8.1xTool F2 Portable Dual Laser

xTool F2 Portable Dual Laser Review

Craft-fair and pop-up sellers who personalize small items on the spot (metal tags, tumblers, phone cases, leather) and need to carry the laser.

  • 15 W dual laser
  • Galvo (portable)
  • 115 × 115 mm
  • Class 4
  • Marks bare metal
Price tier: Mid-rangeprice tier · see Amazon for today's price

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Our score comes from manufacturer specs, professional reviews, and owner reports. It is not a hands-on lab test.

The verdict

The F2 is the portable laser to buy in 2026: it keeps the F1's carry-anywhere format, raises IR power to 5 W for real metal marking, adds a 50 MP camera and autofocus, and costs about $1,200. The trade-offs are a small field, a Class 4 rating (goggles for both wavelengths) and no LightBurn. If you need deep metal engraving or a bigger field, the F1 Ultra's 20 W fiber or the F2 Ultra's MOPA source is the next step.

What we like

  • 5 W IR marks bare stainless, gold, silver and titanium; the 15 W diode handles wood, leather and dark acrylic
  • Galvo speed up to 6,000 mm/s: xTool quotes a business card in about 3 seconds
  • 50 MP camera with autofocus and batch positioning; 4.6 kg and arrives assembled
  • Works with F1 accessories (slide extension, RA3 rotary) except the rolling case

Watch out for

  • Small 115 × 115 mm field without the slide extension
  • Class 4: the shield isn't a Class 1 enclosure, so wear goggles rated for both 455 nm and 1064 nm
  • xTool Studio only; xTool says the F2 doesn't support LightBurn
  • Cutting 15 mm basswood takes multiple passes; it's an engraver first

Score breakdown

Engraving & cutting
8.2
Ease of use
8.8
Safety & build
6.8
Value
8.2

15 W diode + 5 W IR (output) · Galvo (portable) · Class 4

xTool F2 specs

BrandxTool
Laser typeDual laser (455 nm diode + 1064 nm IR)
Output power15 W diode + 5 W IR (output)
FormatGalvo (portable)
Work area115 × 115 mm (4.5 × 4.5 in). 400 × 115 mm with the Slide Extension; objects up to 120 mm tall
Max speed6,000 mm/s (maker rating)
Laser classClass 4
Cuts woodUp to 15 mm (maker claim)
Clear acrylicNo
MetalMarks bare metal
Air assistNot available
CameraYes
AutofocusYes
RotaryOptional add-on
SoftwarexTool Studio, LightBurn 2.2+ (preliminary)
ConnectivityWi-Fi, USB, IP
Weight10.1 lb
Warranty1 year
Price tier$$ Mid-range ($500–$1,500). See Amazon for today's price.
  • LightBurn 2.2 lists the F2 as functional but still needing testing; both LightBurn and xTool call F2 support preliminary, and xTool's cameras don't work in LightBurn. xTool Studio remains the fully supported software.
  • xTool spec table (Oct 29, 2026): 15 mm basswood and 12 mm acrylic in multiple passes; 120 mm max object height and rotary diameter; 150 W max input.
  • xTool's FAQ says the F2 'currently works exclusively with xTool Studio' and does not support LightBurn.
  • No air assist is listed; the F2 relies on a built-in fan, with an optional purifier for smoke.
  • Amazon showed $1,219 against a $1,699 list price on Oct 29, 2026.

Bundles and power options

Each option is a separate Amazon listing. Prices are typical street prices, not live.

OptionWhat's differentPrice
xTool F2Our pick: machine, base plate and material kitCheck price
xTool F2 + smoke purifierAdds xTool's desktop purifier for indoor and in-store useCheck price
xTool F2 DeluxeAdds Slide Extension, RA3 rotary and purifierCheck price

Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and independent reviews and may change between production runs. Laser makers re-bundle often, so confirm what's in the box on the Amazon page before buying.

The xTool F2 is a portable galvo laser with two sources in one head: a 15 W blue diode for wood, leather and dark acrylic, and a 5 W 1064 nm infrared laser for bare metal and plastics. It weighs about 10 lb, arrives assembled, and sells for about $1,219 on Amazon (check today’s price; the list price is $1,699). It’s our pick for the best portable laser, built for people who personalize small items on the spot rather than cut sheets. If you’re not sure whether portability, metal marking or a big bed matters most for your projects, run them through the laser matcher first.

Who the F2 is for (and who should skip it)

It’s for craft-fair and pop-up sellers, small Etsy shops and gift makers whose products fit in your hand: metal pet tags, keychains, business cards, phone cases, leather patches and, with a rotary, tumblers. Speed is the point of a galvo. Instead of dragging a head around a gantry, mirrors steer the beam at up to 6,000 mm/s, and xTool quotes about 3 seconds for a business card. That matters when there’s a line at your booth.

Skip it if you want to make signs, boxes or anything cut from a sheet. The field is 115 × 115 mm, and while xTool lists 15 mm basswood and 12 mm acrylic, those cuts take multiple passes. An enclosed flatbed such as the xTool S1 40W or a CO2 like the xTool P2S is the right tool for cutting. Skip it too if you rely on LightBurn with the camera, or if the laser will share a room with kids and pets, because the F2 is Class 4.

What the two lasers actually do

The 15 W diode covers the usual blue-laser materials: wood, cork, slate, veg-tanned leather, dark opaque acrylic, powder-coated tumblers and anodized aluminum. Like every blue diode, it can’t touch clear acrylic, and glass needs a coating first.

The 5 W IR source is what sets the F2 apart from cheaper portables. Blue diodes leave only a slow, faint oxide mark on bare stainless; infrared at 1064 nm marks bare stainless, gold, silver and titanium properly. It’s still a marking laser, not a deep engraver. If you want to carve into metal, the xTool F1 Ultra with its 20 W fiber, or the xTool F2 Ultra with a 60 W MOPA, is the next step up. Our material checker shows how each laser type handles bare stainless.

The 50 MP camera and autofocus do a lot of the work for you. Batch positioning lets you drop a tray of tags under the head, and the software places a design on each one. If you’re coming from an F1, the F2 also works with its slide extension and RA3 rotary (but not the F1 rolling case).

What you’ll need beyond the box

  • Eye protection for two wavelengths. The shield cuts glare but isn’t a Class 1 enclosure. Get eyewear whose OD rating covers both 455 nm and 1064 nm. CARLANY 190–490 nm glasses cover only the diode; Cloudray 1064 nm goggles cover only the IR. At a market, keep customers at a distance while it runs.
  • Somewhere for the smoke to go. There’s no air assist; the F2 relies on a built-in fan. Indoors, duct it outside or add xTool’s Desktop Smoke Purifier, which xTool sizes for light-smoke work like this. The F2 + purifier bundle costs about $1,439. Our ventilation guide covers both routes.
  • Rotary and extension, if you need them. The RA3 rotary handles tumblers and glasses, and the Slide Extension runs batches. The F2 Deluxe bundles both with the purifier for about $1,999.
  • Fire basics. A small ABC extinguisher and a fire blanket beside the machine, and never leave a job running unattended.

The accessories page lists everything we’ve matched to the F2.

Reliability and warranty

xTool gives the F2 a 1-year warranty, and its own store lists a 14-day return window. The F2 is a recent machine, so there isn’t a long record of owner reports yet. One structural risk is software lock-in: because the F2 runs only in xTool Studio, your workflow depends on xTool keeping that software up to date. Amazon prices on xTool machines move often, and the $1,219 price we saw was well under list, so check today’s price and the exact bundle before you buy.

Bottom line

At about $1,200, the F2 is the portable laser we’d buy in 2026: real metal marking from a 5 W IR source, a capable diode, galvo speed, a sharp camera and a 10 lb body you can carry to a market. The trade-offs are a small field, Class 4 eye protection for two wavelengths, and only preliminary LightBurn support. If your products are small and you sell in person, it fits well. If you mostly cut wood, buy a flatbed. If you mostly engrave metal, look at the ComMarker B4 20W or the F2 Ultra. For more options, see our best laser engravers for small business.

Ready to buy? · 8.1/10xTool F2 Portable Dual LaserPrice tier: Mid-range · 15 W dual laser · Galvo (portable)
Check price on Amazon

Accessories for the xTool F2

Official and universal add-ons sold on Amazon — safety glasses, fume extraction, air assist, rotaries and materials. Check the listing confirms your exact model before you buy.

  • Fumes & enclosure
    xTool Desktop Smoke Purifier (3-layer filtration)Official xTool

    Lets the M2 or F-series run indoors without a window vent for light engraving work. xTool sizes it for low-smoke machines; for heavy cutting it recommends the SafetyPro AP2.

  • Rotary
    xTool RA3 MagSwap smart rotaryOfficial xTool

    xTool's newer rotary with LiDAR mapping and magnetic mode swaps, built for the P3 and F-series.

  • Upgrade
    xTool Slide Extension for F2 / F1Official xTool

    Stretches the F2's 115 × 115 mm field to 115 × 400 mm for batches of coasters, cards and phone cases.

  • Safety
    CARLANY 190–490 nm OD6+ laser safety glassesUniversal fit

    Blue-diode protection for anyone near an open-frame laser, or when you lift the lid or override an interlock on an enclosed one. Covers 445–455 nm blue diodes only; does not protect against 1064 nm IR/fiber or 10.6 µm CO2. Match the OD rating to your laser's wavelength.

  • Safety
    Cloudray 1064 nm laser safety gogglesCompatible, third-party

    The invisible 1064 nm beam of fiber and IR lasers needs its own eyewear; blue-diode glasses won't stop it. For 1064 nm sources only. Dual-laser machines need protection for both wavelengths; check the OD rating on the listing.

  • Safety
    Amerex B417T 2.5 lb ABC fire extinguisher with bracketUniversal fit

    Lasers cut by burning; a small ABC extinguisher mounted beside the machine is the cheapest fire insurance you can buy. Dry-chemical powder can ruin a laser's optics and electronics; LightBurn recommends a CO2 extinguisher for the machine itself.

  • Safety
    Amerex 322 5 lb carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisherUniversal fit

    Class B:C CO2 leaves no powder residue, so it puts out a fire in the machine without destroying the optics. Pricier than ABC; not rated for Class A (wood/paper) fires on its own, so keep a fire blanket too.

  • Safety
    Prepared Hero emergency fire blanket, 39 × 39 in (2-pack)Universal fit

    Smothers a flare-up on the bed without coating the machine's optics in extinguisher powder.

  • Fumes & enclosure
    AC Infinity Cloudline S4 4-inch inline duct fan with speed controllerUniversal fit

    Boosts a laser's built-in exhaust over long duct runs so smoke actually leaves the room. Check your machine's exhaust port diameter; adapters may be needed.

  • Fumes & enclosure
    VIVOSUN 4-inch aluminum ducting, 25 ft with clampsUniversal fit

    Replaces short stock hoses so you can reach a window or wall vent; foil duct tolerates hot exhaust better than vinyl.

Compatibility checked October 2026. More in our laser engraver accessories guide.

xTool F2 FAQ

Can the xTool F2 engrave stainless steel?
Yes. The 5 W 1064 nm infrared laser marks bare stainless steel, gold, silver and titanium, which a blue diode alone does poorly. It marks rather than deep-engraves; for real depth on metal, look at the xTool F1 Ultra's 20 W fiber or the F2 Ultra's 60 W MOPA source.
Does the xTool F2 work with LightBurn?
Preliminarily. xTool's F2 FAQ (updated October 12, 2026) answers yes, and LightBurn 2.2 lists the F2 as functional but still needing testing. xTool's cameras don't work in LightBurn, so xTool Studio remains the full-featured option. If LightBurn is central to your workflow, an established LightBurn machine is the safer buy.
Do I need safety glasses with the F2?
Yes. The F2 is a Class 4 laser: its shield is not a Class 1 enclosure. Anyone near it needs eyewear rated for both the 455 nm blue diode and the invisible 1064 nm IR beam. Blue-diode glasses do not protect against IR.
How large an item can the F2 engrave?
The galvo field is 115 × 115 mm. The optional Slide Extension stretches that to 400 × 115 mm for rows of coasters or cards, and objects up to 120 mm tall fit under the head. The optional RA3 rotary handles cylinders up to 120 mm in diameter.

Sources

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