The Next Layer Tests 16 Viral 3D-Printed Tools So You Don't Have To
A new video from The Next Layer puts popular functional 3D prints to the test, finding that roughly half fail to live up to the hype.
Review
81 articles
Best PC-CF Filament: I Tested 8 Brands So You Don't Have To
Polycarbonate carbon fiber filament promises strength and heat resistance. We put eight popular spools through break tests and real prints to find the winner.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo Review: Multicolor CoreXY for $449
Elegoo's updated Centauri Carbon 2 adds 4-color printing with the included Canvas kit at a price that undercuts most enclosed multi-material rivals.
Creality SPARKX i7 Nano Packs Four-Color Printing Into a $299 Desktop Printer
The SPARKX i7 Nano shrinks the multi-color setup by 37 percent while keeping the same 260 x 260 x 255 mm build volume and a $299 price tag.
Bambu Lab A2L Review: Big Build Volume, Real Table Problems
Bambu Lab's A2L delivers serious print volume for under $500, but the vibration is no joke. A long-term review of the trade-offs.
eSUN PLA-HF Review: A PLA Filament Built for 1000mm/s
eSUN's new PLA-HF filament promises 1000mm/s print speeds without sacrificing detail or strength. Here is what that actually looks like in practice.
Creality SPARKX i7 Nano: A Compact Four-Color 3D Printer for $299
The SPARKX i7 Nano packs multi-color printing, an AI camera, and a 260 mm build volume into a footprint small enough for any desk, all for under $300.
QIDI Plus5 Review: A $749 Large-Format CoreXY That Actually Delivers
QIDI's new Plus5 packs a 320x320x300mm build volume, 370C hotend, and active chamber heating into a package that undercuts the Bambu Lab H2S by $650.
Kentstrapper Mille Review: A $46,000 Industrial 3D Printer That Prints a Full Cubic Meter
The Kentstrapper Mille packs a 1,000 mm cubed build volume, a 60C heated chamber, and a dual-extruder setup into a made-in-Italy industrial FDM system starting around $46,000.
The Comgrow T500 Puts 125 Liters of Build Space on Your Workbench
A 500mm cubed build volume turns the Comgrow T500 into a small-batch factory, though buyers should plan for a heavy footprint and open-frame material limits.
Elegoo Centauri 2 Review: A $299 CoreXY That Actually Delivers
The Centauri 2 proves you don't need to spend a fortune on a CoreXY printer, though it does make a few compromises to hit that price.
Anycubic Kobra X Review: Multicolor Printing for $299
The Kobra X brings native four-color printing to the budget crowd, but the savings come with trade-offs you should know about.
Anycubic Kobra X Review: Multicolor Printing for $299
The Kobra X brings native four-color printing to the budget crowd, but the savings come with trade-offs you should know about.
Sovol M1D Review: A 7-Color IDEX Toolchanger That Cuts Waste
The Sovol M1D combines seven toolheads, five-second swaps, and near-zero purge waste in an open-source IDEX design.
Flashforge Creator 5 Pro Review: A Four-Toolhead Enclosed Workhorse
The Flashforge Creator 5 Pro packs four independent toolheads into an enclosed chamber for strong multi-material prints with less waste. But it is not without compromises.
Tecbears PLA Filament Compared: Classic vs Matte vs Silk vs High Speed
A side-by-side look at Tecbears' four PLA variants to see whether the budget-friendly brand holds up across print quality, speed, and material behavior.
LONGER ePrint: A Dual-Head UV Printer That Also Does DTF Transfers
LONGER's new ePrint combines UV direct-to-object printing with DTF transfer capability in one $2,499 machine aimed at small custom-product businesses.
EIBOS Tetras Review: Four Independent Drying Chambers for Bambu Lab AMS
The EIBOS Series X Tetras adds four independently controlled drying chambers to a Bambu Lab AMS, letting users print and dry filament simultaneously.
Comgrow T500 Review: A 500x500x500mm Large-Format 3D Printer
The Comgrow T500 offers an 8x larger build volume than standard desktop printers at a competitive price, but it demands experience and space to deliver.
Tecbears PLA Test: Classic vs Matte vs PLA+ vs High Speed
We pit Tecbears Classic, Matte, PLA+, and High-Speed PLA against each other to find the best all-rounder for your machine.
Foaming TPU Burns More Aggressively Than Any Other 3D Printing Filament, Test Shows
Maker's Muse burn test reveals foamed TPU is the most flammable common filament, while PETG and standard TPU offer the best fire resistance for home workshops.
Bambu Lab A1 Mini Lands at Target for $219.99
Bambu Lab's A1 Mini is now on Target shelves and online at $219.99, making the popular entry-level printer accessible to a much broader US audience.
Elegoo Centauri 2 Review: A $299 CoreXY That Actually Delivers
The Elegoo Centauri 2 proves that sub-$300 CoreXY printers can produce excellent results without requiring an engineering degree to operate.
QIDI Plus5 Review: A $749 CoreXY That Prints Anything
QIDI's new Plus5 adds 18% more build volume, a 370C hotend, and active toolhead cooling while keeping the price under $750.
Bambu Lab X2D Review: Dual Nozzle Printing for $649
The X2D delivers reliable dual-extrusion at a price that undercuts Bambu's own H2D by more than half. The tradeoff is build volume, not print quality.
Morpho UV Printer First Look: A $1,599 Desktop Flatbed With Industrial Ambitions
Uncle Jessy spent weeks with the Morpho UV printer and came away impressed by its speed, enclosed gantry, and 60 mm texture stack. The catch: it does not ship until Q4.
Elegoo Centauri 2 Review: A $299 CoreXY That Actually Works
Elegoo's $299 Centauri 2 delivers CoreXY performance, a dual-sided bed, and solid print quality out of the box. Here's why it's the best budget printer right now.
QIDI Plus5 Review: A $749 Large-Format Printer That Challenges Bambu Lab
The QIDI Plus5 offers a 320x320x300mm build volume, 370C nozzle, and heated chamber for $749, making it the best value in large-format FDM printing right now.
Morpho UV Printer First Look: A Desktop Flatbed That Actually Makes Sense
The Morpho UV Printer promises industrial-grade flatbed printing in a box small enough for a studio, with open ink and a refundable Kickstarter deposit locking the price. The question is whether the reality matches the pitch.
Formlabs X1 vs HP 1200: Two Very Different Entry Points Into Powder Bed Fusion
The Formlabs X1 and HP 1200 look like competitors, but they are built for completely different types of users and workflows.
Elegoo H1 HT Review: A $70 Filament Dryer That Actually Works
Elegoo's first filament dryer heats to 85C and handles engineering materials, but the single-spool design limits its appeal.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Review: Multi-Color 3D Printing for $449
The Centauri Carbon 2 Combo finally makes affordable four-color FDM printing real, even if the Canvas system still feels slightly rough around the edges.
Bambu Lab X2D Review: A Better X1 Carbon for Less Money
Bambu Lab's new mid-range dual-nozzle printer refines the X1 Carbon formula with active heating, smarter filtration, and a $899 price tag.
Anycubic Kobra X Makes 4-Color 3D Printing Surprisingly Cheap
The Kobra X bundles native four-color printing into a $299 frame. Here is why it undercuts the Bambu Lab A1 Combo by $120 without cutting corners on hardware.
Bambu Lab A2L Review: A Budget Large-Format Printer That Actually Delivers
The Bambu Lab A2L doubles the A1's build volume, adds a closed-loop extruder, and throws in pen plotting and blade cutting. It is the best budget large-format printer right now.
QIDI Plus5 Review: The Best Mid-Size Enclosed Printer Right Now
After 100 hours of testing, the QIDI Plus5 earns the crown. Bigger bed, 370C hotend, Polar Cooler, and the same $749 launch price as its predecessor.
Elegoo H1 HT Review: A $70 Dryer That Actually Hits 85°C
Elegoo's first filament dryer tops out at 85°C, rotates the spool automatically, and works with virtually any FDM printer. At $70, it sets a new baseline for budget dryers.
Revopoint's August Sale Takes 10-20% Off Its Entire Scanner Lineup
Revopoint's STEM promotion runs through August 31 with discounts on six scanners, including 20% off the metrology-grade MetroY Ultra.
LONGER ePrint Review: A $1,699 UV Printer That Also Does Textures
LONGER's ePrint packs UV, DTF, DTG, and 3D textured printing into one $1,699 desktop machine. Here is what it actually means for small shops and makers.
QIDI Plus5 Review: A Large-Format 3D Printer That Actually Delivers
The QIDI Plus5 offers a 320 x 320 x 300 mm build volume, 370C hotend, and active chamber heating for under $800. Here is how it stacks up against the competition.
Elegoo Centauri 2 Review: A $299 CoreXY Printer That Actually Delivers
Elegoo's sub-$300 Centauri 2 proves CoreXY printers do not have to cost a fortune. We put it through real prints to see if the budget compromises matter.
The Anycubic Photon P1 Is a 14K Resin Printer Worth Every Penny
Amazon just cut the price on Anycubic's 14K Photon P1 resin printer, making one of the year's best miniatures printers even more accessible.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Hardware Shines, Software Holds It Back
The Centauri Carbon 2 pairs multicolor printing with a closed frame and a 350C nozzle, but buggy software undermines the experience.
Elegoo Emoji Centauri Carbon 2 Combo Review: Great Printer, Flawed Software
ELEGOO's emoji-themed Centauri Carbon 2 Combo has excellent hardware and genuinely good multicolor output. But buggy slicer software and network drops make it a hard recommendation for casual users.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon Is Core XY Performance for Half the Price
Elegoo's Centauri Carbon brings core XY motion, high-temp hotends, and a sealed chamber to the sub-$500 mass market.
Elegoo Centauri 2 Review: Multicolor CoreXY Printing for Under $300
Elegoo's new Centauri 2 brings four-color multicolor printing to the mainstream with a $299 open-frame CoreXY design.
QIDI Plus5 Gets a Bigger Build Volume and a Lower Price
QIDI's latest large-format printer adds 18% more build volume, better linear rails, and a 65C heated chamber for under $700.
Elegoo Mars 5 Resin Printer Drops Below 200 Dollars in Current Amazon Deal
A bundle with the Elegoo Mars 5 and a bottle of resin is currently listed at 195 dollars on Amazon. That is 65 dollars off the usual price for a 4K resin printer beginners can learn on in an afternoon.
Bambu Lab A2L Review: Large-Format 3D Printing Without the Premium Price
The Bambu Lab A2L delivers a 34-liter build volume, servo extruder, and optional cutting module for under $500, making large-format printing genuinely accessible.
Popular Mechanics Tests 6 Best 3D Printers of 2026
Popular Mechanics put six current 3D printers through real-world testing to find the best buys for different budgets and use cases.
FlashForge AD5X Drops to $215 With Multi-Color Printing on AliExpress
FlashForge's AD5X CoreXY multi-material printer is $215 on AliExpress right now, down from $350 on Amazon, and it ships free from a US warehouse.
Anycubic Kobra X Review: 4-Color FDM Printing for Under $300
Anycubic built a multicolor 3D printer that puts four filaments inside the toolhead instead of in a side box, and it costs less than many single-color rivals.
Bambu Lab A2L: Large-Format Printing Without the Premium Price
Bambu Lab's A2L doubles the A1's build volume and adds a servo extruder and cutting module for less than you expect.
FlashForge Adventurer 5M Is $135: Best Entry-Level 3D Printer Deal
FlashForge's Adventurer 5M is currently $135 on AliExpress after a coupon, making it the cheapest CoreXY printer from a reputable brand you can buy today.
Bambu Lab A2L Cutting Module Review: Print and Cut With One Machine
Bambu Lab's A2L now has an optional cutting module that turns the printer into a low-cost plotter for cardboard and thin materials.
FlashForge Creator 5 Pro Review: Four Heads, Less Waste, and Rough Edges
FlashForge's first toolchanger printer cuts purge waste dramatically and handles engineering filaments, but its software still needs work.
Polymaker ABS Pro and ABS Max: Two High-Temp Engineering Filaments Tested
An independent test of Polymaker's new ABS Pro and ABS Max shows both survive oven temperatures above 100C, with the Max holding until 111C.
Bambu Lab X2D Review: The Cheapest Credible Dual-Extrusion FDM Printer
The X2D replaces the X1 Carbon with dual nozzles, a 65C heated chamber and 70% less purge waste, starting at $649.
Anycubic Photon P1 Max Brings 18.3-Liter Resin Printing to the Desktop
Anycubic's new Photon P1 Max is a large-format resin printer designed for long, high-precision jobs without requiring industrial floor space.
HeyGears G1X Brings Full-Color 3D Printing to Your Desktop
The HeyGears G1X uses UV inkjet technology and resin to produce color models with over 10 million shades, plus 2D printing on 400 materials.
Polymaker ABS Pro vs ABS Max: Which One Actually Prints Better
Polymaker's two high-temperature ABS filaments promise better heat resistance and easier printing. We break down the differences.
JAYO PLA Tested: PLA+ 2.0, Silk PLA+ and High Speed Marble PLA
EDGE OF 3D ran JAYO's latest PLA materials through the same lab tests used across its filament database, including PLA+ 2.0, Silk PLA+ and High Speed Marble PLA.
FlashForge Creator 5 Pro Review: A $849 Toolchanger With Real Promise
FlashForge's first toolchanger puts four independent heads on one bed for $849, but the ecosystem still gets in the way.
Prusa INDX Review: The Toolchanger That Turns a CORE One Into an 8-Material Machine
Prusa's INDX kit swaps the CORE One's single nozzle for up to eight, with almost no purge waste. Here is what the specs and early units tell us.
Bambu Lab X2D Review: The X1 Carbon's Dual-Nozzle Successor
Bambu Lab's X2D adds a second nozzle, a heated chamber, and Dynamic Flow Calibration at X1C quality for less money. Here is who should buy it.
Elegoo H1 HT Filament Dryer Review: The Centauri Carbon 2's Missing Piece
Elegoo's first filament dryer hits 85°C, feeds the printer while it dries, and fixes the Centauri Carbon 2's open-spool weakness for £62.
Elegoo Centauri 2 First Impressions: A $299 CoreXY That Overdelivers
Elegoo's $299 Centauri 2 brings auto bed leveling and a direct-drive extruder to a full-size CoreXY. We put its out-of-box quality to the test.
Elegoo Jupiter 2 Review: A 16K Large-Format Resin Powerhouse
Elegoo's Jupiter 2 brings 16K resolution, a heated vat and auto-refill to large-format resin printing at $949.
Polymaker HT-PLA Pro: A Reformulation That Fixes the Original's Weak Spot
Polymaker's HT-PLA Pro isn't a hotter PLA, it's a tougher one, with better layer adhesion than the original for stronger parts.
Sovol M1D: Inside the IDEX + Toolchanger That Could Disrupt Multicolor Printing
The M1D combines IDEX with a 7-tool carousel. Is this the real alternative to Bambu AMS and Prusa MMU? We break down the engineering.
Bambu Lab H2C Review: The Multi-Material Printer That Actually Works
Six months with the Bambu Lab H2C: the Vortek hotend-swapping system delivers zero-waste multi-material printing. Is it worth the price?
Siraya Tech Roamr TPU Air HR: The Filament That Could Finally Make 3D Printed Shoes wearable
Siraya Tech new Roamr TPU Air HR filament delivers 48-50% rebound, potentially revolutionizing 3D printed footwear.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo: Best Budget 4-Color 3D Printer Under $500
Elegoo just made multicolor 3D printing affordable, the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo delivers 4-color printing at just $449.
Sovol SV08 Max Review: The 500mm Big-Format CoreXY Powerhouse
The Sovol SV08 Max combines a massive 500×500×500mm build volume with blazing 700mm/s print speeds and smart filament monitoring.
3D Fuel Pro PCTG Review: Engineering-Grade Material That Outperforms PETG
Technical evaluation shows 3D Fuel Pro PCTG achieves 84.43 benchmark score with excellent dimensional accuracy, making it a strong for functional engineering parts choice.
The Best 3D Printer for School Classrooms in 2026
Teachers across the country agree: the Bambu Lab A1 mini is the best 3D printer for classrooms in 2026.
Sovol SH03: The Budget Filament Dryer Worth Your Money
The Sovol SH03 is a dual-chamber filament dryer with auto-dehumidification, 4-spool capacity, and smart features—for under $100.
Sunlu PPA-CF: The Stiffest Filament You Cannot Buy
My Tech Fun reviews Sunlus carbon fiber PPA filament — extreme stiffness but limited availability.
Fastest 3D Printers 2026: Real-World Speed Test Results
Manufacturers claim 500mm/s — but what does that mean for actual print times? We cut through the spec sheet noise with real Benchy benchmarks.
Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro Review: Underrated Speed Demon
At £200-250, the Neptune 4 Pro runs Klipper, hits real-world 250mm/s, and offers more build volume than the A1 Mini — making it the best value speed printer around.
Bambu Lab A1 Mini Review: Still the Best Beginner Printer in 2026?
The A1 Mini still sets the bar for beginner 3D printers — but Bambu's 2025 authentication drama complicates the recommendation.