xTool F2 Laser Engraver: What Changed From the F1
I don't own an xTool F2, so everything below about the F2 itself comes from xTool's own published pages, and I'll say so when it's my F1 experience talking instead. The xTool links here are affiliate links, and xTool has never had a say in what I write. I also design and sell jigs that fit this machine, and I'll point them out when they come up.
The xTool F2 is the current machine in the F1's size. I've run an F1 since 2023, so I know this footprint well: small items, galvo speed, a blue diode and an infrared laser in one box. The F2 keeps that recipe and turns most of the numbers up. This post walks through what xTool says changed, what stayed the same, and what that means if you're making small products.
The short version
The F1 recipe with more power, a built-in camera and autofocus. Same small work area.
Where it shines
15W diode plus 5W infrared, a 50MP camera for placement, autofocus, and 6,000 mm/s in a 4.6 kg machine.
Know going in
The work area is still 115 x 115 mm, and xTool says it runs in xTool Studio only, with no LightBurn support.
Best for
Small items in volume, event and on-the-spot engraving, and F1 owners who want an upgrade that keeps their accessories.
The xTool F2 at a glance
These are xTool's published numbers from its F2 product page and F2 user guide.
What changed from the F1
If you know the F1, this is the part that matters. Here's how xTool's own numbers line up.
Cutting figures are xTool's multiple-pass numbers from the same F1 vs F2 comparison on the F2 page.
The camera is the big one
The F1 has no camera. You place your item, frame it with the red light, nudge, and frame again. It works, but it's slow when every item is a little different. xTool says the F2's 50MP camera gives a 1:1 preview of the whole work area, including the slide extension, and it's what powers features xTool lists as new on the F2: auto-fill, batch processing, curved-surface engraving and relief.
Autofocus
On my F1, I focus by turning the knob until the red and blue dots meet on top of the item. The F2 keeps that manual option and adds autofocus. For a mixed batch of items at different heights, that should be a real time saver.
More power in both lasers
15W on the diode and 5W on the infrared, up from 10W and 2W. xTool's cutting numbers roughly double. The infrared is still a marking laser for metal and plastics, not a cutting laser.
What stayed the same
The work area
115 x 115 mm, or 400 x 115 mm with the slide extension. That's the thing I'd want anyone to understand before buying either machine. It's plenty for pens, coins, cards, tags and 4 inch coasters. It's not a sign machine and never will be.
Portability
Same 4.6 kg as the F1, in a slightly different footprint. The F1 is what I'd grab for a craft fair or a ball game, and xTool is clearly pitching the F2 the same way.
Your F1 accessories carry over
Per xTool, the F2 is compatible with all F1 accessories except the rolling hard case. That includes the slide extension, the rotaries, the foot pedal and the desktop purifier. It's also why my jigs for this size are listed as F1 / F2.
One thing to know before you buy
xTool's F2 FAQ says it works exclusively with xTool Studio and doesn't support LightBurn at this time. If LightBurn is the center of your workflow, that's a real difference. If you already live in xTool Studio, it won't matter.
What I'd add on day one
These come from years on the F1, and they apply the same way here.
- Real fume extraction. The F1 and F2 share the same small exhaust port, so you'll want an adapter to a standard 4 inch hose and a fan that vents outside. Watch the airflow, though. On my F1, a high CFM fan sucked a business card right off the jig mid-job.
- Jigs for the things you sell. A camera helps with placement. A jig makes every item land in the same spot every time, so you set up once and run the whole batch.
- Laser safety glasses rated for both 445 nm and 1064 nm when the lid is up.
- A test routine. Ten minutes on scrap beats ruining a customer's blank. My test file kit for xTool software is built for exactly that.
Should you buy one?
Buy it if
- You sell small items: pens, cards, coins, tags, coasters
- You want to engrave at events, fairs and games
- You want camera placement and autofocus in a machine this size
- You already own F1 accessories and want to keep using them
Think twice if
- You need to work on anything bigger than about 4.5 inches
- LightBurn is the center of your workflow
- You want deep metal engraving rather than marking. Look at the F Ultra machines.
Running an F1 already? Here's my xTool F1 guide. Need a bigger area and a fiber laser? See the xTool F1 Ultra and the xTool F2 Ultra.
See the F2 at xTool (affiliate link)
Common questions
What's the difference between the xTool F1 and F2?
Per xTool, the F2 has a 15W diode and 5W infrared (the F1 has 10W and 2W), a built-in 50MP camera, autofocus, 6,000 mm/s max speed (up from 4,000), and a 120 mm max processing height (up from 113 mm). The 115 x 115 mm work area is the same.
How big is the xTool F2's working area?
115 x 115 mm, or 400 x 115 mm with the slide extension. Max processing height is 120 mm.
Does the xTool F2 work with LightBurn?
No. xTool says the F2 works exclusively with xTool Studio and doesn't support LightBurn at this time. xTool Studio runs on Windows and macOS.
Can the xTool F2 cut?
The blue diode can. xTool rates it for up to 15 mm basswood and 12 mm acrylic in multiple passes. The infrared laser is for marking metal and plastics.
Do xTool F1 accessories fit the F2?
Per xTool, the F2 is compatible with all F1 accessories except the rolling hard case.
Do Samcraft F1 jigs fit the xTool F2?
Yes. My jigs for this size are listed as F1 / F2 and fit both machines, and so does my 4 inch exhaust hose adapter.
Have you tested the F2 yourself?
No, I don't own one. The F2 details in this post come from xTool's published pages. My hands-on experience is with the F1, which shares the F2's size and accessories.
More from the Maker Guides
xTool F1: what I've learned since 2023
xTool F1 Ultra: fiber plus diode, bigger area
Watch my F1 work on Samcraft on YouTube, including ten projects on the F1.
Sam
Disclosure: I don't own an xTool F2, and no hands-on testing of the F2 is reflected in this post. xTool links in this post are affiliate links that may earn Samcraft a commission at no extra cost to you. xTool has no editorial input or control over Samcraft content. Samcraft designs and sells its own accessories that fit the F2, including the jigs and exhaust adapter mentioned here. Specifications are from xTool's F2 product page and user guide. Last reviewed September 2026.
