Today I’m sharing a personal perspective and feedback of the LaserPecker LP5 vs. xTool F1 Ultra since I’ve been privileged enough to thoroughly review both of these impressive machines. Each one is suited better to a specific user, so I figured I’d share the side-by-side so that you can know which is better for you! This post contains affiliate links. Both machines were gifted, however, I’ve long fulfilled my obligations to the brand and am writing this simply to help you choose.

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xTool F1 Ultra vs LaserPecker LP5: Real-World Side-by-Side Guide

Trying to pick between the xTool F1 Ultra vs LaserPecker LP5 and feeling stuck? You are not alone. Both feature similar specs making them sound like identical twins – but their physical characteristics are different enough that there is probably one that’s more suited to our needs. My goal today is to help you figure that out based on my real-life testing.

Both machines have dual-laser technology, packing a 20W diode laser and a 20W fiber laser into one galvo machine, so on paper they look very similar – and indeed, they perform similarly. Yet, due to small differences in software, hardware, and accessories, they both have very specific advantages and disadvantages.

This guide is based on real-world testing, similar to what you’ll see in the full xTool F1 Ultra dual fiber & diode laser review and the detailed LaserPecker LP5 20W fiber & diode laser review.

We will put the two side by side and look at how they compare in size and safety, software experience, speed and batch work, metal cutting and engraving, portability, and price. By the end, you’ll know which one fits you better, whether you want a semi-stationary small “laser studio” with bulk production capabilities, or a compact portable setup for shelf storage or onsite engraving, that can still handle serious materials.

Quick Overview: xTool F1 Ultra vs. LaserPecker LP5 At A Glance

Before getting into deep specs, it helps to know who each of these dual-laser technology galvo machines is built for. The way you plan to use your laser will usually make the decision pretty clear, so we’ll start by exploring it from that perspective.

If you are also curious how the F1 Ultra compares to xTool’s smaller F1, you can check the full xTool F1 vs. F1 Ultra comparison later for even more context on their lineup.

Who Each Machine Is Best For

Let’s look at the kind of person or business that usually clicks with each machine, starting with how you plan to work day to day.

xTool F1 Ultra: Best For Large Orders and Batch Production

Small jewelry makers who want real metal capabilities in-studio, as well ad deep embossing

If you sell metal jewelry and want the ability to deep emboss and cut metal on a slightly larger machine, the xTool F1 Ultra is more efficient than the LaserPecker LP5. Its 20W fiber can cut thin brass and other metals, and it can carve metal deep enough for things like wax seal stamps, coins, or filled engraves. While the LP5 can do that, the F1 Ultra by default sends the file and maintains a better connection for longer tasks. The camera makes placement easier, with lower risk of ruining pricey materials. And I found that it was better at fine detail on complex embossments.

Etsy and event swag sellers who need fast batch personalization

The xTool F1 Ultra is for people who want to engrave a lot, very fast. The galvo head is tuned for speed, and the larger enclosed work area plus optional conveyer let you batch wood tags, coasters, keychains, and jewelry blanks. Think bit swag orders, or busy Etsy shops where you run the same design on dozens of items in one sitting. The conveyor with automatic camera placement is where this really shines, but features like “double tap to repeat task” help as well.

Crafters who want one enclosed “laser studio”
If you want one main machine that lives on your table and safely handles wood, acrylic, coated metals, leather, slate, clay, and more, the xTool F1 Ultra is a strong pick. The fully enclosed design by default, built-in safety features, and camera make it friendlier if kids wander into your space or if your work area is in a shared room. The LaserPecker LP5 has this with an optional add-on.

Side‑hustlers planning to grow
If you see your laser work turning into a real side business, the xTool F1 Ultra scales better for small business applications. The autofocus features, camera alignment, and batch tools help you move from “trying this out” to “running orders every week” without feeling stuck babysitting every job.

Users who care less about portability and more about scale
The xTool F1 Ultra is heavier and more of a semi-stationary desktop laser engraver. Its footprint is still quite small (without the conveyor, which can be easily removed as needed) You can move it if you need to, but it really shines as a compact, semi-permanent setup that trades portability for power, work area, and deep metal work.

LaserPecker LP5: Best For Portability, Smaller Spaces and Lower Budgets

People in small spaces who need a compact engraver
If you live in an apartment, use a tiny craft corner, or work from the kitchen table, the LaserPecker LP5’s small footprint and lighter weight are a big advantage. It can tuck onto a shelf when not in use and still give you dual laser power when you need it.

Users who want a handheld option for large or fixed items
One of the LaserPecker LP5’s standout strengths is the handheld mode. You can bring the laser to the object, not the other way around. That helps if you want to engrave furniture, wall signs, bricks, or anything too big or fixed in place. You set it on the surface using the cone or stand, then engrave right there.

Anyone who needs a travel‑friendly laser with a carry handle
If you go to markets, pop‑ups, maker events, or work between locations, the LaserPecker LP5 is easier to move. The carry handle and lighter body make it much more portable. It pairs well with a laptop and a compact purifier setup so you can engrave names or small designs on the go.

Crafters who engrave many materials but don’t mind manually placing items
The LaserPecker LP5 is great if you want to engrave lots of different materials like wood, black acrylic, leather, coated metals, and some metals with the fiber, but you do not need extreme deep embossing or thick metal cutting. You can still do beautiful metal marking and lighter engraving, which is enough for many gifts, tags, and jewelry top layers. While it can do thicker cutting and embossing, it doesn’t transfer the file automatically and hold the connection well for those kinds of jobs – you’ll need to export to a USB.

Users who like flexibility between enclosed and open setups
With its optional enclosure and open handheld mode, the LaserPecker LP5 can switch between safer, contained engraving and “anywhere” engraving on large pieces. The cover on the cone is magnetic and can easily be removed. If you want that flexibility more than a big fixed work area, it leans in your favor.

In short, the xTool F1 Ultra fits best if you want a small but serious studio machine with deep metal ability and fast batching. The LaserPecker LP5 fits best if you need a compact, portable, and flexible engraver that still handles real materials without taking over your space.

The xTool F1 Ultra runs a generous few hundred dollars (or even a thousand – depending on sales) more for the baseline machine, with the main tradeoff being the LCD display with internal file storage and the camera.

Key Specs and Hardware: Power, Size, and Build Quality

Before you get into software, presets, or fancy accessories, you need to know what you are actually buying in hardware. On paper, the xTool F1 Ultra and LaserPecker LP5 look very similar with their dual-laser technology, but the way their power, size, and enclosures are put together makes them feel different in daily use.

Laser Power, Beam Type, and What That Means For Materials

Both machines give you a dual-laser setup:

• 20W blue diode laser
• 20W fiber laser (around 1064 nm)
• Both are galvo lasers, so mirrors move the beam instead of a gantry sliding a heavy head. That translates to very fast engraving over a relatively small area.

This setup provides strong materials compatibility across a range of projects. Keep in mind these numbers are based on user feedback and brand testing, it’s not a concrete number but it’s there to give you a general idea of what the LaserPecker LP5 vs the xTool F1 Ultra can do.

From real-world style tests:

• xTool F1 Ultra diode
  Handles typical diode jobs like wood keychains, signs, cake toppers, and black acrylic jewelry very well. Users have cut up to around 12 mm basswood and 12 mm black acrylic with multiple passes, which lines up with projects like detailed wood earrings and acrylic laser earrings.
• LaserPecker LP5 diode
  Also strong for wood, bamboo pens, leather, cork, and black acrylic. It can cut basswood up to about 20 mm and black acrylic up to around 15 mm, making it a solid choice if most of your work is non-metal materials with good materials compatibility.

Where the two really stand out is the fiber side:

• F1 Ultra fiber performance
  • Can deep engrave and emboss metals instead of just marking the surface. Automatic internal file storage supports this more efficiently than remote file transfer. Can cut thin metals, such as about 0.4 mm brass and very thin sterling silver. Great for:
    • Deep fill engraves on pendants and bracelets, wax seal bases and coins, thin metal inlays that sit inside wooden pieces
  It is not a heavy industrial metal cutter, but for small-scale jewelry and inlay work it hits a sweet spot.
• LP5 fiber performance
  • Also handles deep embossing on brass, including things like challenge coins or signet-style surfaces. Connectivity is an issue unless you transfer files to a USB (included).
  • Rated up to about 1 mm brass cutting, but the focus is still on precision engraving rather than production cutting.
  • Excellent for precision engraving:
    • Detailed line art and logos on stainless steel and brass
    • Marking and text on jewelry blanks
    • Clean metal tags and plates

If you mostly engrave wood, leather, and acrylic, both machines feel similar. If you care a lot about metal work, the F1 Ultra handles harder tasks better, with better connectivity for complex tasks.

If you are new to lasers and want a feel for how diode power behaves on wood, this guide to engraving on wood with a laser is a helpful companion read.

Work Area, Height Capacity, and Curved Object Support

The galvo heads are similar in speed, but how and where you can place items is very different, especially when considering the working area.

xTool F1 Ultra work area and height

• Enclosed workspace with a larger working area than the LP5’s standard setup.
• Plenty of room for:
  • Coasters and small signs
  • Stacked jewelry trays
  • Tumblers and mugs on a rotary
• The interior height lets you fit taller objects without removing the enclosure.

On top of that, xTool adds hardware to stretch its reach:

• RA2 Pro rotary lets you engrave bottles, tumblers, mugs, and other cylindrical items with wraparound designs.
• Conveyor accessory turns the machine into more of a mini production line. You can feed dozens of small items across the belt, which makes sense for larger batches of tags, tiles, or small panels.

The built-in camera and software tools help with:

• Visual placement on the bed
• Curved surface assists for cups and uneven pieces
• Auto-fill patterns to quickly populate multiple blanks

That combination makes the F1 Ultra feel like a fixed-bed production machine in a compact body. It’s really a powerhouse with bulk orders thanks to this.

LaserPecker LP5 work area and height

The story is different with the LP5:

• The base engraving area on the stand is smaller than the F1 Ultra’s internal bed.
• Height is more limited when you use it like a regular desktop machine.

However, the LP5 pulls ahead in flexibility of positioning:

• The head can be used handheld, with a cone that rests on the surface.
• You can place it on:
  • Furniture pieces
  • Large signs or doors
  • Bricks, walls, or floors
• As long as you can get the laser, venting, and power to the item, size of the object is almost unlimited. Only the engrave area is fixed.

With the optional enclosure:

• You gain a camera preview, which helps for placement on small items and safer enclosed work.
• The enclosure does not yet support automatic curve mapping. So engraving on curved cups or odd shapes inside the box takes more test runs and manual tweaks compared to the F1 Ultra’s curve-friendly features.

In short:

• Choose F1 Ultra if you want a larger fixed work area, taller object support, and strong camera tools, especially for batch work and curved drinkware.
• Choose LP5 if your priority is flexible positioning on big, awkward, or fixed objects, and you do not mind a smaller fixed bed.

Size, Portability, and Enclosure Design

Even with similar laser power, the two machines feel very different when you look at the bodies and enclosures.

xTool F1 Ultra: bigger desktop “laser studio”

• Larger desktop footprint with a full metal and plastic enclosure.
• Weighs more and has no carry handle, so it is meant to live in one place most of the time. Carrying it by hugging it around the body is possible but tends to displace the protective shield.
• You can still move it between locations if you:
  • Save the original packing foam
  • Treat it like a delicate but compact appliance

Because the fiber path is fully enclosed, you do not have an exposed glass fiber cable to worry about. That makes it safer to transport than many traditional open fiber systems, where one bad kink can kill the laser.

The enclosed body also pairs nicely with:

• The conveyor for batch production, turning it into a serious small-scale production tool.
• An external air purifier, which keeps fumes under control when you use it heavily on wood, leatherette, or acrylic. If you are curious about that type of setup, the post on laser engraving leatherette walks through a very similar environment: Laser engraving leatherette tips and ideas.

Overall, the F1 Ultra fits best as a semi-permanent desktop machine that focuses on power, work area, and safety rather than easy travel.

LaserPecker LP5: compact and travel-friendly

The LP5 goes in the opposite direction.

• Compact main body that takes up a small slice of desk space.
• Built-in carry handle, so you can pick it up like a small toolbox.
• Several ways to set it up:
  • Handheld cone for on-surface engraving
  • Adjustable desktop stand
  • Optional full enclosure for light-safe desktop work

That mix makes the LP5 shine if you:

• Pack it for markets, pop-ups, or craft fairs
• Offer on-site engraving at events
• Work from a kitchen table or a shared space and need to put it away when you are done.

When you add the full enclosure, a few things change:

• You get better eye safety and a cleaner desktop workflow.
• The unit becomes bulkier, closer to a traditional desktop engraver in footprint. It’s still a bit more transportable than the F1 Ultra.
• You lose some of that ultra-compact feel, similar to how the F1 Ultra is always a desktop unit and never truly “tiny.”

So in practical terms:

• Pick the xTool F1 Ultra if you want a sturdy, enclosed desktop machine that feels like a small laser studio with batch options.
• Pick the LaserPecker LP5 if portability, a carry handle, and flexible setups matter more than having a huge fixed work area.

Real World Performance: Speed, Materials, and Project Types

Specs look nice on a chart, but what really matters is how these two lasers behave once you start feeding them wood, acrylic, leather, and metal. Thanks to their galvo systems, engraving speed stands out right away for quick results on real projects. This section walks through practical use so you can picture what your own projects would look like on each machine.

Engraving Wood, Acrylic, Leather, and Everyday Craft Materials

Both machines use their 20W diode lasers for most classic “craft” projects, like signs, earrings, tags, and gifts. The big difference is how fast they clear a batch and how friendly they are for repeat work. How well connection is maintained/offline capabilities also is a big deal with deeper, tougher engraves.

On the xTool F1 Ultra, the diode:

• Cuts thick basswood and black acrylic cleanly with the right passes
• Handles simple wood shapes and earrings without trouble
• Engraves bamboo smoothly for things like tiles, bookmarks, and small signs
• Marks leather bracelets well, though genuine leather creates plenty of smoke and you’ll ideally want to choose tooling leather for best results.

Users have found that very complex wood cuts sometimes need dialed-in settings or an extra pass, but for basic shapes, stud earrings, and charms, it does a solid job. Pairing it with a good purifier, such as the system covered in the xTool SafetyPro AP2 air purifier review, makes a big difference when you run wood and leather often. The Ultra’s enclosed body plus external filtration helps keep fumes more contained than an open diode on a stand.

On the LaserPecker LP5, the diode side is also strong:

• Cuts basswood up to around 20 mm and thick black acrylic
• Engraves bamboo pens for quick gifts or event work
• Handles wood plaques and simple signs
• Marks leatherette patches and faux leather very nicely

Because the LP5 is often used in more open setups or handheld mode, you notice fumes quickly. Good venting or a compact purifier is just as important here.

For everyday craft materials, the two machines are very close in capability. Where the F1 Ultra pulls ahead is on speed batching flat pieces. The enclosed bed, camera, and workflow tools make it easier to drop in a tray of wood tiles or acrylic blanks and run fast, repeatable jobs. Even without the conveyer the “double tap start to repeat task” feature makes batch processing a cinch.

The LP5 can hit similar quality on single items, but feels more like a “one at a time” engraver for crafts.

Metal Engraving and Cutting: Jewelry, Tags, and Gifts

Metal is where these dual-laser machines start to separate in personality. Both have 20W fiber sources, so both can handle metal engraving on real metals, not just coated tumblers.

On the xTool F1 Ultra, the fiber laser is tuned for deep, detailed metal work:

• It can deep engrave aluminum bars, brass hearts, and sterling pendants so you can fill the recess with ink, enamel, or paint.
• Thin brass sheets can be cut into charms, inlay pieces, and small tags. Real-world tests show it handles around 0.4 mm brass well for jewelry-sized parts.
• With careful settings and good fixturing, it has cut very thin sterling sheet, especially in lighter gauges. Taping the metal down to the honeycomb or base is important so it does not warp as it heats.

This kind of deep engraving lets you create things like:

• Fillable name necklaces and bar bracelets
• Wax seal bases, coins, and medallions
• Layered metal over wood bookmarks or tags

You can see many of these project types in the in depth xTool F1 Ultra review, where tests focus heavily on jewelry and small metal blanks.

The main difference in functionality is that the xTool F1 Ultra automatically transfers files to the machine and works from that local storage. This makes it efficiently continue working your complex job, even when the laptop disconnects.

The LaserPecker LP5 holds its own on metal as well:

• The fiber laser can deep emboss brass, which is great for challenge coins or signet-style pieces where you want raised or recessed designs.
• It is rated to cut brass up to about 1 mm. That extra thickness is handy if you want more substantial coins, badges, or stiffer charms.
• It engraves stainless steel, aluminum, and silver cleanly for logos, text, and decorative patterns.

One practical point with the LP5: long, deep emboss projects run smoother when the file is loaded and run from USB, not streamed over Wi-Fi.

That avoids lag between layers and keeps multi-pass jobs more consistent. If power is lost in middle, you’ll need to restart the job. Whereas on the F1 Ultra, the file is sent to the machine’s internal storage automatically. And if power is lost immediately it continues the job. This is mostly relevant with longer, deeper projects and not noticeable on everyday tasks.

For both machines, it is important to set expectations. Neither one is a heavy industrial metal cutter. They are best at:

• Small jewelry pieces like pendants, bars, charms, and earrings
• Keychains, bookmarks, and luggage tags
• Nameplates, dog tags, and custom labels
• Personalized gifts and keepsakes that need engraving more than brute-force cutting

If metal is only part of your shop, and you also do a lot of wood, acrylic, leather, and coated tumblers, the xTool F1 Ultra’s dual laser inside one enclosed body is a strong advantage. You can stay on a single machine and switch between diode and fiber without changing setups.

If you focus heavily on metal embossing and do not mind a more open or portable setup, the LP5 offers very respectable depth and cutting on brass, with the bonus of handheld flexibility for larger objects.

Speed, Batch Production, and Business Use

Both machines are galvo lasers, so they move the beam with mirrors instead of sliding a heavy head around. That alone makes them feel fast, with engraving speed up to 10,000 mm/s. Text, logos, and simple art that might take minutes on a gantry laser often finish in seconds here.

The xTool F1 Ultra is built around batch production and production-style setups:

• The optional conveyor feeder accessory can feed dozens of small items in one run, like wood tiles, tags, or keychains. You set up the design once, align with the camera, then let the conveyor advance each piece.
• The built-in camera and Auto Streamline Production tools let you place one design, then auto-populate an array across a grid of blanks.
• The threaded grid bed with L brackets makes it easy to pin down jigs or use a simple corner fence. You drop your product into the brackets, tap the repeat task button, and run the same job over and over.

This combination turns the F1 Ultra into a compact production station for small business applications, such as:

• Name tags and place cards
• Wood or acrylic earrings in sets
• Wholesale batches of logo keychains or bottle openers
• Branded metal business cards

The LaserPecker LP5 is more about flexible small runs and on-site work, especially given its larger working area in certain setups:

• It also has a threaded base and L brackets, so you can jig items for repeat engraving, especially when using the stand.
• Its software can auto fill rows of items across the defined work area, which helps when you want to engrave several small blanks at once on the base.
• What it lacks is a conveyor-style system, so you still handle most batching by moving items manually.

Where the LP5 shines is live personalization:

• You can pack the compact unit, stand, and cone and bring it to markets, pop-ups, or store events.
• It works well for engraving pens, wallets, phone cases, and small metal items while customers wait.
• The speed from the galvo head means you can engrave short names or simple icons quickly enough to keep a line moving.

If your goal is factory-style batch output from your desk, the F1 Ultra is the stronger choice. The conveyor, camera-driven workflows, and enclosed bed all point to volume production, boosted by superior engraving speed.

If you care more about smaller runs, mobility, and on-the-spot personalization, the LP5 has the edge with its portable body and handheld engraving, even if you give up some of the high-throughput batch tools that make the F1 Ultra feel like a tiny production shop.

Software, Workflow, and Ease of Use

How each machine feels to use day to day depends a lot on the software, camera tools, and how quickly you can work safely without babysitting every step. This is where the xTool F1 Ultra and LaserPecker LP5 start to pull apart in real-life workflow, even though the hardware looks similar on paper.

xTool Studio vs. LaserPecker Design Space (Plus LightBurn)

Both brands ship their own software, and both are capable, but the experience is different, especially in terms of software integration. Just a heads up: both are constantly updating and releasing new software, and both recently overhauled to a completely new version. However, xTool does seem to be five steps ahead of LaserPecker where software is concerned.

xTool F1 Ultra: xTool Studio
xTool Studio is the main software and feels fairly friendly even if you are newer to lasers.

Key strengths:

• Helpful material presets for common woods, acrylics, leathers, and metals, so you are not guessing every single setting from scratch. They have a HUGE library of presets, so you’ll likely find what you’re looking for – or something similar enough as a starting points.
• Solid image conversion, so you can take photos or simple graphics and get engrave-ready art without needing a separate design app.
• Multiple project tabs, which is a big deal in real workflows:
  • Prepare the next project while working on the first.
  • Set up multiple names for separate personalization
  • Process a few clients at once.

Paired with the F1 Ultra’s smart camera, xTool Studio gives you:

• A live top view of the bed.
• Accurate drag-and-drop placement right on jewelry blanks, tags, or tumblers.
• Autofocus features based on the camera and distance, which cuts down on manual fiddling.

If you want a deep dive into software behavior on smaller galvo units, the in‑depth xTool F1 Laser Engraver review gives a good sense of how xTool’s software flows, and the F1 Ultra builds on that with a better camera and more tools.

Overall, xTool Studio feels like it was built for crafters and small businesses. You can still design in Illustrator or another program, but if you just want to set text, drop a logo, and engrave, xTool Studio is easy to live in.

LaserPecker LP5: LaserPecker Design Space

LaserPecker Design Space works, but it is not as polished, partly due to less seamless software integration. They are improving the software, and their latest version is vastly improved.

Where it does well:

• Good image conversion, especially if you are starting from photos or basic art.
• A surprisingly strong built‑in clipart library, which is handy for fast gifts, simple icons, and filler designs when you do not want to design from scratch.

Where it feels awkward:

• The settings panel is clumsy. Controls are packed into one side panel and the workflow feels a bit stop and go.
• Some important tabs and options are hidden behind extra clicks, so you spend time hunting for controls that you use often.
• During light preview (framing), you cannot move your artwork. You have to:
  1. Stop the preview.
  2. Adjust the design or position.
  3. Run the preview again. That back and forth adds friction, especially on detailed alignment jobs.
  4. Or move the product itself, which is frustrating if placement was just-just to begin with.

Their new software improvements did help and you’ll find that it’s much more usable than it was – they’re listening to feedback. They have a fledgling materials library, offering starting points for some materials, but they need much more for it really to be effective.

The software is very usable once you get used to it, but there is more of a learning curve. You will get your settings dialed in, you will learn its quirks, but it is not as smooth out of the box as xTool Studio , where software integration shines for everyday tasks.

LightBurn on both of them

There is a workaround to the LP5 issues: LightBurn compatibility for the diode laser.

• If you already know LightBurn, this is a comfort zone.
• You get more advanced layout tools, better node editing, and a familiar workspace.
• The catch: LightBurn only talks to the diode side, not the fiber. You still rely on LaserPecker Design Space for fiber projects and deep metal engraves.

xTool’s F1 Ultra is also LightBurn compatible.

So side by side:

Feature / Feel	xTool F1 Ultra / Studio	LaserPecker LP5 / Design Space
Built‑in material presets	Strong, easy starting point	Available, but workflow around them feels clunkier
Image conversion	Good, beginner friendly	Very good, strong point for beginners
Clipart / design assets	Basic shapes and tools	Extensive clipart library
Multi‑project workflow	Multiple tabs, easy to prep cleanup passes	Multiple tab feature recently added
Camera integration	Deeply tied to placement, autofill, auto focus	Only inside enclosure, more limited tools
LightBurn support	Yes, but Studio is usually enough	Diode only, great if you already live in LightBurn
Overall feel	Polished, fast to learn	Functional but less intuitive, more learning curve

If you want a smoother all‑in‑one experience, the F1 Ultra plus XCS wins. If you care more about portability and already live in LightBurn, the LP5 gives you that, as long as you accept that fiber jobs still go through LaserPecker’s software.

Camera Features, Framing, and Curved Surface Tools

Being able to see your work area is a big confidence booster, especially when you are engraving small, expensive blanks. This is one area where the differences show up quickly.

F1 Ultra camera and framing

The F1 Ultra has a built‑in 16 MP camera inside the enclosure. That gives you a sharp overhead image of:

• Jewelry blanks – especially small work.
• Bar pendants
• Coasters
• Tumblers or cups on a rotary

In xTool Studio you can:

• Drop your design right where you want it on the live photo.
• Zoom in to place tiny text on a small pendant.
• Use autofocus features so you do not guess height.

On top of that, the camera powers smart tools:

• Autofill for batch jobs, where you set one design and the software populates it over multiple blanks on the bed or conveyor.
• Software updates are rolling in features for curved surfaces, like cups and rounded items, including advanced 3D Curve™ Engraving capabilities. That means the system can better handle distortion and focus as the curve moves away from center.

In real projects, this matters when you:

• Align text on a skinny bar pendant without wasting blanks.
• Center a logo on a stainless cup without running three test cups first.
• Engrave a grid of tags or coins and trust placement from run to run.

Framing on the F1 Ultra also feels smoother. You can run a light outline, nudge the design, and frame again quickly, all without feeling stuck in one mode.

LP5 camera and framing

The LP5 handles this differently.

• The camera only comes into play when you use the full enclosure, since the camera is built into that accessory, not the core head.
• Inside the enclosure, you get a top-down preview image of your work area, which is very handy for placing designs on small items.

However:

• The current camera tools do not offer curve mapping or advanced curved surface support. If you want to engrave cups or rounded items, you rely more on test frames and careful positioning. The rotary extension is more important, even when doing a simple front-only design.
• The image is more of a placement aid than a deeply integrated system like the F1 Ultra’s camera.

Both machines offer light preview or framing modes, which outline where your design will land. The key difference:

• On the F1 Ultra, you can preview, tweak, and preview again in a pretty fluid loop.
• On the LP5, you must stop the preview before you move the design. That extra step slows down alignment, especially when you are trying to get small artwork centered on a narrow surface.

For real projects, imagine:

• Trying to center initials on a bar pendant.
  • F1 Ultra: drop the art on the live camera view, quick frame, small nudge, frame again, engrave.
  • LP5: preview, stop, adjust, preview again, repeat until happy.
• Placing a logo on a metal cup.
  • F1 Ultra: camera view plus rotary support gives you a good starting point with fewer dry runs.
  • LP5: still doable, but involves more trial framing and physical alignment.

If perfect placement on small items is a big part of your workflow, the F1 Ultra’s camera plus software feels more dialed in. The LP5’s camera inside the enclosure helps, but it is not yet at the same level in terms of curved tools and fluid framing.

Learning Curve, Safety, and Maintenance

Both machines are powerful lasers, not plug-and-play office printers. They are absolutely approachable for beginners, but you should expect some learning and a bit of care.

Learning curve on each machine

• F1 Ultra
  • xTool Studio is easier to learn for many crafters, especially if you have used design software or a cutting machine before.
  • Material presets, camera view, and autofocus features help you get usable results quicker.
  • You still need to run test swatches for your favorite woods, acrylics, and metals and record your own settings.
• LP5
  • LaserPecker Design Space works but feels less intuitive. Expect more trial and error with the interface itself.
  • The strong clipart library and image tools help you get designs running even if you are not a designer.
  • LightBurn compatibility for the diode helps if you already know that software, but you still have the brand app to learn for fiber jobs.

If you want a sense of how much testing goes into dialing in materials, especially acrylics on a diode, the post on which acrylic colors a diode laser can cut shows the kind of test grids and tweaks you will do on either machine.

Safety on F1 Ultra vs LP5

Both machines need the same basic safety steps:

• Wear laser-safe goggles any time the beam is exposed or accessories leave the cover open.
• Use good ventilation or an air purifier, especially for wood, leather, and acrylic.
• Never run them totally unattended, especially on long cut jobs.

How they handle light containment:

• F1 Ultra
  • Has a fully enclosed design with safety features like a laser-safe cover. I did experience a bit of light leak on this one.
  • This feels better for home studios or permanent customer-facing spaces where you cannot control who walks in.
• LP5
  • The head has a magnetic orange safety shield that blocks some light while you work. However, since it relies on the height of the laser head, which is set by the focus parameters, there is light leak.
  • There is an optional full enclosure with:
    • Magnetic front and back doors for longer items.
    • An auto stop if a door opens during a job.
  • In handheld or open-stand mode, there is more light leakage around the work area, so goggles are non-negotiable.

So if you want a set-it-on-the-desk, mostly enclosed setup, the F1 Ultra feels safer and more self-contained. If you need open, flexible setups, the LP5 can do that, but you must stay on top of goggles and line of sight.

Basic maintenance and care

Neither machine asks for complex maintenance, but a few habits keep results clean:

• Clean the lens regularly
  • Both come with a lint-free cloth.
  • Wipe soot and dust from the lens cone and any protective glass so the beam stays sharp.
• Check vents and fans
  • Make sure exhaust paths on the F1 Ultra and enclosure vents on the LP5 stay clear of dust buildup.
  • If you use an external air purifier, replace or wash filters on schedule.
• Secure materials well
  • Use honeycomb bases, pegboard-style plates, or L brackets.
  • Tape thin metals down so they do not curl as they heat during deeper cuts or embossing.
• Keep a settings log
  • Write down power, speed, and pass counts that work for your woods, leathers, and metals.
  • Both machines benefit from this, and it saves you a ton of time and scrap material over the long run.

Neither the xTool F1 Ultra nor the LP5 is truly plug-and-play. You will:

• Run test grids.
• Tweak focus.
• Figure out which woods burn darker.
• Learn how your favorite metals behave.

The good news is that both are very approachable for newer laser users. The F1 Ultra makes the early steps smoother with its software and camera, while the LP5 trades a little ease of use for portability and flexibility. If you are willing to learn and test, either can become a reliable workhorse in your setup.

Price Comparison, Value, and How To Decide Between xTool F1 Ultra and LaserPecker LP5

Once you understand what each machine can do, the next question is simple: will it actually earn its keep? Price alone does not tell the full story, so it helps to look at both upfront cost and long term value side by side.

Cost, Accessories, and Long Term Value

Both sit in the higher tier of hobby and small business lasers because you are getting two serious lasers in one body: a 20W diode and a 20W fiber. That dual setup is what lets you engrave wood, acrylic, leather, and coated items, then switch to real metal work on the same machine.

The F1 Ultra usually comes in higher on the price ladder, especially if you buy it as a full setup. Once you add the conveyor feeder accessory for batch work, the RA2 Pro rotary for tumblers and cups, and an air purifier, you are squarely in “small studio” territory, not starter toy. For a casual hobbyist that may feel like overkill. For a seller who wants to run lots of orders, those extras turn into real production value because they save hours of handling and setup on every batch – and allow you to take more jobs.

Of course, you can buy the initial unit first and accessorize later.

The LP5 is often the more budget friendly entry, especially if you start with the core unit and stand. The starting price on the base machine is significantly more affordable. You can add only what you need, such as the enclosure for safer indoor use or a slide extension when you are ready. That modular approach fits better if you are testing the waters or have a tight budget but still want real diode and fiber power. However, you won’t be able to add the more advanced file storage and camera features that the F1 Ultra affords you.

On either machine, running costs are not about the power bill. The lasers themselves are efficient. Most of your costs come from:

• Materials like brass sheet, sterling silver, hardwoods, and acrylic.
• Time, including design, setup, test cuts, and cleanup.
• Air filtration and venting, such as filters for a purifier or vent ducting.

This is why accessories that shorten your time per piece matter so much. The F1 Ultra conveyor and camera tools can cut the handling time per blank when you are engraving a tray of wood tiles, acrylic earrings, or metal tags. The LP5’s handheld mode does the same in a different way, because you can engrave items where they already are, like furniture, pre-installed signs, or large boards, without building complex jigs.

To figure out value, it helps to do some quick math on payback with real products, especially for small business applications. For example:

• Deep engraved brass hearts, stamp bases, or inlay pieces can sell at a solid margin, since you are adding both design and function.
• Sets of wood and acrylic earrings can be cut in batches, then finished by hand. A single sheet of quality acrylic can turn into many pairs.
• Personalized metal jewelry, like the pieces in this DIY mom necklace laser SVG tutorial, can command higher prices because buyers pay for both the material and the custom touch.

You do not need a massive catalog to make a laser pay for itself. If you choose 3 to 5 core products that you know sell well, then build your workflow around them, it becomes much easier to see whether a higher upfront cost makes sense. The F1 Ultra shines when you want to push volume on those products. The LP5 shines when you want flexibility and portability around them.

Decision Checklist: Which Laser Fits Your Space, Skills, and Goals

Choose the xTool F1 Ultra if you want an all in one, enclosed desktop laser engraver that feels like a compact laser studio. It fits best if your main workspace is fixed, you like the idea of closing the lid and keeping light and fumes contained, and you want a camera view that makes placement on tiny jewelry blanks and tags feel low stress. Its larger working area supports batch production on jewelry and metal work while still handling wood and acrylic without switching machines. The fiber side is strong enough for deep engraves on brass and thin silver, while the diode manages wood earrings, signs, and acrylic charms. If you plan to batch produce items for a shop, markets, or events, the conveyor, camera, and smoother software help you move from one-off gifts to real production.

Choose the LaserPecker LP5 if you have very limited desk space and need a compact engraver with a handle that emphasizes portability. It is easier to store, lighter to carry, and can move between home, studio, and events without a lot of fuss. If you like the idea of handheld engraving on large or already installed items, such as furniture, wall signs, or bricks, its cone and handheld mode make that practical. The base unit already covers a wide mix of materials for more engraving than deep metal cutting, and the optional enclosure gives you a safer desktop setup later on. This path fits better if your business is built around on-the-spot personalization, smaller runs, and mobility rather than heavy batch work on a fixed bed.

In the xTool F1 Ultra vs LP5 decision, remember that there is no single perfect laser for everyone. The “right” choice is the one that matches your space, your comfort level with software, and the kind of products you actually want to sell, whether that is metal jewelry, wood decor, acrylic keychains, or live engraving at events.

Conclusion

In the xTool F1 Ultra vs LP5 comparison, both machines harness dual-laser technology, with the xTool F1 Ultra leading in engraving speed, but they shine in different roles. The xTool F1 Ultra feels like a mini production station, with its larger enclosed work area, camera tools, conveyor option, and deep metal engraving that suits jewelry makers and small studios. The LaserPecker LP5 trades that fixed-bed production style for a compact body, handheld mode, and carry handle, which suits people who engrave on-site, work in tight spaces, or move their setup often. Side by side, the F1 Ultra wins on batch speed, enclosed safety, and smooth software, while the LP5 wins on portability, and flexible setups, as long as you are fine with a quirkier brand app.

Before you choose, look at your budget, space, and main project list. If you picture trays of tags, earrings, and metal blanks running from one place, the F1 Ultra fits better. If you picture engraving pens at markets, names on wallets at events, or designs on furniture and large signs, the LP5 is a better match. Pick the laser that fits how and where you plan to use it most, and you give yourself a tool that can grow with you, open new product ideas, and turn your favorite projects into real income.

Need more help? Let me know your unique circumstance and I’ll help you figure it out!