Quick Answer: The xTool M2 is an enclosed, Class 1 craft machine that prints in full CMYK color and then laser-cuts or engraves on the same bed, from $499 for the 10W Standalone to $1,849 for the 40W All-in-One Bundle on xtool.com (October 31, 2026). The configuration to buy for most people is the 10W Color Print & Cut Bundle at $599, because the print module is the reason to choose an M2 at all. Skip it if you cut vinyl or HTV (it has no blade) or if you never print, because a laser-only machine puts more cutting power behind the same money.
This review combines three things you can check yourself: xTool’s M2 spec sheet and full price list (read on October 31, 2026), xTool’s own buyer guide comparing the M2 with the M1 Ultra it replaced, and the hands-on test Tom’s Hardware published after launch. Where they disagree, we say so. For xTool’s whole lineup, see our best xTool laser engraver guide; if you are still choosing between a laser and a blade cutter, start with laser engraver vs Cricut.
Last updated: October 31, 2026. Prices are from xtool.com on that date; xTool’s store was running an “Early Black Friday” promotion, so the 10W and 20W prices are below list.
xTool M2 at a glance
| Spec | xTool M2 (per xtool.com, Oct 31, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Processing modes | Laser cutting, laser engraving, inkjet printing (no blade, no pen) |
| Laser modules | 10W, 20W or 40W 455nm blue diode; optional 3W 1064nm infrared |
| Printing module | CMYK inkjet (optional, $169 on its own), 1200 x 1200 dpi, water-based ink |
| Working area | 10W/20W: 426 x 320 mm (16.7 x 12.6 in); 40W: 426 x 312 mm; 3W IR: 412 x 310 mm; inkjet mode: 300 x 284 mm (11.8 x 11.2 in) |
| One-pass cutting, basswood | 10W: 8 mm; 20W: 10 mm; 40W: 15 mm |
| One-pass cutting, black acrylic | 10W: 3 mm; 20W: 8 mm; 40W: 11 mm (clear acrylic cannot be cut) |
| Laser spot size | 10W: 0.04 x 0.06 mm; 20W: 0.06 x 0.08 mm; 40W: 0.08 x 0.10 mm |
| Max speed | 600 mm/s |
| Cameras and focus | 5MP panoramic + 2MP close-range camera; autofocus; probe ranging (0.1 mm) |
| Accuracy | Motion 0.01 mm; camera positioning up to 0.2 mm (wide-angle under 1.5 mm) |
| Rotary | 0-100 mm diameter, no riser needed |
| Air assist | Built in |
| Software and connection | xTool Studio (Windows, macOS); USB, Wi-Fi; SVG, DXF, JPG, PNG, BMP |
| Size and weight | 610 x 569 x 180 mm; 12.3 kg (27.1 lb); arrives pre-assembled |
| Power | 200W max input; 100-240V AC |
| Safety rating | Class 1 laser safety, TÜV SÜD certified |
| Warranty | 12 months standard; xToolCare extensions from $47.20 a year (10W) |
| Price | $499 (10W Standalone) to $1,849 (40W All-in-One Bundle) |
xTool M2 by the numbers
- The 20W option costs exactly $400 more than the 10W in every bundle, and the 40W another $400 on top (xtool.com price list, October 31, 2026). That flat step makes the laser decision independent of the bundle decision.
- A 10W M2 cuts 8 mm basswood but only 3 mm black acrylic in one pass; the 20W raises acrylic to 8 mm (per xTool’s spec sheet). Tom’s Hardware called the acrylic jump the main reason to pay for the 20W.
- xTool rates the 40 ml CMYK cartridge at about 800 pages under ISO/IEC 24712 at 5% page coverage, double the 400 pages it quotes for the M1 Ultra’s 15 ml cartridge. At $59 per cartridge, that is about 7.4 cents per ISO page.
- xTool’s own comparison lists the M2 at up to 600 mm/s against about 400 mm/s for the M1 Ultra, and Tom’s Hardware still got a usable range of shades on a birch-ply test grid at the full 600 mm/s.
- Tom’s Hardware cut printed stickers in one pass at 15% power and 15 mm/s on the 10W head without cutting through the backing, which is the core print-and-cut job the M2 is sold for.
Every M2 configuration and what it costs
xTool sells the M2 in three laser powers and four bundles. These are the twelve prices on xtool.com on October 31, 2026, with the list price in brackets where xTool shows one.
| Bundle (what it adds) | 10W | 20W | 40W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone (machine + laser head) | $499 ($599) | $899 ($999) | $1,299 |
| Color Print & Cut (+ CMYK inkjet module and cartridge) | $599 ($749) | $999 ($1,149) | $1,399 |
| Deluxe (+ RA3 Lite rotary) | $829 ($989) | $1,229 ($1,389) | $1,629 |
| All-in-One (+ Desktop Air Purifier and duct adapter) | $1,049 ($1,259) | $1,449 ($1,659) | $1,849 |
The bundle badges compare against list prices. Against xTool’s own separate prices for the same parts, the savings are smaller and uneven:
| Step up | Bundle adds | Same parts bought separately | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone to Color Print & Cut | $100 | $169 (CMYK module) | $69 |
| Color Print & Cut to Deluxe | $230 | $259 (RA3 Lite for M2) | $29 |
| Deluxe to All-in-One | $220 | $263 ($249 purifier + $14 adapter) | $43 |
| Standalone to All-in-One, total | $550 | $691 | $141 |
Our read: the Color Print & Cut step is the only clearly good deal, at $100 for a $169 module, and it is the feature that sets the M2 apart from every other enclosed diode laser. The rotary and the purifier save $29 and $43; take them only if you would buy them anyway. Two add-ons are not in any bundle: the Fire Safety Set 2 for X1/M2 ($169, automatic CO2 fire extinguishing) and the M2 Riser Base Kit ($219) for taller objects. Spare cartridges are $59 each or $99 for two. If you vent through a window instead of a purifier, see our laser fume extractor guide for what the purifier is up against.
10W, 20W or 40W?
The three diode heads trade detail for cutting depth. Higher power means a bigger spot, so the 10W is not just the cheap option; it is also the finest engraver of the three.
| Laser head | Basswood, one pass | Black acrylic, one pass | Spot size | Standalone price | Head bought later |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10W diode | 8 mm | 3 mm | 0.04 x 0.06 mm | $499 | Included |
| 20W diode | 10 mm | 8 mm | 0.06 x 0.08 mm | $899 | $599 |
| 40W diode | 15 mm | 11 mm | 0.08 x 0.10 mm | $1,299 | $899 |
| 3W infrared (add-on) | Not for cutting | Not for cutting | n/a | n/a | $499 |
The upgrade path is where buyers lose money. A 10W M2 plus a 20W head bought later costs $1,098, which is $199 more than buying the 20W machine at $899. A 10W plus a 40W head is $1,398, or $99 more than the 40W machine. You do end up with two heads, and the 10W’s finer spot is useful for photo engraving, but if you already know you will cut acrylic, buy the 20W on day one.
The 40W joined the lineup on October 21, 2026, at full price with no list-price discount. At $1,299 it sits $149 below the xTool S1 40W Basic Bundle ($1,448 on xtool.com), which xTool rates for 18 mm cherry and 15 mm dark acrylic on a larger 498 x 319 mm bed. If you will never print, the S1 is the stronger cutter for a little more money.
What the M2 cannot do
It cannot cut vinyl or heat-transfer vinyl. The M2 has no blade module. xTool lists its processing modes as laser cutting, laser engraving and inkjet printing, and xTool’s own M2-vs-M1 Ultra guide says plainly that heat-transfer vinyl “is best handled with a blade cutter” and that “laser cutting vinyl can produce harmful fumes.” Most craft vinyl is PVC, and lasering PVC releases chlorine-based gas that attacks both your lungs and the machine’s optics. One oddity: the meta description on xTool’s own M2 product page still mentions “blade cutting,” but the spec sheet, the module list and xTool’s comparison guide all say there is none.
It cannot cut clear acrylic. A 455nm blue diode passes straight through transparent acrylic, so xTool lists only opaque acrylic as cuttable. Clear acrylic can be printed on with pre-treatment, not cut. For clear acrylic signs, see our best laser engraver for acrylic picks, which lean on CO2.
It does not run LightBurn, according to xTool. The spec sheet lists xTool Studio as the only supported software, on Windows and macOS. If you already run another machine in LightBurn, the M2 will be a second workflow.
What the ink really costs
The M2’s color system is the headline feature, so the cartridge math matters more than on any laser-only machine.
| Ink figure | xTool M2 | xTool M1 Ultra (per xTool) |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | CMYK (true black) | CMY (black mixed from three colors) |
| Cartridge | 40 ml (10 ml per color) | 15 ml (5 ml per color) |
| Rated yield, ISO/IEC 24712 at 5% coverage | About 800 pages | About 400 pages |
| Rated yield, full concentration / high precision | About 400 pages | Not published |
| Print resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi | 1200 x 600 dpi |
| Cartridge price, Oct 31, 2026 | $59 (list $99); $99 for two | No longer sold with the machine |
| Ink cost per ISO page | About 6.2 to 7.4 cents | n/a |
The 800-page figure assumes 5% coverage, which is a page of text. A full sheet of stickers or a printed photo puzzle covers most of the page. As a rough estimate, assuming ink use scales with coverage, a cartridge that lasts 800 pages at 5% would last about 80 sheets at 50% coverage, or about 74 cents of ink per sheet at $59. Price your sticker sheets with that number, not the headline. Tom’s Hardware also flagged the refill cost: the $169 module with a cartridge “doesn’t seem exorbitant – until you realize ink refills are $99” (the two-pack price).
Plan around the smallest print area. xTool publishes three different print-area figures: 391.5 x 290 mm in the inkjet module table, 300 x 284 mm as the “inkjet mode” working area, and 11.8 x 11.5 in in its M2-vs-M1 Ultra guide. Tom’s Hardware reported a 348 x 300 mm common print-and-laser area in the software. Until xTool reconciles them, design for 300 x 284 mm.
On print quality, Tom’s Hardware found its first test print on xTool art paper “lacks contrast and pop” next to a screen, but judged a printed menu “just as nice” as a commercial lithographic print of the same file, if a little light. Prints on wood and other porous blanks need xTool’s fixative or primer spray first ($7.99 and $9.99), and Tom’s notes you may need to lacquer them to make them splash-proof.
xTool M2 vs M1 Ultra
xTool no longer sells the M1 Ultra; its xtool.com product page returned a 404 on October 31, 2026, and xTool’s comparison guide now carries a note saying so. The M2 is not a straight upgrade, though. It is a narrower machine with better print and laser hardware.
| xTool M2 | xTool M1 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Status (Oct 31, 2026) | On sale, from $499 | No longer sold by xTool (was from $899) |
| Diode laser | 10W / 20W / 40W | 10W / 20W |
| Infrared module | 3W, optional ($499) | Not supported |
| Printing | CMYK, 40 ml | CMY, 15 ml |
| Blade cutting | No | Yes, multiple blades |
| Pen drawing / foiling | No | Yes |
| Max laser area | 16.7 x 12.5 in | 11.8 x 11.8 in |
| Max speed | Up to 600 mm/s | About 400 mm/s |
| Positioning | Dual cameras | Pinpoint laser positioning plus phone snapshot |
| Air assist | Built in | Bought separately |
| Rotary (up to 100 mm) | Direct, no riser | Needs a riser base |
Source: xTool’s “xTool M2 vs M1 Ultra” buyer guide (updated July 2, 2026) and xtool.com, October 31, 2026. Tom’s Hardware measured the M1 Ultra at 300 mm/s at best, slower than xTool’s own figure.
If you own an M1 Ultra and make HTV shirts, vinyl decals or foiled cards, keep it: the M2 cannot do any of those. If your M1 Ultra mostly prints and laser-cuts, the M2’s black ink, cameras and bigger bed are a real upgrade for $599.
What the xTool M2 does well
Setup is close to zero. Tom’s Hardware’s unit came fully assembled; you peel off the protective film and transport tape, connect it by USB once, and xTool Studio walks you through calibrating whichever magnetic head is installed.
The cameras remove the M1 Ultra’s guesswork. A lid camera sees the whole bed, a head camera handles close-up alignment, and a third camera in one corner watches for flames. During Tom’s testing the flame camera paused a job “a couple of times” with a loud beep; resuming had no visible effect on the finished piece.
Air assist and extraction come standard. The built-in air pump and a powered exhaust fan with an extendable hose were extras or absent on the M1 Ultra. Tom’s ran the hose out of a window and found it cleared cutting smoke quickly.
Print-and-cut works as advertised. Tom’s printed stickers, generated offset cut lines in xTool Studio, and cut them cleanly in one pass without cutting the backing. A printed tic-tac-toe set and a photo jigsaw went from file to finished piece with the machine prompting each head swap.
Where the xTool M2 falls short
- Software rough edges. Tom’s found a test-grid generator bug that applied one setting to every cell, no preset for sticker cut-outs despite stickers being in xTool’s marketing, and a jigsaw job that cut the outer frame first, dropping the pieces onto the metal bed out of focus. The fix was moving the frame to its own last layer. A honeycomb bed would also have helped.
- The rotary is fiddly. The RA3 Lite needs a different magnetic head adapter, the camera positioning stops being useful in rotary mode, and Tom’s could not engrave within about an inch of the chuck jaws. For tumblers in volume, see our rotary attachment guide.
- Metal costs extra. The 3W infrared module is $499, nearly the price of the 10W machine, and xTool’s own guide says the blue diode does not handle metal well.
- Inkjet limits. Water-based prints on wood and acrylic need a primer or fixative first and may need lacquer afterwards; print area is smaller than the laser area.
- 12-month standard warranty. That is short for a $1,000-plus bundle. xToolCare adds a year for $47.20 (10W), $79.20 (20W) or $103.20 (40W) on October 31, 2026.
xTool M2 vs the alternatives
| Machine (xtool.com, Oct 31, 2026) | Price | Prints in color | Cuts vinyl | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xTool M2 10W Color Print & Cut | $599 | Yes (CMYK) | No | Stickers, labels, printed gifts |
| xTool M2 20W Color Print & Cut | $999 | Yes (CMYK) | No | Print-and-cut plus acrylic |
| xTool M2 40W Standalone | $1,299 | Add-on | No | Thick cutting in a small Class 1 box |
| xTool S1 40W Basic Bundle | $1,448 | No | No | Laser-only cutting, bigger bed |
| xTool F2 | $1,299 | No | No | Portable fast engraving, IR + diode |
| Blade cutter (Cricut-type) | Varies | No | Yes | Vinyl, HTV, paper, fabric |
xTool M2 10W Color Print & Cut Bundle (the one to buy)
- Adds the $169 CMYK module and a cartridge for $100 over the Standalone.
- Finest spot of the three diode heads (0.04 x 0.06 mm) for photo and detail engraving.
- Cuts 8 mm basswood, cardstock, sticker paper and 3 mm black acrylic per xTool.
- Class 1 enclosure, dual cameras, built-in air assist, 12.3 kg.
xTool M2 20W Color Print & Cut Bundle
- Black acrylic cutting jumps from 3 mm to 8 mm in one pass; basswood to 10 mm.
- $199 cheaper than buying the 10W and adding the $599 20W head later.
- Same print system, bed and cameras as the 10W.
xTool S1 40W Basic Bundle
- xTool rates it for 18 mm cherry and 15 mm dark acrylic in one pass.
- 498 x 319 mm bed against the M2's 426 x 320 mm.
- No inkjet module, no blade; a pure enclosed diode laser.
Who should buy the xTool M2
Buy it if you sell or gift printed-and-cut items: sticker sheets, product labels, temporary tattoos, printed wood ornaments, photo puzzles, printed acrylic keychains. It also suits a first laser for a shared craft room, because it is Class 1, enclosed, pre-assembled and starts at $499, which is why it fits alongside our best laser engraver for beginners picks and the enclosed laser shortlist.
Skip it if vinyl or HTV is your product (it has no blade, so pair a laser with a blade cutter instead), if you never print (the S1 40W cuts deeper on a bigger bed), if you mark metal for a living (the $499 IR add-on is a workaround, not a fiber laser), or if your shop already runs LightBurn on everything.
The bottom line
The xTool M2 does one thing no other enclosed diode laser does at this price: it prints in true-black CMYK and laser-cuts around the print on the same 16.7 x 12.6 in bed. Buy the 10W Color Print & Cut Bundle at $599, or the 20W version at $999 if acrylic matters, and skip the rotary and purifier bundles unless you need those parts. Budget for ink by coverage, not by the 800-page headline, and keep a blade cutter for vinyl, because the M2 dropped the blade that made the M1 Ultra a four-in-one.
Sources
- xTool M2 Color Craft Laser Cutter & Engraver product page and spec sheet (prices, bundles, spec tables, ink yields; read October 31, 2026)
- xTool: “xTool M2 vs M1 Ultra: The 4 Differences That Really Matter” (updated July 2, 2026)
- Tom’s Hardware: xTool M2 color craft laser and engraver review
- xtool.com store catalog, October 31, 2026: M2 20W head $599, 40W head $899, 3W IR module $499, CMYK module $169, RA3 Lite for M2 $259, Desktop Air Purifier for M2 $249, Fire Safety Set 2 $169, M2 Riser Base Kit $219, ink cartridge $59 / two for $99, xTool S1 40W Basic Bundle $1,448, xTool F2 $1,299