Xtool M1 Ultra Review: Why I Ditched My CO2 Laser for a 4-in-1 Craft Machine (and Why You Might Too)

If you're an office administrator or small business owner wondering whether the Xtool M1 Ultra is worth the hype—for most people doing small-batch production or prototyping, it replaces a $10,000 setup with a $3,000 one. I consolidated our laser cutter, vinyl cutter, and basic printer into a single machine. The time saved on switching between tools alone paid for half of it within six months.

Why I Made the Switch

Back in 2022, we had three separate machines taking up a whole wall of our workshop: a K40 CO2 laser for acrylic and wood, a Cricut for vinyl and paper, and an inkjet printer for basic transfers. Each one required its own software, its own learning curve, and its own maintenance routine. I spent more time getting things to work than actually producing anything.

The Xtool M1 Ultra changed that. It's basically a 4-in-1 combo: a diode laser (for engraving and cutting softer materials), a drag knife (for vinyl and paper), a print module (for CMYK printing), and an optional rotary attachment for cylindrical objects. The whole thing sits on a desk. No exhaust ducting required—the built-in air filter handles smoke and fumes.

The pivot moment came when our CO2 laser tube failed—$700 replacement, two weeks of downtime. I asked myself: "Do we really need the power for our typical projects?" The answer was no. We mostly cut 3mm acrylic, leather, and wood. The M1 Ultra's 10W diode laser handles that just fine. It'll even engrave anodized aluminum, though cutting metal is off the table.

What the M1 Ultra Actually Does Well

Laser Engraving and Cutting

For a diode laser, it's surprisingly capable. It'll cut through 3mm basswood plywood in one pass at about 50mm/s. Acrylic? 3mm clear takes two passes at 15mm/s and leaves a frosted edge—not perfectly polished like a CO2, but clean enough for production work. For engraving, it's excellent. The 0.08mm laser spot gives finer detail than our old CO2 tube. We've done serial numbers, barcodes, and decorative patterns on everything from marble coasters to leather keychains. The results at 300 LPI (lines per inch) are professional-grade.

The 4-in-1 Integration (This Is the Real Selling Point)

The print module is a standard inkjet cartridge system. It prints onto transfer sheets which you then cure with the laser. The drag knife cuts vinyl, paper, stickers, and thin leather up to 0.8mm. The workflow is: design in XCS (their free software), choose your tool, and run the job. You don't move the material between tools—the machine swaps modules automatically.

This sounds gimmicky, but honestly, it's a time-saver. We print and cut prototype labels in about 15 minutes end-to-end. With our old setup, that took an hour. For small-batch production runs under 50 units, the difference is massive.

The Rotary Attachment

Optional extra—$200. It works for tumblers, bottles, and cylindrical objects up to 120mm diameter. The roller design is stable, and the software compensates for the curve automatically. We've engraved maybe 200 promotional tumblers with it, and maybe 5% had alignment issues (user error, mostly).

Where It Falls Short (What No One Tells You)

The laser can't cut metal—period. It'll engrave anodized aluminum, bare stainless steel (with marking spray), and some coated metals. But if you need to cut 2mm steel sheet, you need a fiber laser. This isn't the machine for that. I see reviews complaining about it. Save yourself the disappointment.

Thick acrylic (6mm+) is a slog. You'll need 4-5 passes at low speed. The edges come out frosty, requiring sanding or flame polishing. If you primarily cut thick acrylic, get a CO2 laser.

The software, XCS, is functional but not intuitive. It's a Chinese-developed platform, and the English translation has quirks. You'll need to watch a couple of tutorials. That said, once you learn the quirks, it's stable. We've had crashes maybe twice in six months.

Speed is another thing. For simple engravings on small objects, the M1 Ultra is comparable to a CO₂ laser at the same power level. But for large-area cutting (say, 300x400mm), a 60W CO₂ laser will be 3-4x faster. The M1 Ultra is a workshop tool for small jobs, not a production line machine.

When to Buy—and When to Pass

Buy this machine if:

• You need a small, quiet, desk-friendly unit for prototyping or small-batch production.
• You engrave or cut wood, acrylic (under 6mm), leather, paper, and vinyl frequently.
• You value workflow consolidation over raw speed.
• You want a machine that doesn't require specialized ventilation or cooling.

Skip it if:

• You primarily cut thick metals or require a polished edge on thick acrylic (get a CO₂ or fiber laser).
• You need high-volume production (this machine is for batches under 100 units).
• You're not comfortable with Chinese software interfaces or basic troubleshooting.
• Your budget is under $500 (a dedicated laser module beats the all-in-one for pure laser work).

The Verdict: Worth It for the Right Use Case

Our company's workshop is for one-off prototypes, small customer orders, and promotional items. The Xtool M1 Ultra replaced three machines and halved our project turnaround time. No, it's not a CO2 laser. No, it won't cut steel. But for what it is—a 4-in-1 craft machine for small creative and commercial work—it's excellent.

I do recommend buying the rotary attachment and an extra sheet of laser honeycomb (the stock one is fine but replacement gets wear). Also, stock up on the material-specific presets—they're available online from Xtool's community. Save yourself the trial-and-error.

One last thing: the price has been hovering around $2,800-$3,200 on Amazon as of early 2025. I'd wait for a sale. They seem to happen every few months. And always check the included accessories—the basic kit costs less but skips the rotary attachment and some material packs. Worth comparing.