The world of 3D printers has grown substantially in the last few years, so at TechRadar, we’ve tested over 50 of the best 3D printers around to make the choice easier for you. We’ve done hands-on testing so we can give in-depth reviews of the machines, with price, speed, and accuracy comparisons.
Whether you need a printer for your business, or just for fun, our team of experts has tried out 3D printing machines across the price range so that we can make our recommendations helpful for everyone.
Our favourite printer for general 3D purposes is the Bambu Lab P1P, which is a great all rounder with good quality, speed, and accuracy. For budget printers, we recommend the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE - which is reliable and affordable. If you’re looking for something in between, check out our comprehensive reviews of the other options.
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The quick list
With the Bambu Labs P1P, print speed is lightening fast and, as we discovered, the quality is outstanding. It's a fantastic 3D printer for everyday use.
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is an ideal choice if you're looking for an affordable 3D printer that's simple to get started and easy to use.
If you're just starting out, the Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo is the best multi-filament 3D printer for beginners. It's fast, affordable, and versatile.
The Creality K1C is tailor-made for use in education - not least thanks to its sturdy build construction. It's a fast 3D printer that even boasts an AI camera.
The Original Prusa MK4 sets the benchmark for all other 3D printers to follow - and it's a device that's perfect for business use, with high-quality prints and prototyping.
In testing the AnkerMake M5C we found a 3D printer that delivers high-quality prints with an impressive level of accuracy. And it's really easy to use, too.
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Featuring a robust construction, precision and accuracy, and plenty of extra features, the TriLab AzteQ Industrial excels as a 3D printer for engineering.
With its 8K resolution, precise prints, and high-quality output, the Creality Halot-Mage is perfect for 3D printing miniatures for tabletop gaming and similar.
Best 3D printer overall
The best 3D printer for just about everyone, the Bambu Lab P1P is quick to set up, easy to use, and we found the speed at which the printer works is remarkable.
For those looking for the ultimate in customization, Bambu Labs provides templates for printing your custom side panels. The P1P allows up to 16 colors through its Automatic Material System (AMS). Control the printer with an onboard screen or connect with Bambu slicing software and mobile app.
With a customizable and advanced 3D printing experience. The P1P borrows from its larger siblings with 20000 mm/s^2 CoreXY acceleration, vibration compensation, and pressure advance technology. The printer also has an automatic bed leveling sensor and a Direct-drive Extruder for better filament control.
In our experience, the 3D printer proved to be slightly restrictive when handling the more advanced materials that need a bit of a heated chamber and hard to customise (and, therefore, not very adaptable). But overall, this printer has wholly shocked us with its price for features and just how good of a printer this model is. We genuinely think this will disrupt the 3D printing market thanks to its price for abilities.
Read our full Bambu P1P 3D Printer
Best 3D printer on a budget
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE 3D Printer is an outstanding entry-level option that blends affordability with reliable performance. Its straightforward setup and user-friendly interface make it accessible for beginners.
With auto-bed leveling and a robust print platform, it delivers high-quality prints consistently. The absence of advanced features like a touchscreen, filament run-out sensor, and camera might be a drawback for some, but for the price, it’s a minor compromise.
Overall, the Ender-3 V3 SE stands out for its exceptional value, making it the best budget 3D printer for those venturing into 3D printing or seeking a cost-effective yet competent machine.
Read our full Creality Ender-3 V3 SE review
Best 3D printer for beginners
The Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo is an exceptional multi-filament 3D printer that stands out for its balance of affordability, versatility, and high performance. Its design integrates a solid metal frame, which reduces vibrations and enhances print quality. The addition of the Anycubic Ace Pro multifilament box allows for easy multi-filament printing, making it an ideal choice for beginners and those looking to expand their creative capabilities.
This printer is user-friendly, with a straightforward setup process that takes about 10-20 minutes from unboxing to being print-ready. The large touchscreen monitor and updated interface make navigation and operation simple and intuitive. The automatic bed leveling system ensures excellent first-layer adhesion, contributing to consistently high-quality prints.
Despite its many strengths, the Kobra 3 Combo has a few drawbacks. The lack of an excess filament tray and the slower speed of multi-filament printing compared to single-filament models might be a minor inconvenience for some users. Additionally, the open frame design limits its suitability for certain environments and materials.
Overall, the Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo offers outstanding value and performance, making it the best multi-filament 3D printer for beginners.
Read our full Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo review
Best 3D printer for education
The Creality K1C is a high-performance 3D printer that excels in handling specialized materials like carbon fiber filaments. Its robust construction and refined AI technology enhance both the usability and reliability of the machine. The K1C’s upgraded cooling system, direct drive clog-free extruder, and the new unicorn tri-metal nozzle ensure consistent, high-quality prints even with abrasive materials.
The fully enclosed design, combined with a flexible PEI build plate and hands-free auto-leveling system, makes setup and operation straightforward. The integrated AI camera provides real-time print monitoring, timelapse recording, and failure detection, adding to the printer’s appeal for professional and industrial use.
Despite its many strengths, the K1C has a few minor drawbacks. The print quality can be slightly affected by the high speeds, and it currently lacks multi-material support, which may be a limitation for some users. Additionally, the higher price point may not be suitable for casual users or those on a tight budget.
Overall, the Creality K1C is a formidable 3D printer that combines advanced features, robust build quality, and excellent material handling, making it an ideal choice for serious 3D printing enthusiasts and professionals.
Read our full Creality K1C review
Best 3D printer for business
The Original Prusa MK4 3D printer is an outstanding choice for businesses, setting a new benchmark for performance with exceptional print quality and advanced features.
It’s ready to use out of the box, with minimal setup required, and offers high-speed printing with excellent reliability. The automatic bed leveling and first layer calibration make it easy to achieve perfect prints every time. Though it comes with a higher price tag, the investment is justified by its versatility and the quality of its outputs.
The MK4 is ideal for professionals who need a dependable, high-performance 3D printer capable of handling various materials and delivering top-notch results. For an alternative, check out our Original Prusa XL review if you'd prefer a multi-filament 3D printer for business use.
Read our full Original Prusa MK4 review
Best 3D printer for precision
The AnkerMake M5C is the best 3D printer for precision, providing outstanding accuracy and high-quality prints with remarkable ease of use. This printer’s user-friendly setup and robust build make it accessible for beginners, while its advanced features like auto-bed leveling ensure consistent, high-quality results.
Despite lacking an enclosure and a physical interface, the M5C’s wireless connectivity and compatibility with popular slicer software enhance its versatility. The print speed and precision are notable, making it ideal for users who prioritize quality and efficiency in their 3D printing projects.
Overall, the AnkerMake M5C is a top choice for those seeking precision and reliability in a budget-friendly package.
Read our full AnkerMake M5C review
Best 3D printer for engineering
The TriLab AzteQ Industrial is the best 3D printer for engineering, providing an unparalleled combination of precision, build quality, and advanced features. Its Delta kinematics ensure high accuracy and superior surface finish, making it ideal for detailed engineering projects.
The large build volume accommodates substantial prototypes, and the heated chamber allows for the use of advanced materials such as ABS, ASA, and PC. Despite its higher price and technical setup requirements, the AzteQ Industrial stands out for its reliability and performance.
It's a perfect choice for engineering professionals who need a robust, high-performance 3D printer for demanding applications.
Read our full TriLab AzteQ Industrial review
Best 3D printer for miniatures
The Creality Harlot-Mage Pro excels in delivering high-quality, intricate prints, making it a superb choice for tabletop gaming enthusiasts. Its 8K resolution ensures that every miniature, character, and terrain piece comes out with exceptional detail and precision.
The large build area allows for the printing of larger sets and multiple smaller pieces simultaneously, making it a good choice for creating complete gaming sets. The user-friendly interface simplifies the process, even for beginners, while the robust build area supports a wide range of projects. Although it requires some initial learning and investment in consumables, the print quality and detail are well worth it for serious gamers and hobbyists.
Read our full Creality Harlot-Mage Pro review
Best 3D printers: FAQs
What is a 3D printer?
Where office-style printers print ink onto paper, you can use 3D printers to build real-world objects made from plastic, metal, and wood digital models for straight-to-market products, spare parts, or prototyping. FDM printers now come in all shapes and sizes and are well-suited to prototyping and crafting larger objects. At the same time, resin-based (SLA, MSLA, and DLP) printers allow for much greater detail, typically at a smaller scale, making them a fantastic buy for anyone looking to design jewelry or create tabletop miniatures.
Whether you are a hobbyist looking to get started in the world of 3D printing or if your business relies on it, 3D printing is a method of creating physical products, unlike any other way we have seen. Printing in 3D is an easy way to create products through additive measures, meaning there is little to no waste. Additionally, the limits are near endless because you can theoretically 3D Print just about anything.
What kind of materials does a 3D printer use to print?
3D printers utilize a range of materials to print.
Entry-level FFF 3D printers remain the most popular, as they're usually cheap and easy to use. Good for prototyping and general use, these filament printers use Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), PETG, TPU, Nylon, and Polycarbonate. Of these, PLA and ABS are the most popular at the moment.
A resin 3D printer or stereolithography (SLA) printer offers higher quality and more precision for intricate modeling - but they cost more. These printers use a photosensitive resin exposed layer by layer to create the final model. This lets you print more complex and detailed designs, but takes more time to set up and it’s a bit messier.
Beyond plastics, some of the best 3D printers we've seen are using concretes and metals. You won't see many of these on a desktop. But it's a possible path towards more efficient and sustainable house-building and other large-scale construction work.
What's the difference between FFF vs FDM 3D printers?
While effectively employing the same printing process and using the same materials, there are some differences between a fused filament fabrication (FFF), fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer.
Firstly, FDM is a name trademarked by Stratasys - although other companies can use the name. But it's not the only difference.
You'll find variations in print quality. Working with more materials than FFF 3D printers, true industrial-grade FDM printers offer larger build platforms, fusing use layers closer together for a stronger bond.
On the other hand, this makes them more expensive to buy and run compared to FFF printers, which are popular especially among beginners.
Do 3D printers use a lot of electricity?
It depends on the size of your 3D printer, what materials are being used and how long you're using the machine. In our experience, FDM printers use the least amount of power compared to other 3D printers.
What is the most profitable thing to make with a 3D printer?
There are a wide range of profitable items that can be made with a 3D printer. These range from personalized items such as phone cases an others, to replacements parts, prototypes, and teaching tools. Any of those areas, if marketed correctly, has the potential to be profitable.
Is 3D printing worth investing in?
It depends on how you intend to use your 3D printer and how often (like most things, really). If you're going to get joy out of modeling and printing - whether it's for personal or professional use, then 3D printing is absolutely worth the investment - especially since costs for entry-level 3D printers are coming down.
How to choose the best 3D printer for you
To select the best 3D printer, you'll need to consider what you're going to do with it. If you're going to be printing small objects, then a small-size printer is apt, but a large printer is naturally the best option for bigger creations.
For printing high-quality objects with fine details, you'll need a high resolution printer, but these prints will cost more and take more time to get ready. For additional savings, watch out for Prime Day 3D printer deals and Black Friday 3D printer deals for once the sales are live.
Look out for the printer's interface and the overall ease of use, along with other aspects like the kind of software it uses, the type of filament, build platform, and pricing.
Find our more in our guide How to get started in 3D printing.
How we test the best 3D printers
We've tested, reviewed, and rated a whole range of printing tools, tech, and services, from the best printers for home and office to the best business card printing services. Whether we're evaluating and comparing the best all-in-one printers or 3D printing equipment, we apply the same rigorous testing process to every model so you can make an informed choice.
Our testing of the best 3D printers use a collection of bespoke benchmarks that help show the strengths and weaknesses of each model that, after time, can be compared against other products. These will differ depending on printer type, but a filament printer will be tested for stringing, bridging, and speed, as well as additional commentary on detail, achieved, and noise levels.
This will be done fairly, with dues given to different materials and printer types, with resin printers being subject to smaller, more detailed models to replace the stringing test. Design, price, and performance will also be explored as sections within the reviews.
In our 3D print workshop, every 3D printer undergoes a comprehensive testing process, regardless of whether it's budget-friendly or eye-wateringly expensive. Our testing procedures are designed to put these printers through rigorous evaluations to ensure we identify the best options available for you.
The testing journey begins with the initial build, set-up and calibration, assessing the ease of the process. While some printers can be up and running within minutes, others may require far more time and effort.
Next, we examine the first layer print quality, dimensional accuracy, bridging, overhangs, stringing, layer adhesion, and surface finish. Speed is another important factor, as we analyse the time it takes the printer to produce a model without compromising print quality. Noise levels are also a consideration; some printers are far from quiet, especially when the speed picks up - OK for short prints but incredibly annoying if a print duration is hours or days long.
Our comprehensive testing includes thoroughly examining features, such as connectivity options, user interface intuitiveness, software compatibility, and any additional functionalities offered. We explore material compatibility, testing the printer with various filaments or resins to assess versatility.
Finally, we consider the price of the printer's overall performance and features, ensuring it aligns with our expectations. We carefully evaluate the intended market for the printer, considering specific user needs and suitability for various applications. Additionally, we analyse the design and aesthetics, recognising the importance of a well-designed and visually appealing product.
By subjecting each printer to these tests and assessments, we can confidently provide you with an informed recommendation as to which is the best 3D printer.
All our tests are conducted from the perspective of the printers target market where possible, so expect to see a lot of tabletop miniatures and figurines alongside the usual 'benches' (test models that are also dubbed as 'torture tests' to see where a printer needs to be better optimized for future prints).
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