Can the Acmer S1 engrave metal?

Only on coated or anodized metal, where the diode burns away the coating. It will not mark bare stainless steel or aluminum. The F1 Ultra's fiber laser does that directly.

Is the xTool F1 Ultra worth the extra money?

Yes if you sell metal jewelry or run repeat jobs, since the fiber laser and camera save time and open materials the S1 cannot touch. For wood signs and leather crafts at home, the $129 S1 covers most of the work.

Which is better for cutting wood?

The F1 Ultra, by a wide margin. Its 20W diode cuts faster and handles thicker stock, while the S1's 3.5W diode is best for thin plywood and engraving rather than cutting.

Which is easier to set up?

The Acmer S1 ships pre-assembled and runs on LightBurn or LaserGRBL, so it is the simpler start. The F1 Ultra adds Wi-Fi, a camera and two laser sources, which takes more setup and space.

How big a project can each handle?

The S1 is limited to 130x130mm. The F1 Ultra covers 220x220mm and materials up to 145mm thick, so it fits larger panels and curved or tall objects.

Diode lasers like the S1's typically dim over hundreds to a few thousand hours of use and are consumable. The F1 Ultra's fiber source is rated for far longer life, which matters if you run it daily.

Acmer S1 3.5W Laser Engraver for Wood & Metal vs xTool F1 Ultra 20W Fiber & Diode Laser Engraver

Buy the Acmer S1 if you want a small, cheap first laser for wood, leather and light engraving. Buy the xTool F1 Ultra if you need to mark bare metal, cut thicker stock, or run repeat jobs at volume. The price gap is large: $129 at ACMER versus $2,420 at Amazon, both as of November 3, 2026. The S1 is a hobby tool; the F1 Ultra is a production machine.

Today the Acmer S1 3.5W Laser Engraver for Wood & Metal costs $2,291.00 less at its best price.

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