Quick Answer: The xTool S1 is the best all-around enclosed diode laser of 2026 — and the pillar pick on this site for most makers. It’s the world’s first fully enclosed 40W diode machine, Class-1 safety certified so you can run it on a desk without goggles, and per xTool’s published specs the 40W cuts 18mm cherry wood and 15mm dark acrylic in a single pass — close to desktop-CO2 territory. You get a 19.6”×12.5” work area, one-button autofocus, curved-surface engraving, and an optional 2W 1064nm IR module for bare metal. The 20W lists at $2,099 and regularly sells around $1,699; the 40W rotary bundle lists at $3,724 and sells around $2,699 (per xTool’s July 2026 pricing). The trade-offs: it’s not cheap, and LightBurn support is partial — full features need xTool’s free Creative Space app. Buy the 40W if you cut and sell; buy the 20W to save money and get the finest engraving detail.
Last verified: July 16, 2026. Prices in this review reflect xTool’s current July 2026 store pricing: the S1 20W lists at $2,099 and typically sells around $1,699 on sale, while the 40W rotary bundle (with air assist, honeycomb, riser, and RA2 Pro rotary) lists at $3,724 and sells around $2,699 — noticeably above the early-2026 street prices this machine launched at.
The xTool S1 is the machine that made “enclosed diode” a serious category. Before it, you mostly chose between cheap open-frame diode engravers that needed goggles and a dedicated room, or expensive CO2 cutters. The S1 put a high-power diode inside a Class-1 enclosure with autofocus and curved-surface engraving, and priced it below most desktop CO2 machines. This review covers what it actually does, the real 20W-vs-40W trade-off, where it beats and loses to the competition, and who should buy it.
xTool S1 at a glance
| Spec | xTool S1 |
|---|---|
| Laser type | Enclosed blue diode (455nm), 20W or 40W |
| 40W construction | Eight 5.5W diodes compressed into one 40W beam |
| Bed size | 23.93"×15.16" (608×385mm) |
| Work area | 19.6"×12.5" (498×319mm) |
| Max speed | 600 mm/s |
| Spot size | 0.08×0.10mm (40W) · 0.06×0.08mm (20W) |
| Precision | 0.01mm |
| Focus | Automatic (needle-probe + motorized Z) |
| Safety | Class-1 certified, fully enclosed |
| Curved engraving | Yes (dynamic autofocus) |
| Metal engraving | Optional 2W 1064nm IR module |
| Software | xTool Creative Space (free) + partial LightBurn |
| Price | 20W $2,099 list (sale ~$1,699) · 40W rotary bundle $3,724 list (sale ~$2,699) |
| Best for | Serious hobbyists, Etsy/small-business makers |
xTool S1 by the numbers
- The 40W S1 combines eight 5.5W diodes into a single 40W beam (per xTool’s product specs) — the engineering trick that made it the world’s first fully enclosed 40W diode cutter, with cutting power xTool positions against desktop CO2.
- The 40W cuts 18mm cherry wood, 15mm dark opaque acrylic, and 0.1mm stainless steel in one pass; the 20W cuts 10mm wood and 8mm acrylic (per xTool’s published cutting tests) — the single clearest reason to step up to the 40W if you cut thick stock.
- It runs at up to 600 mm/s with 0.01mm precision and a 0.08×0.10mm spot (per xTool’s spec sheet), fast enough for batch production while staying crisp on detail work.
- The enclosure is Class-1 safety certified (per xTool) — the highest consumer laser-safety class, meaning no harmful laser light escapes during normal use, so unlike open-frame diodes you don’t need goggles or a sealed-off room.
- The work area is 19.6”×12.5” (498×319mm) inside a 23.93”×15.16” bed (per xTool), large for a diode machine — roomy enough for signs, large cutting boards, and tiled batch jobs.
What the xTool S1 does well
Power in a safe package is its headline feature. Independent reviewers like Hobby Laser Cutters and Creative Bloq confirm the 40W genuinely cuts thick hardwood and acrylic in a single pass — the kind of work that used to require a CO2 machine — while the Class-1 enclosure means you can run it next to your desk. That combination is the whole reason the S1 became the default recommendation for serious diode buyers.
Autofocus removes the most error-prone step. A needle probe measures the exact surface height and a motorized Z-axis sets perfect focus at the press of a button. On cheaper diodes you set focus by hand with a spacer block, and a wrong guess ruins the cut. The S1’s autofocus works across materials and is what makes its curved-surface engraving possible — the machine dynamically adjusts focus across the curve of a tumbler, mug, or rounded sign.
It’s genuinely versatile. Add the RA2 Pro rotary and you can engrave tumblers, mugs, and rings; add the 2W 1064nm IR module and you can mark bare metal and clear acrylic the blue diode struggles with. Few machines at this price cover wood cutting, photo-quality engraving, cylindrical objects, and bare metal in one footprint.
The 20W and 40W Basic Bundles and the Rotary Bundle are all listed on Amazon, and pricing moves with xTool’s frequent promotions.
20W vs 40W: which to buy
| xTool S1 20W | xTool S1 40W | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts cherry wood (1 pass) | 10mm | 18mm |
| Cuts dark acrylic (1 pass) | 8mm | 15mm |
| Cuts stainless (1 pass) | 0.04mm | 0.1mm |
| Laser spot | 0.06×0.08mm (finer) | 0.08×0.10mm |
| Best for | Engraving + light cutting, lower price | Cutting, production, thick stock |
| Price from | ~$1,699 (sale) / $2,099 list | ~$2,699 (rotary bundle, sale) |
The decision is simple. If you primarily cut — plywood, hardwood, thick acrylic — or you run a business where throughput matters, the 40W pays for itself in fewer passes and faster jobs. If you primarily engrave and only cut thin material occasionally, the 20W saves roughly $400 and actually delivers slightly finer detail thanks to its smaller spot. There’s no wrong answer; match it to whether you cut or engrave more.
Where the xTool S1 falls short
- It’s an investment. Starting near $1,699 on sale ($2,099 list) before accessories, it’s far from the cheapest way to start. If you only personalize thin wood and leather occasionally, a budget diode engraver or the simpler Glowforge Aura costs less.
- It’s a laser only. If your shop also needs vinyl cutting, full-color printing, or pen drawing, the S1 doesn’t do any of that — see our xTool M1 Ultra review for a machine built around exactly those extra modes.
- LightBurn support is partial. LightBurn handles focusing, framing, processing, and the rotary, but xTool notes the third-party app can’t access native features like material-area measurement and curved-surface engraving mode. To use every S1 feature you’ll run xTool Creative Space (XCS). That’s fine — XCS is free and capable — but LightBurn loyalists should know the limitation.
- You still need ventilation. Class-1 means eye-safe, not fume-free. Cutting and engraving release smoke, so you’ll vent the exhaust outdoors or add xTool’s smoke purifier — an extra cost and a placement consideration.
- Diode, not CO2 or fiber. The S1 is the most capable diode you can buy, but it still won’t engrave clear glass as cleanly as a CO2 machine or deep-etch bare steel as fast as a dedicated fiber laser. For those, see our best laser cutter and diode vs CO2 breakdowns.
Who should buy the xTool S1
The xTool S1 is the right machine if you want one versatile, safe, powerful laser and you’re past the absolute-beginner stage. It’s ideal for Etsy and small-business makers who need real cutting power plus tumbler and metal capability — which is why it tops our best laser engraver for small business picks. It’s overkill for someone who only wants to personalize the odd coaster, and underpowered next to a CO2 if your whole business is cutting clear acrylic signage. For most people choosing a single do-it-all machine in 2026, though, the S1 is the one to beat — and the reason it sits at the top of our overall best laser engraver guide. See it alongside its closest rival in our Glowforge vs xTool comparison, or see how it ranks against the rest of the range in our best xTool laser engraver guide.
Ready to buy? Compare the 20W, 40W, and Rotary bundles and check today’s price: