustle. One of my more popular blog entries historically has been of the “Best Budget Laser Engraver” variety. I usually settle in and cover 3 or 4 or more laser engravers. Today I am covering just one. Maybe 2.

Longer Ray 5

The response from Longer: “We’ll send you one!” And they did. With all the goodies.

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LaserPecker Prime Day Campaign

Campaigns

Campaign number 1 is a Warmup that runs from 1-3 July and the Initiation Campaign runs from 4-14 July 2005. Details are as follows:

• LP2 – Was $699, now $599. Amazon link
• LP4 Basic – Was $1399 now $1199. Amazon link
• LP4 Deluxe – Was $2059 now $1699. Amazon link
• LP5 Ultimate Bundle – Was $3799 now $3359. Amazon link

In my opinion the deal of the century up there is the LP4 Deluxe.

Additional Information

1. Buy LP5, get a free extended warranty. Buy other products, get 30% off  on extended warranty.
2. Historic low price of LP2 – $599
3. Tiererd discount: $100 off over $1,500. $200 off over $3,500. $400 off over $5,000.
4. Flash sale on engraving materials: 30% off for LDS membership owner. 10% off for non-membership owner.
5. LDS membership owners enjoy double seeds for placing orders during campaign time.

LaserPecker Amazon Prime Campaign Wrap Up

Run, do not walk to cash in on some of these great deals. Now is the time to get that laser you have been eyeballing.

ACMER P3 48 Watt Laser Module

Recently ACMER sent me their P3 2 IN 1 which I reviewed here. As a follow up to that blog they sent me their ACMER P3 48 Watt Laser Module ($699) to test.

If you purchase the P3 with the 48 Watt module the cost there is $1499.

This blog won’t be as long as that blog since I covered all the cool stuff about the P3 already. I can focus on the updated module.

I almost never do this but I have one small beef right out of the the box. The P3 48 Watt Laser Module is a bit bigger than the 2 IN 1 Laser Module.

In my picture here you can see the two thumbscrews which are used to secure the module to the frame. Because of the larger size of the 48 watt module you simply can’t get the grip on those things like you can with the 2 IN 1 module installed. This might not bother you, but I have the fumble fingers. And it doesn’t make it impossible it’s just a tiny bit harder to secure.

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With a name like LaserPecker, you know it has to be great. And with a 5th generation LaserPecker 5, ($2899) it really has to be great.   The LP5 is a combination 20 watt 450 nanometer (nm) blue diode laser and a 20 watt 1064 nm IR fiber laser.  This allows for engraving on a large variety of materials to include wood, paper, leather, metals and plastics and a whole lot of other items.

It currently only has one other straight up competitor with the inclusion of the 20 watt fiber laser.  I was super excited to test this as my other combo lasers are 10 watt diode and 2 watt 1064nm IR lasers.  I do have a dedicated 30 watt fiber laser and I’m very curious to see how it compares to that.

Additionally, I have tested the LP4 and it kind of fell into the “Fantastic Hardware, Not So Fantastic Software” category as far as I was concerned.  So I’ll be focusing a bit more on LaserPecker Design Space software.  And I’ll be looking at Lightburn integration for the LaserPecker 5.
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