3D Printers: Buying Advice, Tips, and News

As a longtime member of the 3D-printing community, I'm alarmed by new legislation targeting the digital files, platforms, and machines that create weapons. It raises a powerful question: Who decides what can be made?

The Bambu Lab X2D builds intelligently on the company's iconic X1 Carbon, pairing heated-chamber printing with a clever dual-nozzle system that cuts purge waste and makes multi-material printing easier than ever.

Elegoo's Centauri Carbon 2 Combo builds on an already excellent formula, adding dependable four-color 3D printing and thoughtful refinements without sacrificing value. It's a good pick for makers seeking a low-cost, high-performance entry into multicolor output.

Amazon Prime Day is almost over, but you can still grab some great deals on 3D printers—filament and resin models alike!—from the leading names in the field.

More affordable than ever, 3D printers are booming for personal, professional, and educational use. We've been testing them for over a decade and are here to help you find the right option.

The Creality Sparkx i7 lights a fire under the entry-level 3D printer market, offering exceptional value from a machine that's easy to set up and can print in multiple colors.

With an exceptional feature set and broad filament support, the easy-to-use Snapmaker U1 raises the bar for hobbyist-level multicolor 3D printers.

Combining the best features of inkjet and 3D printers, the EufyMake E1 is a groundbreaking device for printing textures and graphics, sure to wow advanced hobbyists with its quality, ease of use, and value.

The Elegoo Jupiter 2 3D printer shows flashes of excellence with its massive build volume and striking print quality, but uneven automation, confusing UI menus, and a still-maturing workflow limit its appeal.

Today's affordable 3D printers will surprise you: You can get a smooth-working machine with useful features once reserved for high-end models. Starting at just $250, these are the top budget performers in our testing.

With a superb range of filament support, clean multi-material printing, and a workflow that just works, the Bambu Lab H2C is simply the best desktop filament printer yet.

The legislation is meant to prevent the proliferation of 3D-printed guns. But Adafruit, a provider of do-it-yourself computer parts, says it risks imposing 'useless surveillance software.'

The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra is one of the easiest resin printers to recommend, combining excellent 9K detail with thoughtful automation that removes much of the friction new users typically face—all at a remarkably accessible price.

Elegoo's Saturn 4 Ultra 16K 3D printer is just over a year old, and it's already seeing a sizable discount. Over at Amazon, you can get it for $130 less in today's deal.

The Toybox Alpha Three nails kid-first 3D printing with one-touch simplicity and a huge library of ready-made fun. It's 3D printing with training wheels.

The Saturn 4 Ultra 16K is Elegoo’s confident leap into mainstream resin 3D printing. It outputs exceptionally detail objects with rock-solid reliability, backed by some thoughtful features, including a built-in resin heater.

While it still has a few rough edges, the Creality K2 Pro delivers speed, automation, and multicolor printing capability that make it a compelling alternative to some much pricier flagship 3D printers.

Sadly, consumers don't seem to mind that Chinese firms are accused of stealing US designs, as long as the price is right.

The Wild West era of 3D printing, which early adopters like me have enjoyed for so long, is fading away. But as the industry grows, that's not a bad thing.

Equipped with active chamber heating, the closed-frame Qidi Q2 is an excellent, reasonably priced 3D printer for hobbyists.