Wood board52 × 34 × 2 mm
Its face fits inside the published 55 mm square.
Our T1 Pro is on the way
The Cutest Laser on the MarketLasers can be cute, right?
I bought this one because a laser small enough to pack for a birthday or a night with friends is an interesting kind of fun. It is not meant to replace my workshop. The real question is whether it remains genuinely useful when the home computer is not sitting beside it.
Checked July 23, 2026: Hanboost lists the T1 Pro with a 1.6W laser, a 55 × 55 mm work area, and a $179 final retail price. We paid for ours, but it has not arrived yet. I will add our own photos, measurements, and opinion after I use it.
Disclosure
We backed and paid for the T1 Pro ourselves. The Kickstarter buttons use Hanboost's tracking code, so Hanboost can credit the visit to The Crafty Catsman. That does not change what we say or how we test it.
1.6WT1 Pro laser modulePublished specification
55 × 55 mmCorrected work areaPublished specification
$179Final retail figureSupplied July 23, 2026
InboundOur paid unitHands-on work not started
Why I bought one
I want to know if a tiny laser is actually fun to bring along.
I already have workshop tools. I did not buy the T1 Pro to replace them.
I backed it because the idea of bringing a tiny enclosed laser to a birthday or a night with friends sounds fun. Make a name, mark a tag, send someone home with a small project, and pack it away without dragging the whole workshop along.
01 / PortabilityWhat really has to travel with it?
02 / IndependenceHow much can the app do without my home computer?
03 / Social useDoes the process stay safe, quick, and fun around friends?
Interested in the T1?
Check the current Kickstarter price.
Hanboost's campaign has the current reward price, shipping details, and checkout terms. Our T1 Pro is still on the way. I will tell you what I think after I use it.
Kickstarter referral disclosure: Hanboost's unique code in this link attributes the visit to The Crafty Catsman. Kickstarter controls the current reward, price, shipping, and checkout terms.
- Laser
- 1.6W
- Work area
- 55 × 55 mm
- Our status
- Paid · on the way
How small is the work area?
55 MM is only 2.16ish inches. It’s tiny... but that’s the point.
The T1 Pro has a published 55 × 55 mm work area. These diagrams put the included blanks next to that square so you can see what fits instead of trying to picture a number.
Wood discØ 40 mm
Its 40 mm diameter fits inside the published field.
Kraft envelope100 × 70 mm
Larger than the field; placement and physical clearance need testing.
Gold aluminum plate86 × 54 × 0.45 mm
Longer than the field; finish, placement, and clearance need testing.
These cards compare face size only. I still need the machine in hand to see how the larger envelope and aluminum plate load, sit, and clear the enclosure.
Provided by Hanboost
Sample projects
These were provided to us for this review. We did not generate them, but we will show our own projects once the unit arrives.
Published specs
What comes with the T1 Pro
Hanboost provided these specs on July 23, 2026. I will add our measured results after the machine arrives.
Main specs
- Product
- Hanboost T1 Pro compact laser engraver
- Laser power
- 1.6W published specification
- Engraving area
- 55 × 55 mm corrected published specification
- Final retail figure
- $179 supplied July 23, 2026; not a live price or offer
In the box
- T1 Pro engraver
- USB charge cable
- 5 rectangular wooden boards — 52 × 34 × 2 mm each
- 5 round wooden discs — Ø 40 mm each
- 5 kraft envelopes — 100 × 70 mm each
- 5 gold aluminum plates — 86 × 54 × 0.45 mm each
Software
LightBurnLaserGRBLTHMG Laser App
Hanboost says existing LightBurn project files and settings will work with the T1 without reconfiguration. That is a manufacturer claim on our test list—not a finding yet. See the LightBurn guide for the wider software context.
Materials Hanboost lists
Hanboost says the T1 can engrave more than 30 materials. Those are compatibility examples, not one universal setting or a promise of equal output.
WoodBasswood, cherry, bamboo, cork, MDF
LeatherVegetable-tanned, crazy horse, PU leather
PaperKraft, cardstock, corrugated, photo paper
FabricDenim, canvas, felt
PlasticsAcrylic, PLA, ABS, PETG, resin prints, phone cases
FoodBread, cookies, fruit peel
Other examplesGlass with marking paper, anodized aluminum with marking spray, EVA foam, eggshell
Explicit limit
Bare metal, mirror-finished metal, and highly reflective surfaces are not supported. Material identity, coating, preparation, and safe settings matter.
Warranty
Standard12 months
Kickstarter backer18 months
The supplied terms cover product-quality issues under normal use. Accidental drops, liquid damage, unauthorized disassembly or modification, and improper use—including unsupported materials—are excluded.
Support
Email technical supportCommunity supportComprehensive troubleshooting guide
Hanboost's stated goal is to respond to support inquiries within 48 hours. A response goal is not a guaranteed resolution time, so support becomes part of the ownership log if we need it.
When ours arrives
Our planned tests
These are the six things I want to try first, with portability and computer-free use at the top of the list.
What has to come with it?
I will pack the T1 Pro, note every cable and accessory it needs, and time how long it takes to make the first safe mark away from my workshop.
Can the app run the whole job?
I want to create or import a design, position it, and run it from the THMG app without going back to my home computer.
Does LightBurn work like Hanboost says?
Hanboost says existing LightBurn files and settings work without reconfiguration. I will try my own files and see what actually happens.
What is it like around friends?
At a birthday or night out, I want to see how setup time, Wi-Fi, noise, odor, and safety affect the fun.
How much fits inside 55 mm?
The included boards and discs will show how easy it is to line up a design, repeat it, and use the full work area without clipping an edge.
What can it actually engrave?
I will try a few ordinary materials, keep the failures, and show the settings and cleanup instead of only posting the best result.
Why I bought it
The whole bet is portability.
I did not buy this to replace a workshop laser. I bought it to see whether I can bring it to a birthday, make a few small projects with friends, and pack it away again without hauling a computer along.
Bring it to the table, make something, pack it up.
- Small enough to bring to a birthday or a night out.
- Enough room for names, tags, discs, and quick little gifts.
- A good app would keep everyone at the table instead of at my home computer.
Needing a laptop would miss the point.
- The app sends me back to a computer for basic jobs.
- Setup, noise, odor, or alignment turn a quick idea into a chore.
- The tiny work area feels limiting even on the projects it was made for.
Before ours arrives
Hanboost T1 Pro questions
Have you reviewed the Hanboost T1 Pro hands-on yet?
No. We paid for our Kickstarter-backed unit, but it has not arrived yet. This page covers the published specs, the photos Hanboost provided, why I bought it, and what I plan to test when it arrives.
What is the Hanboost T1 Pro engraving area?
Hanboost corrected the published engraving area to 55 × 55 mm. That is a small square suited to compact personalization work, not a replacement for a larger workshop laser.
How powerful is the Hanboost T1 Pro?
The published T1 Pro specification is 1.6W. Campaign media distinguishes it from the standard T1, which is labeled 500mW. We have not measured output or engraving performance yet.
Does the Hanboost T1 Pro work without a computer?
Hanboost lists its free THMG Laser App alongside LightBurn and LaserGRBL. What I do not know yet is whether I can create, position, and run a useful project from the app without going back to a computer. That is one of my first tests.
Does the Hanboost T1 Pro support LightBurn?
Hanboost publishes LightBurn compatibility and says existing project files and settings work without reconfiguration. We will verify that exact claim when the unit arrives.
Can the T1 Pro engrave metal?
Hanboost says bare metal, mirror-finished metal, and highly reflective surfaces are not supported. Its supplied material list mentions anodized aluminum with marking spray. We will confirm the included gold plates’ finish and required preparation before attempting them.
What warranty comes with the T1 Pro?
The supplied terms state a 12-month standard warranty and an 18-month warranty for Kickstarter backers. Product-quality issues under normal use are covered; accidental drops, liquid damage, unauthorized disassembly or modification, and improper use are excluded.
About the photos
These images came from Hanboost
Hanboost provided the product photos and sample projects for this review. We did not generate them. When our T1 Pro arrives, I will add our own setup photos and projects. Hanboost also provided the specs and warranty details on July 23, 2026.