xTool S1 40W vs. xTool X1
Both lasers compared directly. The better value is marked in green, where this can be said objectively.
The key differences
- The xTool S1 40W is in a lower price class (€1,500 to €3,000) than the xTool X1 (€3,000 to €5,000).
- Different laser type: diode laser for the xTool S1 40W, combination machine for the xTool X1. This determines which materials work well.
- Design: gantry for the xTool S1 40W, gantry and galvo for the xTool X1. Galvo engraves small areas very quickly, gantry machines handle large areas and cut better.
- The xTool X1 has the larger work area (615 × 320 mm).
- Only the xTool X1 has a built-in camera for positioning.
- Air assist is included with the xTool X1; on the xTool S1 40W it is only available as an accessory.
| xTool S1 40W | xTool X1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | €1,500 to €3,000 | €3,000 to €5,000 |
| Price in the manufacturer's shop | €1,779, Basic Bundle (As of 26 Oct 2026) | €3,369 (was €3,669), Single CO₂; Introductory price; CO₂ + diode galvo €3,959 (was €4,259); modules: 30 W fibre €1,979, 5 W UV €2,969, 60 W MOPA €3,169; presale with €100 deposit until 29.10.2026, balance payment and shipping from 29.10.2026 (As of 12 Oct 2026) |
| Laser type | Diode laser | Combination machine |
| Laser source | Diode 40 W optical; optional 2 W infrared 1064 nm | CO₂ laser 55 W; diode galvo module 20 W (depending on variant, includes the galvo); optional UV 5 W (355 nm), MOPA 60 W and fibre 30 W (1,064 nm each), the modules use the galvo of the diode module |
| Power (optical, main source) | 40 W | 55 W |
| Work area | 498 × 319 mm | 615 × 320 mm |
| Dimensions | 765 × 561 × 183 mm | 1000 × 580 × 420 mm |
| Weight | 20 kg | 60 kg |
| Construction type | Gantry | Gantry and galvo |
| Enclosure | enclosed | enclosed |
| Laser class | Class 1 | Class 1 when the device is closed (according to the manufacturer, FDA certified); class 4 when operated open (according to xTool) |
| Speed (max.) | 600 mm/s | CO₂ 600 mm/s; galvo (diode, UV, MOPA, fibre) 6,000 mm/s |
| Cutting according to the manufacturer | up to 18 mm cherry wood, 15 mm linden plywood, 15 mm black acrylic in one pass; stainless steel up to 0.1 mm | up to 18 mm basswood and 20 mm acrylic (CO₂, manufacturer's statement); workpieces up to 150 mm high (CO₂) or 140 mm (galvo), with pass-through up to 299 cm long (CO₂ only, with conveyor max. 68.9 mm material height according to xTool) |
| Air Assist | optional (Smart Air Assist) | yes, integrated (according to xTool, information given during the test) |
| Camera | no (snapshot via smartphone photo) | yes, triple camera system: 8 MP wide-angle, 12 MP close-up camera and height measurement camera; camera and point laser positioning, autofocus, LiDAR measuring system; close-up camera positioning accuracy under 0.3 mm in the centre, under 0.5 mm across the whole area; additional flame detection camera (according to Gipfelholz) |
| Fume extraction | integrated exhaust fan with exhaust hose, air purifier optional | not included; air purifier SafetyPro AP2 / AP2 Max (about €1,000 extra according to xTool) or inline fan IF2 compatible |
| Rotary attachment | optional (RA2 Pro) | optional (RA3), round engraving up to 110 mm diameter |
| Software | xTool Studio (XCS), LightBurn (basic functions) | xTool Studio (Android, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, macOS); AImake compatible; LightBurn: not specified by the manufacturer |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi; file formats SVG, DXF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIF |
| Materials (according to the manufacturer) | Wood, MDF, Paper, Leather, Felt, Acrylic (opaque), Bamboo, Fabric, Glass (dark), Ceramic, Stone, Slate, Cork, Stainless steel (marking), Painted/coated metal, Plastic (with IR module) | Wood, Acrylic, Leather, Paper, Textiles, Plastic, Rubber, Silicone, Ceramic, Glass (engraving; internal engraving only with UV module, at a refractive index of 1.54 up to 600 x 300 mm in the upper 50 mm, 60 x 300 mm at 50 to 100 mm depth), Metal (painted/coated with diode, bare metal with fibre or MOPA module; metal embossing up to 415 x 225 mm with extraction hood) |
Who is which one suitable for?
xTool S1 40W
Makers and small businesses who mainly cut wood and opaque acrylic and want an enclosed diode laser.
- high cutting power for a diode laser (up to 18 mm wood according to the manufacturer)
- Class 1 enclosure with fume extraction
xTool X1
Small businesses and ambitious makers who cut and engrave with CO₂ and want to add glass and metal later without buying a second device.
- 55 W CO₂ for cutting and 20 W diode galvo for fast engraving in one machine
- Galvo area of 615 x 320 mm, much larger than typical galvo lasers
Facts, not a buying recommendation. This page summarises manufacturer specifications and our assessment. If we recommend a device, it is explicitly marked “Our recommendation”. Figures marked ◇ do not come from the manufacturer; the source is linked. How we work