Quick Answer: The xTool F1 Ultra is the world’s first desktop laser to combine a 20W fiber and a 20W diode source, and in 2026 it sells for about $1,999 — a large drop from its launch price near $3,999. The galvo system runs at up to 10,000 mm/s and the 20W fiber laser actually cuts thin metal (0.3mm stainless, 0.4mm brass) and deep-engraves all metals, while the 20W diode cuts wood up to 15mm and acrylic up to 12mm — over a 220×220mm bed (expandable to 220×500mm with the conveyor). Buy it if you need to both mark and cut metal fast for a jewelry, parts, or personalization business; if you only mark metal, the cheaper standard xTool F1 is enough.
The F1 Ultra is xTool’s answer to a real problem: makers who needed a fiber laser for metal and a diode for wood previously bought two machines. The Ultra folds both into one enclosed galvo body, doubles the standard F1’s speed, and — after a year of price cuts — now lands in the same budget many people set aside for a single mid-range engraver. This review covers what it really does, where the fiber-plus-diode combo pays off, how it compares to the standard xTool F1 and xTool S1, and who should buy it.
xTool F1 Ultra at a glance
| Spec | xTool F1 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Laser type | Galvo dual laser: 20W fiber (1064nm) + 20W diode (455nm) |
| Max speed | Up to 10,000 mm/s |
| Work area | 8.7"×8.7" (220×220mm); to 220×500mm with auto conveyor |
| Metal cutting | Yes — 0.3mm stainless, 0.4mm brass, 0.2mm aluminum |
| Metal engraving | All metals: steel, brass, titanium, gold, silver, anodized aluminum |
| Wood/acrylic cutting | Up to 15mm wood, 12mm black acrylic (20W diode) |
| Camera | 16MP smart camera + Auto Streamline batch production |
| Enclosure | Fully enclosed — blocks 455nm + 1064nm (no goggles, closed lid) |
| Software | xTool Creative Space (XCS); LightBurn galvo support |
| Price (2026) | From ~$1,999 (launch was ~$3,999) |
| Best for | Metal cutting + marking, jewelry, batch production, mixed materials |
xTool F1 Ultra by the numbers
- The F1 Ultra pairs a 20W fiber (1064nm) and a 20W diode (455nm) laser in one desktop galvo machine — a world first (per xTool) — the fiber deep-engraves and cuts metal while the diode cuts wood and acrylic, so a single unit replaces the two machines makers used to need.
- It engraves at up to 10,000 mm/s (per xTool) — about twice the standard F1’s 4,000 mm/s and roughly 25× an open-frame diode at 100–400 mm/s, because the galvo steers the beam with mirrors instead of accelerating a gantry.
- The 20W fiber laser cuts up to 0.3mm stainless steel, 0.4mm brass, and 0.2mm aluminum, and the 20W diode cuts wood up to 15mm and acrylic up to 12mm (per xTool) — genuine thin-metal cutting is the capability the standard F1 fundamentally lacks.
- The price has fallen to roughly $1,999 in 2026, down from a launch price near $3,999 (per Laser Engraver Expert and Amazon) — that cut is what moved the Ultra from a production-shop splurge into mainstream-buyer range.
- Reviewers highlight the dual-source design as genuinely eliminating the need for two separate machines, with excellent metal-marking quality (per Maker Hacks) — the main question they raise is whether you need the diode’s wood-and-acrylic cutting badly enough to justify the step up from a pure fiber marker.
What the xTool F1 Ultra does well
It cuts metal, not just marks it. This is the headline. The standard F1’s 2W IR laser marks bare metal; the Ultra’s 20W fiber cuts thin stainless, brass, and aluminum and deep-engraves relief into all metals. For anyone making metal jewelry, tags, or serialized parts, that turns the machine from a decorator into a fabricator — which is why it anchors our best fiber laser engraver and best laser engraver for metal picks.
One machine, two material worlds. The 20W fiber owns metal; the 20W diode cuts wood up to 15mm and acrylic up to 12mm. A jeweler can engrave a silver pendant and cut a walnut display stand on the same unit without swapping machines — the versatility that lands it in our best laser engraver for jewelry roundup.
Speed and batching are built for selling. At up to 10,000 mm/s with a 16MP camera and Auto Streamline, the Ultra lays out and runs dozens of parts in a single pass — trays of blanks, sheets of tags — the throughput a real order book needs. That’s why it shows up in our best laser engraver for small business and best portable laser engraver guides.
Running an engraving business? A free Amazon Business account unlocks quantity discounts and tax-exempt purchasing on machines, metal blanks, and rotary accessories.
xTool F1 vs xTool F1 Ultra
| xTool F1 | xTool F1 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Lasers | 2W IR + 10W diode | 20W fiber + 20W diode |
| Max speed | 4,000 mm/s | 10,000 mm/s |
| Work area | 115×115mm | 220×220mm (to 220×500mm w/ conveyor) |
| Metal | Marking only | Cuts 0.3mm stainless, 0.4mm brass, 0.2mm aluminum |
| Wood/acrylic cutting | Light cutting | Up to 15mm wood, 12mm acrylic |
| Camera / batch | Positioning camera | 16MP camera + Auto Streamline |
| Price (2026) | ~$1,099 | ~$1,999 |
The two machines are the same idea at different scales. The standard F1 is the portable metal marker: dual laser, 4,000 mm/s, small 115×115mm bed, and a 2W IR module that engraves metal but can’t cut it — perfect for jewelry and tag decoration on a budget. The F1 Ultra is a metal fabricator: its 20W fiber cuts thin metal and deep-engraves relief, it doubles the speed to 10,000 mm/s over a 220×220mm bed, and it adds a 16MP camera with batch production. In 2026 the gap between them has narrowed to about $900 — far less than the ~$2,000 spread at launch — so the Ultra is much easier to justify than it once was. For the wider brand lineup, see our best xTool laser engraver ranking and our Glowforge vs xTool comparison.
Where the xTool F1 Ultra falls short
- It’s thin-metal cutting, not thick-plate. The 20W fiber cuts foil-to-sheet stock (0.3mm stainless), not 3mm steel. For structural metal parts you still need a high-power fiber or CNC — the Ultra is a marker-and-light-cutter, not a fabricating shop.
- The bed is still compact. At 220×220mm the Ultra is far bigger than the F1’s 115×115mm, but it’s sized for jewelry, tags, and small panels. For large signs or full sheets, the enclosed xTool S1 (498×319mm) or an open-frame diode has more room.
- Fumes demand ventilation. Fiber-marking metal and diode-cutting wood both produce smoke; budget for xTool’s purifier or an outside vent, especially indoors.
- XCS-first software. Like the F1, the Ultra is tuned around xTool Creative Space and its camera framing. LightBurn works, but the camera and dual-source workflow are best in XCS.
Who should buy the xTool F1 Ultra
The xTool F1 Ultra is the right machine if you need to cut and deep-engrave metal — not just mark it — and want wood and acrylic cutting in the same unit. It’s built for jewelry brands, custom metal-parts and hardware makers, and personalization businesses running real volume who would otherwise buy a separate fiber and diode machine. At ~$1,999 in 2026 it’s no longer a luxury splurge; the price cut put a dual-source galvo laser within reach of serious hobbyists. It’s not the pick if you only mark metal (get the cheaper standard F1), need a large bed (look at the xTool S1), or work on a tight budget (see our best budget laser engraver guide). For makers who want one fast machine that truly does both metal and wood, the F1 Ultra earns its spot in our overall best laser engraver and best laser engraver for small business rankings.
Ready to buy? Compare the F1 Ultra, the conveyor add-on, and the rotary attachment and check today’s price: