xTool F2 Ultra vs F1 Ultra – Which One’s the Real Beast?

If you’re into laser engraving or cutting and you’re eyeing the xTool range, you’ve no doubt stumbled across two big names: the F1 Ultra and the newly hyped-up F2 Ultra. Both are pitched as portable, fast, dual-laser beasts. But which one is actually worth your hard-earned money?

Let’s Get the Basics Down

Power & Performance

The F2 Ultra is an absolute powerhouse. That 20W diode laser isn’t just for show – it cuts thicker materials with fewer passes and engraves darker and deeper. If you’re doing production-grade engraving or want to cut wood, leather, or acrylic regularly, it’ll save you hours every week.

The F1 Ultra still packs a punch with 10W, and it’s no slouch. It breezes through engraving stainless steel, anodised aluminium, leather, and slate. But when it comes to *cutting* cleanly through thicker materials, the F2 just wins outright.

Speed Test: Blink and You’ll Miss It

Both are mad fast – we’re talking 4000mm/s on the F1 Ultra, and 6000mm/s on the F2 Ultra. That’s not a typo. These are galvo lasers, which means they don’t physically move like gantry lasers. The beam is redirected by mirrors, so it’s lightning quick.

But that speed only really matters if you’re doing mass production or want to finish big jobs quickly. For hobbyists or small-batch sellers, the F1 is already blistering fast.

Engraving Quality

Both machines produce stunning engraving detail. With the dual-laser setup – 10W or 20W diode for organic materials, and the 2W IR for metals and plastics – you get sharp, deep engravings with high contrast.

The F2 does take a small edge on photographic engraving and deep reliefs, just because of the stronger output and improved motion stability. But for most real-world jobs – keyrings, signage, jewellery – you’d struggle to spot a difference.

Size Matters (but Portability Matters More)

The F1 Ultra is like a big lunchbox. Grab-and-go. The F2 Ultra is more like a carry-on suitcase. Still portable, but you’re not slipping it into your rucksack. If you’re working from craft fairs, small workshops, or moving around, the F1 wins. If you’re bench-based with a bit of space, the F2 won’t feel out of place.

Software & Ease of Use

Both work seamlessly with xTool Creative Space, and you can use LightBurn with them too. USB and Wi-Fi are built-in. The touchscreen on both models is intuitive, and they auto-focus, auto-locate, and have decent safety features like enclosed beams and fume extraction support.

No complaints here – they’re user-friendly and designed for plug-and-play, with a surprisingly small learning curve.

Materials You Can Work With

Thanks to the dual-laser setup, both machines can tackle an impressive range of materials:

• Wood (birch, oak, pine)
• Acrylic (cast and coloured)
• Leather (real and synthetic)
• Metal (stainless, anodised, titanium – via IR)
• Slate, glass, ceramics (IR engraving)
• Plastics, labels, vinyl (IR)

The F2 Ultra’s higher power just gives it that bit more bite on thicker or harder materials. Fewer passes, cleaner cuts.

Which One Should You Get?

If you’re asking which is *better*, the answer’s easy: the F2 Ultra is technically superior. Bigger, faster, stronger. But better isn’t always what you *need*.

Get the F1 Ultra if:

• You’re starting out in engraving
• You need portability
• You mainly engrave and rarely cut
• You want top-tier speed and dual-laser without dropping £2.5k

Get the F2 Ultra if:

• You’re running a business and need higher throughput
• You regularly cut thicker materials (e.g. 6mm plywood)
• You want one machine that does everything – fast and clean
• You’ve got a permanent setup space

The Verdict

The F1 Ultra is the perfect sweet spot for most people. It’s versatile, mad fast, and costs less than some phones. It fits almost anywhere and punches well above its weight.

The F2 Ultra, though… if you’ve got the budget and the workload, it’s an absolute monster. Bigger working area, more powerful laser, faster galvo scanning, and better cooling – all wrapped up in a very slick package.

If you’re engraving as a hobby, side hustle, or testing the waters – start with the F1 Ultra. If you’re scaling up, doing high-end work, or just want the best of the best, go all-in with the F2 Ultra.

Either way, xTool are running circles around most of the competition at this price point.

Got questions about either machine? Or want to see real-world examples engraved right here in Dorset? Drop us a message or browse our engraving section.