Which xTool Laser Should You Buy? Every Model Compared

For a first laser, buy the xTool M2. The 10W M2 was $499 on xTool’s US store on November 6, 2026, against a crossed-out price of $599, and xTool rates it Class 1, the class the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) considers non-hazardous, thanks to its “Enclosed design.” It cuts wood, opaque acrylic, paper, cardstock, felt and leather, and the Color Print & Cut Bundle, which adds a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) inkjet module for printing color before cutting, was $529.

Buy the xTool P2S ($2,999) for a 55W CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser that cuts clear acrylic and thicker wood, but know that the P2S sold on xTool’s US store is listed as a Class 4 laser (xTool says a Class 1 version exists). xTool’s safety instructions for two of its Class 4 machines, the P2S and the F2, call them “intended for professional use only” and say not to use them where “untrained persons or children are present.” The X1 ($3,399) and the P3 ($5,899) are larger CO2 lasers that xTool rates Class 1, with two exceptions for the X1 explained below. For engraving metal, the F1 Ultra ($2,299) pairs a diode laser with a fiber laser.

These are xTool US store prices on November 6, 2026, in the first week of xTool’s Black Friday sale, “Laser Week” (November 2 to 8). Its themed weeks run to November 29, and its sale page also lists Cyber Monday deals. The F2, F1 Ultra, F2 Ultra UV, F2 Ultra and P3 prices are xTool’s “Final Price,” which already includes the sale’s automatic checkout discount; the M2, S1, P2S and X1 prices are the store’s plain prices. xTool says “Only one major promotional discount can be applied per order,” so a machine’s discount and an add-on’s do not stack. The Black Friday promotion excludes the P2S and the X1; instead, xTool lists X1 launch offers (“Save up to $500”) through December 6. Amazon and other stores set their own prices.

xTool’s lasers compared

xTool’s US store Laser menu listed nine lasers on November 6, 2026: the X1, M2, P3, F2 Ultra, F2 Ultra UV, F2, P2S, F1 Ultra and S1. The table runs from cheapest to most expensive, using each machine’s base version.

† xTool’s “Final Price,” including the automatic Black Friday checkout discount for its first week (November 2 to 8). Before that discount, the F1 Ultra’s item price was $2,549.

The work area is the largest flat piece the laser can reach in one go. Some machines stretch it with add-ons: the F2 reaches 400 x 115 mm with its slide extension, and the F1 Ultra and F2 Ultra reach 220 x 500 mm with a conveyor. The S1 price is for its 40W Basic Bundle; the store showed its Deluxe Bundle at $1,896.

• xTool M2 10W: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F2: Check price on Amazon
• xTool S1 40W: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F1 Ultra: Check price on Amazon
• xTool P2S: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F2 Ultra UV: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F2 Ultra: Check price on Amazon
• xTool X1: See it at xTool
• xTool P3: See it at xTool

Diode, CO2, fiber or UV: what each laser does

The laser type decides what a machine can cut and mark, more than the wattage does.

• Diode (the M2, the S1, and one of the two lasers in the F2, F1 Ultra and F2 Ultra): cuts wood, leather, paper and felt, and the M2, S1 and F-series spec sheets list only opaque or “some dark opaque” acrylic. For clear acrylic, xTool points to CO2: its P2S page says that “unlike diode lasers,” the P2S “can work with acrylic in any color.” The F2 FAQ is looser, listing “Acrylic (clear, frosted, colored, mirrored, etc.)” for its diode laser, with the advice to “test on a sample first.”
• CO2 (the P2S, X1 and P3): cuts thicker wood and acrylic of every color. The P2S cuts 18 mm basswood and 20 mm acrylic in one pass, the P3 20 mm basswood and 25 mm acrylic. They also engrave glass, bamboo, ceramic and coated metal: the P2S FAQ lists coated metal and anodized aluminum, and says that for stainless steel “you need to spray a coating on it before marking.” The P3’s metal work comes from an optional 5W IR laser, sold separately unless a bundle includes it.
• Fiber and MOPA (master oscillator power amplifier, a kind of fiber laser): engraves bare metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass, gold and titanium, plus some plastics. xTool says the F1 Ultra can cut 0.4 mm brass, 0.3 mm stainless steel and 0.2 mm aluminum sheet, and that the F2 Ultra’s 60W MOPA laser “unlocks 100+ consistent colors on metals.”
• Infrared (IR, the second laser in the F2): marks metals and some plastics, at 5W.
• UV (ultraviolet, the F2 Ultra UV): engraves inside glass and crystal, in a 70 x 70 mm area, and works on surfaces in a 200 x 200 mm area.

xTool’s thickness figures come from its own testing, and its spec pages say so: the specifications are “based on xTool’s internal testing.”

Class 1 or Class 4: the safety difference

The FDA says a Class 1 laser is “Considered non-hazardous,” though the hazard rises if it is viewed with “optical aids, including magnifiers, binoculars, or telescopes,” and says a Class 4 laser is an “immediate skin hazard and eye hazard from exposure to either the direct or reflected beam; may also present a fire hazard.” The class is about exposure, not laser power. xTool’s P2S safety instructions say even the Class 1 version “includes a Class 4 working laser,” and that “Generally, the laser module is completely enclosed in the casing and light shield during operation,” with interlocks that stop the machine if the lid is lifted.

xTool explains it in its F2 FAQ: “Even though xTool F2 has a protective enclosure, it remains a Class 4 laser device because you can operate it with its protective enclosure open.” For these Class 4 machines, the F2 and P2S safety instructions say the machine is “intended for professional use only,” that “ONLY professionally trained personnel” may use it, and that a “qualified Laser Safety Officer (LSO) must be designated.” They tell users to complete “xTool’s Laser Safety Awareness Training Course” before use, to wear safety goggles matched to the laser’s wavelength, and not to use the machine in public places or where “untrained persons or children are present.” The F2 does not come with goggles; xTool sells them separately.

xTool’s marketing is looser than its safety documents. A section of the P2S product page, describing “The xTool P2” and its filter cover, promises “a safe and convenient engraving experience without the need for goggles,” while the P2S safety instructions tell owners of the Class 4 version to “wear safety goggles that can shield your eyes from 10.6 μm laser beams.” The F2 page calls it a “Compact, eye-safe design” while its spec sheet lists “Class 4 Laser Safety.” And while xTool says the P2S “comes in both Class 4 and Class 1 variants,” its US store sells it only as a standalone machine or in bundles, and its spec sheet lists “Class 4 Laser Safety.”

The X1’s Class 1 rating has two exceptions, in xTool’s own footnote: with the 5W UV laser installed, “Class 3B laser radiation is accessible during optical alignment,” and with the conveyor feeder, “the X1 operates as a Class 4 laser device.” xTool adds: “These configurations are intended for use by trained professionals only.” The S1’s FAQ likewise lists both an “S1 + Class 1 Riser Base” and an “S1 + Class 4 Riser Base,” so check which riser a bundle includes. xTool’s comparison of the P3 and P2S puts it plainly: the P3 achieved “a certified Class 1 laser safety rating, while the P2S is a Class 4 device.”

For a first laser, start with a Class 1 machine used in its Class 1 setup: the M2, S1, X1 or P3. Of those, the M2’s page is the one that speaks to homes with children: it says its “Class 1 laser safety features help create a safer environment around children and pets.”

• xTool M2 10W: Check price on Amazon

Best first xTool: the M2

The M2 is the cheapest of the nine lasers, and the only one under $1,000 in its base version on November 6. xTool’s menu calls it “The easiest color craft laser for everyday making,” and its page says it is “Designed for home use.”

Its work area is 426 x 320 mm (16.7 x 12.6 inches) on the 10W and 20W versions. In one pass, xTool says the 10W version cuts up to 8 mm basswood or 3 mm black acrylic, the 20W version 10 mm basswood or 8 mm black acrylic, and the 40W version 15 mm basswood or 11 mm black acrylic. It has two cameras for lining up a design and a built-in air pump, and xTool notes it has no port for a third-party air pump.

xTool lists photo paper, sticker paper, cardstock and felt as print-ready for the inkjet module, and wood, canvas, satin fabric, acrylic and glass as “Pre-Treatment Required.” It says the module cannot print on “very dense or smooth surfaces such as metal, glass, and ceramic” without “a suitable ink-receptive coating.” The M2 engraves stainless steel and aluminum, but no metal appears on its list of materials it cuts.

On November 6, the store listed the M2 with the inkjet module (the Color Print & Cut Bundle) at $529, and its Deluxe Bundle at $759.

• xTool M2 10W: Check price on Amazon
• xTool M2 10W with the CMYK inkjet module: Check price on Amazon

Bigger cuts: S1, P2S, X1 or P3?

Pick the S1 for a large, enclosed diode laser for less than a CO2 machine. xTool lists its Class 1 safety as “5-direction flame detection, emergency stop, lid-open safety stop and laser key lock,” and its lid’s light filtering leaves “0.35% light left,” for watching a job “without goggles.” As a diode laser, it cuts only “some dark opaque acrylic.”

Pick the P2S for clear acrylic and thick wood at the lowest CO2 price, if a Class 4 machine suits the room. It weighs 99.21 lb and measures 1000 x 639 x 268 mm, so it needs a sturdy table.

Pick the X1 for a Class 1 CO2 laser that can grow. Every X1 has a 55W CO2 laser; to add a 5W UV, 60W MOPA or 30W fiber laser, you first need the 20W Diode Galvo Module, with “one external laser source connected at a time.” xTool’s launch prices were $3,399 for CO2 only, $3,999 with the diode module, $5,799 with fiber, $6,499 with UV and $6,679 with MOPA. It is new: xTool announced its “official worldwide availability and immediate shipping” on October 29, 2026, and the store page showed no customer reviews yet. For a gift, mind the timing: the store said “Order today, ships in 7 business days,” and xTool warns that “First-batch inventory is limited.” xTool also says an X1 inkjet printing module “is expected to launch in November 2026.” Its main unit weighs 60 kg.

Pick the P3 for the largest bed and an 80W CO2 laser, at 915 x 458 mm. It weighs 231.5 lb, comes with an IF2 2.0 inline fan, and xTool includes free online installation help with “cooling and exhaust setup.”

• xTool S1 40W: Check price on Amazon
• xTool P2S: Check price on Amazon
• xTool X1: See it at xTool
• xTool P3: See it at xTool

Engraving metal, glass or at craft fairs: the F series

The F2 is the portable one, at 10.14 lb, with a 15W diode laser and a 5W infrared laser. Its work area is 115 x 115 mm, and xTool’s own comparison files it under “Portable Models Best for Craft Fairs and Beginners.” But it is Class 4, and its safety instructions call it “intended for professional use only” and ask users to complete xTool’s laser safety training first.

The F1 Ultra adds a 20W fiber laser, and xTool says it suits “small-size deep metal engraving” and can cut thin brass, stainless steel and aluminum sheet. The F2 Ultra is the faster, stronger version, with a 60W MOPA laser and a 40W diode laser at up to 15,000 mm/s, against 10,000 mm/s for the F1 Ultra. xTool also sells a version of the F2 Ultra with only the MOPA laser.

The F2 Ultra UV is for glass. xTool calls it a “Master of Glass” that “excels in 3D inner engraving.” All four F-series machines are rated Class 4 on their US spec sheets.

• xTool F2: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F1 Ultra: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F2 Ultra: Check price on Amazon
• xTool F2 Ultra UV: Check price on Amazon

What else you need to buy

Lasers make smoke. xTool’s P2S safety instructions say to keep the workspace “well-ventilated so that the generated smoke can be discharged in time,” and its F2 FAQ says to “use an air purifier or exhaust system for proper ventilation.” The F2’s safety instructions are stricter: the exhaust pipe must be “directed outdoors or to a qualified air purifier. Direct indoor discharge is strictly prohibited.” They also ask for fire extinguishing equipment, “including CO2 extinguishers,” and the P2S instructions say to “Keep a fire extinguisher.” xTool sells fans and purifiers for both routes.

† The AP2’s $929 includes the sale’s automatic checkout discount ($70 off orders over $599). Because xTool allows one major discount per order, buying it with a machine does not add a second discount. The Desktop Air Purifier is labeled Clearance, and xTool’s price match excludes clearance items.

For the M2, xTool recommends its Desktop Air Purifier “for regular laser use” and the SafetyPro AP2 “for frequent cutting or materials that produce stronger odors.” The AP2 works with the X1, M2, S1, P2S, F2, F2 Ultra, F2 Ultra UV, F1 Ultra and P3, though xTool says the P3 needs an inline fan with it, “but this setup is not recommended.” The AP2 was on sale; its crossed-out price was $999.

Air assist, a jet of air that keeps cuts clean, is built into the M2, and the P2S page describes its own dual-cylinder air pump; the S1 uses the separate Smart Air Assist. Check the goggles’ rating before you buy. Their product page says they are “Compatible with 316nm-450nm & 900nm-1080nm lasers,” but the specifications on the same page say they “filter out light in the wavelength range of 180nm to 540nm,” a range that stops short of 1064 nm infrared. xTool’s F2 safety instructions call for goggles that shield against “445 ± 15 nm, 655 ± 5 nm and 1064 ± 5 nm,” and the F2’s infrared laser works at 1064 nm. Match the goggles to the wavelengths in your own machine’s safety document; the P2S, for example, works at 10.6 μm.

• xTool Desktop Air Purifier: Check price on Amazon
• xTool Air Purifier Go: Check price on Amazon
• xTool SafetyPro AP2: Check price on Amazon
• xTool SafetyPro IF2 inline duct fan: Check price on Amazon
• xTool RA3 rotary for the F series and P3: Check price on Amazon
• xTool RA3 for P2S: Check price on Amazon
• xTool RA3 Lite for the M2: Check price on Amazon

What not to put in a laser cutter

xTool’s P2S safety instructions say: “Do not engrave or cut any material that contains PVC or vinyl (processing plastics is not recommended).” They warn that these and other materials containing chlorine “can generate corrosive vapor that is extremely harmful to the human body and can cause damage to the device,” and that damage from them “is not covered by the Company’s warranty.” The M2 page adds: “Never laser PVC, PC, or leather and foam with unknown compositions.” xTool’s F2 FAQ lists PVC among the materials the F2’s diode laser can process, but the same FAQ says to avoid “PVC and other chlorinated polymers (as they release toxic chlorine gas),” so follow the warning. xTool also warns that acrylic “has proven to be extremely flammable in vector cutting,” and says not to leave the machine unattended while it works.

xTool’s store or Amazon?

xTool sells the M2, F2, S1, F1 Ultra, P2S, F2 Ultra and F2 Ultra UV on Amazon through its “xTool Official” storefront, with orders shipped by Amazon, as checked on November 6, 2026. The X1 did not appear on Amazon that day, and the P3 listing checked was sold and shipped by a seller called “xTool Lab,” so buy those two from xTool.

On its own store, xTool lists a “60 Day Price Guarantee” and a “12-Month Warranty” on the M2’s product page. Under its price match, a buyer on the US xTool.com site who finds a lower qualifying price for the same product within 60 days of purchase can ask for the difference. Lightning Deals in the Black Friday sale “are not covered by the 60-Day Price Guarantee.”

Returns are the catch for a gift. xTool’s return policy covers products bought from its own online store, not “non-xTool channels,” so an Amazon order follows Amazon’s return terms. For an xtool.com order, within 14 days of delivery xTool charges no return service fee; from day 15 to day 30, it charges a fee on refunds for products without a defect, such as 10% for an unopened machine and 30% for an opened, used one. For a return without a defect within 30 days, the buyer also pays the shipping. A returned machine “must have lasered less than 50 times.” So a laser bought early in November and wrapped for December can be past the no-fee window by the time it is opened.

• xTool M2 10W: Check price on Amazon

Before you buy

• Measure the space. The M2 measures 610 x 569 x 180 mm, the P2S 1000 x 639 x 268 mm, and the P3 1250 x 780 x 496 mm.
• Plan the air. The F2’s safety instructions say the exhaust must go “outdoors or to a qualified air purifier,” so decide which before the laser arrives.
• Check the class. xTool’s safety instructions for the Class 4 F2 and P2S say they are for “professional use only,” require xTool’s safety training course and goggles, and keep children away.
• Mind the dates. The first-week discount ends November 8, xTool’s themed sale weeks run to November 29 with Cyber Monday deals listed after, the X1 launch offers run through December 6, and xtool.com returns are free of service fees only for 14 days after delivery.

This page compares xTool’s own spec sheets, prices and safety documents; it is not a hands-on test. For other maker machines, see which Bambu Lab 3D printer to buy and which Cricut cutting machine to buy.

Laser engraver questions

Which xTool laser is best for beginners?

The M2, at $499 for the 10W version on xTool’s US store on November 6, 2026. It is enclosed, xTool rates it Class 1, and its page says it is “Designed for home use.”

Can an xTool laser cut clear acrylic?

The CO2 lasers do: xTool says the P2S cuts “20mm clear acrylic in one pass,” the X1 cuts “clear acrylic,” and the P3 page promises to “Master Transparent Acrylic.” The M2 and S1 spec sheets list only opaque or “some dark opaque” acrylic for their diode lasers.

Which xTool laser engraves metal?

The F1 Ultra (fiber), F2 Ultra (MOPA) and F2 (5W infrared) have a metal laser built in. Others do it with an add-on: a 3W infrared module for the M2, an infrared module for the S1, an optional 5W IR laser for the P3, and fiber or MOPA sources for the X1. The F2 Ultra UV lists metal among the materials it engraves, and the M2’s diode engraves stainless steel and aluminum. xTool says the F1 Ultra can cut 0.4 mm brass, 0.3 mm stainless steel and 0.2 mm aluminum sheet.

What is the difference between the P2S and the P3?

Size, power and safety class. The P3 has an 80W CO2 laser and a 915 x 458 mm bed and is Class 1; the P2S has a 55W CO2 laser and a 600 x 305 mm bed and is listed as Class 4 on xTool’s US store. On November 6, 2026, the P2S was $2,999 and the P3 $5,899 (with the Black Friday checkout discount) on xTool’s US store.

Do I need a fume extractor for an xTool laser?

Yes, some form of ventilation. xTool’s F2 FAQ says to “use an air purifier or exhaust system for proper ventilation.” Its Desktop Air Purifier was $249 and its SafetyPro AP2 $929 on November 6, 2026.

Sources (30)

• xtool.com xTool US Store: homepage and laser menu (November 6, 2026)
• xtool.com xTool US Store: M2
• xtool.com xTool US Store: F2
• xtool.com xTool US Store: S1
• xtool.com xTool US Store: F1 Ultra
• xtool.com xTool US Store: P2S
• xtool.com xTool US Store: X1
• xtool.com X1 overview page
• xtool.com xTool US Store: F2 Ultra UV
• xtool.com xTool US Store: F2 Ultra
• xtool.com xTool US Store: P3
• xtool.com Laser machine comparison chart (November 6, 2026)
• xtool.com Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale (November 6, 2026)
• xtool.com 60-Day Price Match
• xtool.com After-sale policies
• xtool.com xTool US Store: Desktop Air Purifier
• xtool.com xTool US Store: Air Purifier Go for F2
• xtool.com xTool US Store: SafetyPro AP2
• xtool.com xTool US Store: SafetyPro IF2 inline duct fan
• xtool.com xTool US Store: RA3 and RA3 Lite rotary
• xtool.com xTool US Store: Smart Air Assist
• xtool.com xTool US Store: Laser safety goggles
• xtool.com xTool US Store: Fire Safety Set
• xtool.com xTool US Store: Riser Base for P2S
• support.xtool.com xTool Support: xTool P2S Safety First
• support.xtool.com xTool Support: Safety First for xTool F2
• support.xtool.com xTool Support: xTool F2 FAQ
• prnewswire.com xTool Officially Launches X1 (October 29, 2026)
• fda.gov Laser Products and Instruments
• amazon.com xTool Official listings (November 6, 2026)