Can The xTool M2 Actually Fix The Worst Problem With Desktop DIY Gadgets?

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The xTool M2 is a flexible artistic software that enables its consumer to laser lower and print with a number of colours of ink. The xTool M2 is newest in a line of comparable artistic instruments from the model, the otherwise-most-recent of which was launched again in 2024. The final software on this line was the xTool M1 Ultra — a tool that’s costlier and barely extra versatile than the brand new M2 in a couple of key methods. 

This new gadget is superb in its personal proper — in case you’re trying to print and lower sure supplies, it is glorious. It’s constructed nicely and it does certainly work with all of the options talked about on the xTool M2 product website. It’s an in-between gadget that balances options, dimension, and price in a approach that could be proper up your alley.

It’s additionally marketed as a space-saver. This, extra now than ever earlier than, is the worst downside with DIY devices meant to function out of your desk or workbench: Each (significantly sized) gadget takes up house — and it isn’t all the time attainable to retailer these machines whereas they don’t seem to be in energetic use.

Much like a cook dinner with a kitchen with an ever-increasing variety of countertop home equipment, you (a DIY/artistic particular person) and your workshop might need this all-too-common situation of dwindling work house. The xTool M2 makes the case for the combining of a number of instruments into one, thereby lowering the footprint of the machines that’d in any other case be wanted. But does it go far sufficient?

Both the M1 Ultra and the M2 take up successfully the identical quantity of house in your desk. Both are 7 inches tall (with the highest closed). The M1 Ultra measures in at 24.4 x 19.6 inches, whereas the M2 is 24 x 22.4 inches. Inside the machine, the M2 is ever-so-slightly bigger than the M1 Ultra. The M1 Ultra’s processing space is 11.8 x 11.8 inches whereas the M2 is 16.7 x 12.5 inches.

Both machines are going to take up a major quantity of your worktable — however the distinction between the 2 is negligible. If your different possibility for artistic machines is having one machine for laser chopping and one other machine for inkjet printing on a number of kinds of materials, you will definitely have a smaller footprint with both of xTool’s “M” machine choices. 

If you are aiming for a multifunctional creator software with quick-swap modules, I suppose you will be hard-pressed to discover a extra simple-to-use, plug-and-play possibility than the xTool M2. Swapping between modules requires that you just unplug a USB-C twine, take away one module (connected magnetically), connect one other module (magnetically), and plug the USB-C twine again in (to the brand new module). 

The down aspect of this tremendous easy magnetic system is that the machine is just not appropriate for modules that require bodily strain — the xTool M2 cannot use instruments that contact your artistic supplies. If you desire a machine that may draw with pens, work with foil switch, and lower with blades, the xTool M1 Ultra is the machine to get.

If you are presently in want of laser-cutting machines that work with 10W and 20W blue diode lasers and a 3W IR laser, the M2 may very nicely be the 3-in-1 gadget you want. The gadget is shipped with the 10W laser, solely — except you get a bundle that accommodates a number of of the opposite interchangeable modules. Every 10W laser check I’ve run to date with the xTool M2 has labored like a attraction. I’ve completely no complaints in regards to the performance of this primary laser system as but.

This gadget additionally has the flexibility to work with inkjet printing, but it surely’s not the form of inkjet you’d use to print multi-page paper paperwork. You completely can print on paper (and quite a lot of different surfaces) however this printer has no paper feed, no rollers — it is meant to print one product at a time.

This printer works with a proprietary $99 40ml ink cartridge, a considerably bigger cartridge than the M1 Ultra (15ml), however it is going to be troublesome to check/present how lengthy it’s going to final in any form of customary approach as a consequence of its supposed multi-surface use.

You can print on papers, cardstock, non permanent tattoo paper — they work nice. No complaints there — I would not count on to print any museum-ready photographs with this machine because it doesn’t presently have granular shade controls like a conventional printer would with its personal printer driver or connectivity with third get together apps. 

You have to pre-treat different supplies earlier than you print, however you may doubtlessly print wooden, canvas, glass, acrylic, and satin material. Tests with these have given blended (however acceptable) outcomes. All prints are water-soluble, although, so I’m not anticipating any of the material prints to outlive a visit to the wash machine.

Both the xTool M2 and M1 Ultra have what would possibly look like fairly cheap costs for what they promise — proper round $550 for the M2, and roughly $900 for the M1 Ultra (each of those costs are within the xTool retailer on-line as of late June 2026).

The base ($900) package deal with the xTool M1 Ultra will get you a base 10W laser module, an ink module for printing, foil switch tip, rotary blade, fine-point blade, chopping blade, and some nice level pens that the gadget can use to attract. The base ($550) package deal with the M2 will get you a 10W laser module. Or you may ramp as much as the “color print and cut bundle” at $700 and also you get the CMYK ink module for printing.

It’s essential to notice, right here, that the xTool M1 Ultra was first launched on July 11, 2024. While you would proceed to match the 2 units as in the event that they’re out on equal footing, it is best to think about that the xTool M1 Ultra in all probability is not lengthy for this world — or, no less than, is not going to be bought by xTool itself for for much longer.*

In the not-too-distant previous, you’d have wanted to have a number of machines to make use of the options current in xTool’s “M” line of creator machines. If you solely want a laser cutter, I might not suggest that you just begin with an xTool M gadget. You ought to have a look at the very best moveable laser engraver on the block: xTool F2. That machine has a really small enclosed stage on which it cuts — however the backside of the machine opens up, too, so you may lower into any floor you could find. On the opposite finish of the spectrum is the large “P” line — that’ll run you over $3k on the very least (except you discover a refurbished mannequin) and it will be the final laser cutter you ever personal (in a great way).

Or you would select a finishing gadget, like a refurbished Glowforge Aura. If you do think about that (probably the most well-known desktop laser cutter machine manufacturers), it is essential to notice that you will want to make use of a web based software to do something and every part. If you would not have an web connection, you can not use your Glowforge machine.

That in thoughts: one main purpose I’d select xTool over Glowforge is its xTool Studio software program. It’s a desktop app that doesn’t want an web connection or an online browser to perform. This software program is comparatively simple to make use of, extremely succesful, and it really works with out requiring that you just use an always-connected internet-based platform for entry. 

While the M2 is a nice machine with its present toolset, I wish to see xTool take the modularity of the platform and increase it considerably. Right now, every “M” gadget’s modules are restricted to at least one machine. If xTool actually, really wished to satisfy the dream of a “space-saving” multi-functional do-it-all gadget, they’d create one able to utilizing modules made within the distant future. 

For now, you are left making concessions no matter which “M” you select. For occasion, each the M1 Ultra and the M2 have the flexibility to work with 10W and 20W blue diode laser modules*, however solely the M2 has a 3W IR Laser add-on within the works. One should count on that some form of next-gen “Ultra” mannequin might be launched by xTool finally (with entry to all of those instruments and extra) – however the firm has not but teased or revealed any such gadget.

*Also, as of June 29, 2026, xTool’s M1 Ultra listing page means that the 20W laser (for the M1 Ultra) is totally bought out. So you’ve got acquired that to contemplate, too: It’s been some time because the M1 Ultra was initially launched — roughly two full years in the past by the point this function article is about to publish — xTool will not preserve manufacturing elements without end.

The xTool M2 (available from xTool online for a starting price of approximately $600) doesn’t fully remedy the largest downside with DIY/creator machines at this time (that of ever-shrinking desk house) — but it surely’s a begin. The xTool “M” platform is on course — we’ll be trying to the seemingly (however as-yet unconfirmed) “Ultra” model of this machine to bridge the hole.