Bambu Lab R1: What $2,499 Buys and How It Compares With xTool

• Price and timing. R1 $2,499. xTool P2S $2,999 list, or $2,799 at xTool's anniversary price through October 4. Bambu says the R1 ships in October, and its US store says around November 6. xTool estimates P2S shipping from early October.
• Bed and height. 600 × 300 mm vs 600 × 305 mm. Enclosed clearance is 0–58 mm on the R1 and 71 mm on the P2S without its tray. Risers lift them to 248 mm and 215 mm. xTool says its riser shrinks the P2S bed to 500 × 250 mm; Bambu's R1 pages, checked September 22, 2026, don't give a bed size in riser mode.
• Speed and setup. 1,000 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s² vs 600 mm/s and 6,400 mm/s² on the X axis. Bambu says the R1 aligns its mirrors automatically: about a minute in its marketing, 3 to 5 minutes in its wiki. xTool documents manual three-point alignment on the P2S, helped by a red laser-path guide.
• Air and tube. R1: 30 L/min at 30 kPa. P2S: a 200 kPa pump. The makers publish different measures, so these aren't like-for-like. xTool rates the P2S glass tube at 6,000–8,000 hours. Bambu publishes no tube life but lists a $372 replacement tube; xTool's store search showed no replacement 55W tube.
• Going long. Both advertise 3 m stock, and both need three extra rail kits to get there. That costs $3,588.97 on the R1 (stock up to 20 mm thick) and $4,344 on the P2S (up to 14 mm thick). With the riser fitted, Bambu classes the R1 as Class 4 and xTool's spec table lists the P2S as Class 4, so budget for CO2 laser-safety eyewear either way.

Software: the R1 runs Bambu Suite and the P2S runs xTool Studio, both on Windows and macOS. For LightBurn on either machine, see the FAQ below; the short version is that it's in flux for both.

Read more: xTool's CO2 ladder: P2, P2S and P3 · xTool P2S vs OMTech Polar 2 comparison

• Where the P2 stands. xTool no longer lists a new P2 in its US store. The P2 product link now opens the P2S, and the refurbished P2 ($1,845) was sold out on September 22.
• Same bed, same cut claims as the P2S. xTool rates the P2 and P2S the same for bed (600 × 305 mm), one-pass cuts (18 mm basswood, 20 mm acrylic), heights, cameras and 700 W input. The R1's bed is 600 × 300 mm.
• What changed from P2 to P2S. X-axis acceleration doubled (3,200 to 6,400 mm/s²). xTool also added a 200 kPa pump, stronger exhaust (6.5 to 19.7 m/s in xTool's airflow test) and a red laser-path guide for alignment, and moved from xTool Creative Space to xTool Studio.
• The R1 on paper vs a P2. The R1 lists 1,000 mm/s vs 600 mm/s top speed and 20,000 mm/s² vs 3,200 mm/s² acceleration, plus automatic alignment. Its published footprint is about 18% smaller (940 × 560 mm vs 1000 × 639 mm), and it weighs 11.5 kg less.
• Software. xTool's P2 listing names LightBurn. LightBurn's own June 29, 2026 notice says recent xTool firmware removed LightBurn support from the P2S, P3 and F-series machines; the P2 isn't named on that list. R1 LightBurn support has only been announced through reviewers.

Read more: xTool P3 vs P2S vs P2 upgrade guide

• Price and availability. xTool P3 $6,999 list, $6,299 at xTool's anniversary price through October 4. It's in stock and xTool says it ships in 3-5 business days. The $49 CO2 cylinder that arms its built-in fire suppression is extra. R1: $2,499, preorder.
• Bed. 915 × 458 mm vs 600 × 300 mm.
• Height without going Class 4. The P3's built-in AutoLift bed reaches 220 mm (180 mm in auto mode), and xTool says it stays Class 1. The R1 needs its riser for anything taller than about 58 mm, and that makes it Class 4. The P3 becomes Class 4 when its conveyor is fitted.
• Power and speed. 80W, 1,200 mm/s and 19,600 mm/s² on the X axis. xTool claims 20 mm basswood and 25 mm acrylic in one pass. R1: 55W, 1,000 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s², and 18 mm plywood / 20 mm acrylic with the optional lens.
• Space and software. The P3 measures 1250 × 780 × 496 mm (xTool's FAQ says 808 mm deep), weighs 105 kg and ships by truck. The R1 is 940 × 560 × 200 mm and 33.5 kg. xTool says the P3 runs xTool Studio only and doesn't support LightBurn.

Read more: xTool P3 buyer guide · xTool P3 vs P2S vs P2 upgrade guide

• What xTool has published. A 55W CO2 gantry head plus a galvo head with a 20W blue diode. xTool's own articles disagree on whether the diode is standard or optional. Laser Swap modules add 30W fiber, 60W MOPA and 5W UV. The R1 is CO2 only.
• The speed numbers aren't comparable. xTool's "up to 6,000 mm/s" is the ceiling of its galvo system. The R1's 1,000 mm/s is a gantry head. Don't read one against the other.
• Timing. R1 preorders are open now. xTool said on August 31 that the X1 is coming in October (that post was last read September 1, 2026). xTool's German-market release puts deposits in late September and German sales in late October. There was no US price or order page on September 22.
• Still unpublished for X1. Price, packages, work area, material clearance, safety class, software, LightBurn, cooling and warranty. xTool's UniCast article gives about 50 kg for the complete machine; the R1 is 33.5 kg.

Read more: xTool X1 complete guide · how X1 compares with the P2S inside xTool's lineup · X1 packages and complete cost

• Metal. xTool says the F2 Ultra cuts stainless steel and brass up to 2 mm and aluminum up to 1 mm (one xTool page says 2 mm), and color-marks stainless and titanium. Bambu says the R1 can engrave coated metal but not bare metal.
• Acrylic. The F2 Ultra Dual's 40W diode cuts only some dark opaque acrylic, per xTool. The R1 is rated for 20 mm acrylic, including clear.
• Work area. 220 × 220 mm galvo field vs 600 × 300 mm. The F2 Ultra's 220 × 500 mm conveyor can't be used for cut-through work.
• Price. F2 Ultra Dual $5,299 list, $4,899 on xTool's product page until its countdown ends early September 28 (US time); Single, fiber only, $4,299 ($3,899 until the same countdown ends). R1 $2,499.
• Read the speed and safety numbers carefully. The F2 Ultra's 15,000 mm/s is galvo marking speed, not comparable to a gantry cutter. xTool classes it Class 4 but says it runs under Class 1 conditions with the enclosure closed and its stop-on-open setting on. The R1 is classed Class 1 when standalone.

Read more: F2 Ultra fiber and MOPA metal-marking guide · F2 Ultra UV guide

• Price. S1 40W Basic $1,699 list ($1,499 at xTool's anniversary price through October 4). It's in stock and sits in xTool's clearance section. R1 $2,499.
• What it cuts. xTool's lab rates the 40W for 18 mm cherry, 15 mm basswood plywood and 15 mm black acrylic in one pass. Its diode can't cut clear acrylic.
• Bed, speed and height. 498 × 319 mm, 600 mm/s and 42 mm of clearance without the riser, vs 600 × 300 mm, 1,000 mm/s and 58 mm.
• What's missing or extra. No built-in camera (xTool positions by points and a phone photo) and no built-in air assist (a $169 add-on). An optional 2W infrared module ($599) marks metal, which the R1 can't do on bare metal.
• Class. Class 1 as shipped. xTool says the S1 riser it currently sells, and the conveyor, take it to Class 4, the same trade the R1 makes.

• Different lasers. The R1 is a 55W CO2 laser. The H2 lasers are 10W or 40W blue diode modules that swap onto an H2 printer's toolhead, and the H2S takes the 10W only. Bambu says both machines are Class 1 as a whole.
• Clear acrylic. Bambu's own table says the H2 lasers handle opaque acrylic only and can't process transparent acrylic. The R1 cuts it.

  

• Bed and height. H2: 310 × 270 mm with the 10W or 310 × 250 mm with the 40W (Bambu's wiki lists 310 × 260 mm on the H2S), up to 280 mm or 265 mm tall, with no pass-through. R1: 600 × 300 mm, 0–58 mm enclosed, and 3 m stock with the conveyor and three rail kits (1.5 m with the conveyor alone).
• Cutting and speed. Bambu lists the 40W module at 15 mm basswood plywood and 15 mm black acrylic, with no pass count given, and 1,000 mm/s. The 10W is listed at 5–6 mm plywood (Bambu's pages disagree) and 400 mm/s.
• Price. The H2D Laser Full Combo 40W is $2,699 (Bambu's "Typical Price" is $3,199, and Bambu publishes no end date) and includes the printer, AMS 2 Pro and cutting module. The 40W Laser Upgrade Kit for an H2D or H2C you already own is $1,348 (out of stock). The 40W module alone is $949 for a printer that's already laser-ready.

Read more: H2C Laser Full Combo prices · Bambu Lab 3D printer guide

• Price. Pro HD (45W) $7,999 new. Plus HD (40W) $6,999 new, backordered about 90 days. Certified Rebuilt: Pro HD $3,999, Plus HD $3,499, Pro $2,999, Plus $2,249, each with a 90-day guarantee.
• Bed and cutting. About 495 × 279 mm of cutting area. Glowforge says it cuts 1/4 in (6 mm) and thinner in one pass, and up to 1/2 in may need more passes. It publishes no top speed in mm/s. R1: 600 × 300 mm, with 18 mm plywood and 20 mm acrylic claims.
• Long stock and class. The Pro and Pro HD have a manual passthrough slot (6.3 mm high, 20 in wide, unlimited length) and are classed Class 4. Glowforge says the Pro can run under Class 1 conditions with its shields fitted. The Plus models are Class 1 with no passthrough. The R1 is Class 1 until its riser or conveyor goes on.
• Software. Glowforge runs from a web app and needs an internet connection to start each print, and it doesn't support LightBurn machine control. Bambu says the R1 runs online or offline.
• Company status. In an official forum post on November 6, 2025, Glowforge's CEO wrote that the company had gone through a restructuring and that its co-founders had bid to acquire the business's assets. Glowforge has posted updates since, and its store was selling new and Certified Rebuilt machines on September 22, 2026.

• Price and stock. 70W glass $3,699.99 and 50W RF $4,999.99; OMTech lists compare-at prices of $5,199.99 and $7,599.99, which are its own reference prices. Both are in stock and ship in one business day.
• Bed and height. 710 × 360 mm and 125 mm (70W) or 115 mm (50W RF) of height, vs 600 × 300 mm and 58 mm. OMTech offers no pass-through or conveyor for the Polar 2.
• Software and extras. LightBurn is included, plus a basic rotary axis in the box. It connects over USB, USB drive, Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
• Safety class. OMTech markets it as Class I; the manual's spec table lists Class 4.
• Size and warranty. 1178 × 693 × 363 mm and 98–100 kg, vs 940 × 560 × 200 mm and 33.5 kg. OMTech gives a two-year machine warranty. Its product page lists a 24-month RF tube warranty, but its warranty policy says 6 months for 40–60W tubes.

Read more: OMTech Polar 2 RF vs glass buyer guide

Read more: 2026 CO2 laser buyer guide · Gweike's fiber-plus-CO2 MCore is a different class of machine