Best 3D Printers Under $1500

1. ROBO 3D R2

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

Say hello to the R2, a Kickstarter-backed 3D printer from Robo 3D. It’s a premium 3D printer so jam-packed with useful features that it’s hard to believe you can get it for less than $1500. If you want zero regrets for spending over a thousand dollars on a 3D printer, buy this product.

It’s a user-friendly 3D printer that lets you start printing in less than one hour. If you have prior experience with 3D printers, the initial setup shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes. Everything you need to start printing right away is included in the package, including a spool of filament.

Robo 3D created the R2 to make 3D printing simple and convenient for everyone – and nothing represents that idea more than the touchscreen interface. Using the 5-inch touchscreen, you can prepare your 3D models without a computer, thanks to the onboard slicing software. It can also load saved 3D models, stored in a built-in memory that can hold up to 500 files. In addition, the R2 can be controlled remotely via Wi-Fi, giving it the complete convenience package.

The R2 delivers on all fronts. It’s a reliable machine that can print various types of filaments, including ABS, PLA, nylon, and wood. It’s got a large build size and includes a heated print bed with excellent adhesion, which is necessary for certain types of filaments. It’s equipped with a filament run-out detector and can pause a print anytime.

At first glance, the R2 appears to be fully enclosed. But upon closer inspection, it’s actually uncovered at the top. While the enclosed sides help maintain the temperature, the open top exposes you to harmful fumes. For safety, we recommend that you keep the R2 out of your room, even if you have a tolerance for the smell of plastic. If you want to see how the print is going, you can always check from a distance – the R2 has a built-in interior camera for monitoring.

The reliable customer support is also a big plus. Robo 3D responds in a timely manner and is committed to making sure every customer comes out satisfied with their purchase. Our only major issue with the R2 is that it’s noisy while working. If you don’t care about the fumes, then perhaps the noise level will convince you that keeping the R2 in your room is a bad idea.

You can’t really go wrong with the R2. It’s an excellent 3D printer that delivers real value and quality. It works with precision and produces consistent results. It’s designed to make 3D printing accessible and extremely easy for everyone. It’s also built for a dual extruder setup, so you can upgrade right away once Robo 3D releases the dual extruder kit.

2. Qidi Tech I

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The Qidi Tech I is proof that not all 3D printers from China are crap. It’s a dual extruder 3D printer that goes for less than $700, making it one of the most affordable dual extruder 3D printers on the market.

From the moment you unbox the Qidi Tech I, it lets you know that it’s not your average Chinese copycat. It arrives in a well-protected package, which is critical considering it ships from overseas. Everything is tightly sealed, with a good amount of padding to keep everything locked in place. In fact, the box is so well-packed that it takes about 10-15 minutes to get everything out, which is really saying something.

The Qidi Tech I arrives nearly assembled. All you need to do is install the remaining parts and you’re good to go. It shouldn’t take you more than one hour to attach everything, although the process could’ve been faster if the instruction manual was more detailed. Including the manual calibration, the initial setup should take about 1-2 hours, depending on your familiarity with electronics.

The included software is user-friendly and should be good enough to get you started. But if you want the best experience, we highly recommend that you buy the Simplify3D software. It will help you bring the best out of the Qidi Tech I. It’s another $150 off your wallet but it’s definitely worth the purchase.

The Qidi Tech I has a solid design. It’s encased in a metal frame with acrylic windows on the sides. The top is also sealed, making the machine environment-friendly. However, you may need to adjust the covers when using certain types of filaments. For example, when using ABS, it’s best to keep the entire printer sealed, not only for protection against the odor but also for temperature regulation.

For onboard controls, the Qidi Tech I comes with a small LCD interface operated by a set of buttons. It’s responsive and easy to navigate, although it looks outdated. If you prefer to print via SD card, we have bad news for you: the SD card slot is located inside the printer, which is a questionable design choice. It’s not a total deal-breaker, though.

The Qidi Tech I is a reliable 3D printer that still feels like new even after hundreds of prints. It includes a heated build plate with fantastic adhesion and is capable of printing complex 3D models with little to no issues, assuming you have the right settings. The dual extruder setup also works great, although we suggest that you stick to a single extruder setup until you have a full grasp on the finer details of 3D printing.

Unlike other Chinese brands, Qidi Tech offers outstanding customer service. Even though they don’t speak English very well, the customer support staff are extremely committed to helping users. They get back to you in less than 24 hours and attend to your issues until you’re fully satisfied. Seriously, Qidi Tech is hands down one of the best in the business in terms of after-sales support.

If you want to get a dual extruder 3D printer but want to stay way below $1000, look no further than the Qidi Tech I. It’s easy to manually calibrate, comes with a heated build plate, and is built like a tank, which keeps it stable while printing. It has a few questionable design choices but it’s an excellent 3D printer overall.

3. FlashForge Dreamer

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The FlashForge Dreamer is basically a more polished version of the FlashForge Creator Pro. The main selling point of the Dreamer is that it’s less of an open-source, mod-happy 3D printer and more of plug-and-play 3D printer, making it more suitable for beginners.

A dual extruder 3D printer, the Dreamer is fully encased in a plastic frame. It’s well-built and is more aesthetically appealing than the Creator Pro. It’s compact enough for desktop placement, although it’s not recommended that you place it on your work desk due to a particular hardware quirk that we’ll talk about later.

For direct access, the Dreamer boasts a 3.5-inch touchscreen interface, which is a huge upgrade from the button-operated interface seen on the Creator Pro. It’s extremely easy to navigate, thanks to the straightforward options. It’s nowhere near the slicer-equipped interface of the Robo 3D R2, of course. But for basic operation and calibration, it gets the job done.

One minor flaw in the design is the internal spool holder. It works well for filaments manufactured by FlashForge. But for third-party filaments, it would be better if you print your own external spool holder. Since FlashForge filaments have limited color options, you’re most likely going to buy third-party filaments. So for your first project, print a spool holder.

In terms of connectivity, the Dreamer offers the full package. It can connect via USB for tethered printer-to-computer connection. It can connect via Wi-Fi for remote printing. And for standalone printing, there’s the SD card slot. Of the three connectivity options, the latter is the most convenient, mainly because you don’t need to open your computer for it, which saves electricity. The wireless connection is the worst since the transfer rate is significantly slower.

Performance-wise, the Dreamer is on point. The print quality is great for a $1000 3D printer, and the printing speed is fairly fast compared to other products at the same price. The machine has a good cooling system, comes with a built-in memory for storing 3D models, and includes a heated print bed, which is necessary for non-PLA filaments. Our biggest gripe is that the printer can be really loud, the chief reason why we don’t recommend that you place it on your work desk – the noise is going to annoy you for sure.

Overall, the FlashForge Dreamer is the 3D printer that you should get if you want a high-quality machine that doesn’t fully stretch out your allotted $1500 budget. It’s got a sturdy construction despite the plastic frame, includes all the tools you need to get started right away, and is easy to calibrate. The build size is respectable and the print quality is accurate and smooth.

4. LulzBot Mini

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

If you want a 3D printer that gets the job done with no drama, the LulzBot Mini is for you. It’s one of the most beginner-friendly 3D printers on the market, making it an excellent candidate for your starter machine.

In contrast to our top three picks, the LulzBot Mini is an open-framed 3D printer, with the printing mechanisms in full display from all sides. It’s still housed in a large frame, though, so it’s more stable than other non-enclosed 3D printers. Since it’s not fully enclosed, this 3D printer is not recommended for kids to use because they might accidentally touch the heated parts.

Built for both beginners and tinkerers, the LulzBot Mini arrives fully assembled. It’s ready to go less than 30 minutes after unboxing it. It’s got an auto-leveling system that actually works, turning the initial calibration into a cakewalk, and comes with custom Cura software. But once you get a good grasp of the 3D printing settings, we recommend that you switch to a more comprehensive printing software.

Featuring an all-metal hot end and a heated print bed, the LulzBot Mini is compatible with various types of filaments, including ABS, PLA, and PETG. The print bed has excellent adhesion. No need to resort to tricks like using hairspray and glue to keep the 3D model in place. Once heated, the print bed takes care of everything else.

The print quality is excellent. When set to the best possible resolution, the LulzBot Mini is capable of producing highly detailed items that can impress owners of 3D printers worth $3,000 and up. It’s a reliable workhorse that can run non-stop for days with little to no issues. It doesn’t support standalone printing via SD card, though, so your computer needs to be open all the time during continuous printing, which is not good for your electric bill.

Since the LulzBot Mini is completely open-source, you’re free to modify it to make it even better. It’s backed by an active community full of tinkerers and engineers. Once you’re brave enough to experiment with the hardware, we recommend that you spend time at the forums and check out some of the cool things that you can do to the LulzBot Mini.

If you want to take on more ambitious and more complex projects, the LulzBot Mini may not be up to the task considering it has a limited build size. It’s still more generous than other “mini” 3D printers out on the market – like the entry-level 3D printers from XYZprinting. But for big projects, the larger and more expensive LulzBot TAZ 6 is the better option.

3D printing doesn’t have to be difficult. Get the LulzBot Mini and experience one of the most straightforward 3D printers in the business. It’s a no-fuss machine that takes care of all the little details for you. All you need to worry about is running out of filaments.

5. Dremel DigiLab 3D40

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

3D printers intended for beginners need to check all the boxes in order to truly shine – and in that regard, the Dremel DigiLab 3D40 knocks it out of the park. Well, almost.

It arrives fully assembled, requiring only a few adjustments in order to get it up and running. It’s got a bed leveling assist system that easily takes care of the initial calibration, so that’s one less thing to worry about for non-techies. Everything considered you can go from unboxing to printing in about 30 minutes, maybe one hour if you take your time checking out the product for hardware defects suffered during the shipping.

Once you’re done with the initial setup, everything else is pretty straightforward. The 3D40 is very easy to use. Even kids will have little trouble operating it. It has a responsive touchscreen interface that contains useful information, including a preview of what you’re about to print, which is really cool.

For connection, the 3D40 allows both tethered printing and wireless printing. The former is more reliable while the latter is more convenient. Some consumers have reported having issues with the wireless connection, though. More specifically, it appears the wireless module sometimes has trouble connecting to a computer, which is never a good sign.

In regard to performance, this 3D printer excels in more ways than one. The print quality is impressive. It’s well-detailed and accurate, though it needs a fair amount of adjustments in order to consistently produce high-quality results, which is also true for all other 3D printers. The printing speed is relatively fast compared to other products in the same class.

But the real highlight is the noise level. The 3D40 is so quiet while working that you’ll be obligated to check on it every now and then just to make sure that it’s still printing. It’s easily one of the quietest 3D printers you can find on the market, totally embarrassing many other fully enclosed 3D printers. Feel free to keep the 3D40 running throughout the night in your room – it won’t get in the way of your sleep.

Compared to all the other products listed here, the 3D40 stands out as the only one that’s limited to PLA filaments. It’s also missing a heated print bed, which isn’t really surprising considering it can’t really process other types of filaments. If you want to print ABS, Nylon, and other materials, we suggest checking out the other 3D printers above.

Even though it has limitations, the 3D40 is still one of the best 3D printers under $1500. It’s reliable, capable of working non-stop for dozens of hours without running into major issues. It’s ready to go right out of the box, with the initial setup only taking several minutes. It’s got a touchscreen interface, which is way better than those knob-operated interfaces. And it’s backed by a helpful customer service team.