The best 3D printers in 2023

Are you excited to spend a short amount of time putting your 3D printer together? The Anycubic Kobra Go is another cheap FDM printer with a number of great features. Yes, it needs to be put together, but that's not a big problem - our reviewer finished it in about 20 minutes.

The printer's spring-loaded aluminum print bed, which makes it easy to output your 3D creations, is a feature you'll understand better once you put it together. Other features include an internal leveling mechanism activated at the push of a button, a large build volume of 200 x 200 x 250 mm and high speeds of 100 mm per second. Most importantly, even at higher speeds the Cobra Go gives accurate readings.

Elegoo is a relatively new name in the world of 3D printing, but the first Mars printer made a lasting impression on the creative community. This success has been built on by the bigger and faster Mars 2 Pro. One of the fastest resin printers money can buy, the new 6-inch screen bakes a layer in less than two seconds without losing clarity or blurring layers. Unless you need larger products, the only significant drawbacks of the Mars 2 Pro for rapid prototypes are its lower build capacity and the unpleasant smell of smoke typical for this type of printer.

FDM printers are the most affordable and simple of the three main types of 3D printers. The Cobra 2 is our top recommendation if you are just getting started with 3D printing as it is the best example we have seen so far.

Our reviewer found it simple to build; the whole procedure took about 10 minutes. It comes partially assembled. As well as being very reliable, it's also simple to use. After 20 or more test prints using different filaments and object sizes, our reviewer didn't have any splitting concerns and the cooling fans prevented any print layers from bending or pulling. It's amazing that such a cheap computer can do all this.

With a build volume of 250 x 220 x 220 mm, the device is capable of creating fairly large prints and its speed of 250 mm/s is faster than you might expect for the price. One complaint was that the quality of a print was slightly reduced, although the power failure function worked effectively.

The Ender 3 is a great example of this. The Ender 3D printer brand is renowned for its superior performance at a relatively modest cost. You could be excused for assuming that Black Friday always goes on for less than £200. Creality has also found a way to include certain high-quality parts in the Ender 3. The fact that these parts are offered in kit form may put some people off, but it really does give you a full grasp of how the printer works and can help with troubleshooting should any issues arise.

Anycubic's Mono X 6K is built so you can print bigger without compromising on quality. This printer has exceptional build quality with an interchangeable screen protector on the exposure screen, which is unusual for resin printers but signals that it will last a very long time. It is easy to use thanks to various hardware upgrades and produces prints that are more precise and detailed than those produced by previous generations. This 3D printer offers excellent value for money as you can get everything you need for around $659.

If you enjoy creating bespoke toys, collectibles, or figurines, Anycubic's Photo Mono SE is a terrific option because of the amazing detail and surface quality it creates. The Photo is similarly quick, printing each layer in only a few seconds, like other mono screened printers. Although the resin might sometimes smell a little, you can easily print an extraction adaptor and use a section of dryer hose. Overall, the production of this machine is really pretty amazing for the price, so the scent is really a little compromise.

The Anycubic Vyper is another excellent FDM printer that is reasonably priced and has features not found in some of the more expensive models. With very little noise or disturbance, this printer delivers prints with excellent clarity and detail. Combine the heated, self-leveling print bed with a spring steel magnetic layer that makes it easy to remove the print, and you have a real winner on your hands.

The most well-known manufacturer of consumer 3D printers is Makerbot, which has been around for some time. One may even have been used in space by Anna Kendrick during the movie Stowaway, according to curious publicists. Thanks to Makerbot's experience, their printers now have a similar footprint, but with a larger build capacity, less noise and a variety of connectivity options, including wifi. Even the Makerbot Replicator+ includes a camera so you can monitor jobs remotely. Despite being an FDM printer, certain layers are evident from the printing process, the print output is good with fine detail. The Replicator+ is still a great alternative. Its reliability and quiet operation make it a great choice for workshops, schools and home offices.