The Best 3D Printers in 2021
  • 2022-08-10

The Best 3D Printers in 2021

3D printers are a form of technology advancement that provides an endless variety of options from printing out a phone case, a figurine, a doorstop. A 3D printer creates a three-dimensional object using computer-aided design (CAD). This form of printing produces objects in different sizes, colour, shape, and rigidity, using layering materials such as biomaterials, composites, or plastics. The printers come in form of the resin-based printer and the filament printer.

Purchasing a 3D printer can be a hard task for many. The existence of unknown and suspicious websites increases the fear that one may buy a fake or low-standard printer. But you don’t have to worry. Amazon offers a wide variety of quality 3D printers with great customer service and faster shipping. With that in mind, all you have to do is select the best 3D printer for your needs and budget. You need to understand the features of a good 3D printer, the best 3D printer in the market, how much build volume you need, and so on.

In this article, we provide our selection of the best 3D printers on Amazon with over 50 user reviews and a 4 to 5-star rating. The best printers’ prices range between $-$ and use various technologies such a Stereolithography, Digital Light Processing (DLP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), and so on. But before we check out the best 3D printers, let us look into some of the factors you should consider before buying your 3D printer.

Factors to consider before buying a 3D printer;

Printer resolution

The measuring unit of a 3D printer resolution is known as microns. FDM printers have the lowest resolution at 25 microns which is easily adjusted on the final print. On the other hand, the DLP and SLA printers have the highest resolution at around 100 microns. These printers are limited by their laser precision. The best printer to buy is one with a high resolution that is easy to adjust. 

Safety features

The 3D printer you choose should have safety features that guard the printer against damage. For instance, after the printing job is done, the FDM printer may cool the heated bed and the nozzle. Other printers are designed to move the nozzle away from the printed object once the printing is done. This feature helps in preventing the formation of excess filaments and damage that may result from the heat.

3D printer style

Some of the styles in 3D printing include Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Stereolithography (SLA), and so on. Most people prefer using the FDM printers which create 3D-printed objects through the extrusion of filaments, including plastics and hot materials. The other printer options print 3D objects using vats of liquid resin while others print using powder in place of resin.

Printing needs

3D printing machines that fit your desktop are very different from large industrial-scale in terms of features and the requirements they fulfil. Before purchasing a 3D printer, you need to figure out what you want to print, how much time you’re willing to invest in the process, how often you intend to print, how much room you have, and where you want to use your printed objects. If the answers are clear in your mind, you can proceed to select the printer that will deliver the results you want.

Other quality features

Other quality features such as dual filament support, build volume, touch screen user interface, more printing room, and heated glass beds can entirely change your 3D printing encounter. Most people overlook such features and barely get to enjoy them. Ensure you check out the extras in a 3D printer which can make your investment worthwhile.

Brand support

Before making any purchase, it is important to ensure that the brand you’re buying from has a reliable customer support unit. 3D printers are no exception. Confirm that the brand that manufactured your 3D printer has professional and reliable support. The team should address your issues as a client, in case something turns out wrong while using the machine.

Best 3D Printers

Qidi Tech X-Smart 349

The Qidi Tech X-Smart is one of the best 3D printers on Amazon. It is a fully-closed printer, which offers more build volume and improved overall performance compared to the X-One 2.

What we like about it;

  • Large build volume
  • Flexible and removable build surface plate
  • High-grade extruder with the extra cooling fan
  • Dust-proof and silent

What we don’t like;

  • The door obstructs when printing PLA and is a bit difficult to remove
  • No material present sensor

Elegoo Mars

The Elegoo Mars is a common 3D printer on Amazon that has one of the largest volumes in the affordable 3D printer group that uses vats of liquid resin for printing. Being a common brand, it is widely discussed online, which allows you to find answers to almost all the questions you may have regarding the gadget. It provides great quality prints if you’re able to find the right settings.

What we like about it;

  • Affordable
  • Build plate with strong adherence for consistency while printing
  • Fast printing and less maintenance
  • Multi-language interface

What we don’t like;

  • Low-quality components such as UV lamp, LCD curing screen
  • It is a bit messy

Qidi Tech X-One 2

The Qidi Tech X-One 2 is an advanced version of the Qidi Tech X-One which high ratings and numerous positive user reviews. It provides a relatively small build volume compared to the previous X-Smart, which makes it suitable for beginners.

What we like about it;

  • 3.5-inch full-colour touchscreen
  • Intuitive icons which ease the printing operation
  • Heated bed, support printing and metal frame with PLA, ABS, TPU filament.

What we don’t like;

  • Small build volume

Anycubic Photon S

The Anycubic Photon S is an upgrade of the Anycubic Photon 3D printer. It has two Z rails for steadiness during printing, a better air filtration system, and an improved UV light system. It is easy to set up and produces high-quality 3D printed objects. This printer is commonly used so in case of an issue, you can easily find answers from other users online.

What we like about it;

  • Ultra-fast printing
  • Wi-Fi adoption for easy remote control of print settings and operations
  • Steady with high accuracy and strong build quality
  • A great heat dissipation system

What we don’t like;

  • Messy with fumes from the resin
  • Basic slicer software