ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver vs xTool F1 Ultra 20W Fiber Laser Engraver
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right fiber laser for your needs.
ComMarker
$699
xTool
$1299
Verdict
It's a Tie
The ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver and xTool F1 Ultra 20W Fiber Laser Engraver are evenly matched — your choice depends on which features matter most to you.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver | xTool F1 Ultra 20W Fiber Laser Engraver |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 30 W | 20 W |
| Laser Type | Q-Switched | Q-Switched |
| Laser Source | Raycus | Raycus |
| Work Area (W) | 110 mm | 220 mm |
| Work Area (H) | 110 mm | 220 mm |
| Galvo Speed | 10000 mm/s | 10000 mm/s |
| Color Marking | No | No |
| LightBurn | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | No | Yes |
| Weight | 4.2 kg | 4.5 kg |
| Software | LightBurn + EZCad2 (LightBurn Galvo license required separately) | xTool Creative Space + LightBurn |
| Pulse Width | N/A (Q-Switched) | N/A (Q-Switched) |
| Price | $699 | $1299 |
| Rating | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Pros & Cons
ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver
Pros
- Dual-lens system included: 110mm lens (110×110mm field, sharper marks) and 200mm lens (200×200mm field, larger work) both in the box — two work areas for one price, rare in fiber lasers under $1,500
- Motorized electric Z-axis lifting built in — precise focus control without manual guessing; an autofocus-equivalent convenience normally seen in machines priced $2,000+
- LightBurn compatible with EZCad2 also included — both workflows supported; owners report LightBurn produces dramatically better deep engraving results than EZCad2 on this machine
- Deep engraving on aluminum, brass, steel, precious metals, and stone confirmed across multiple owner channels — 30W Raycus output handles production-depth marking reliably
- Handheld mode via detachable design — for large pieces or on-site marking that won't fit on the desktop platform, this is a workflow no other machine in this tier offers
Cons
- Q-switched only — no color marking on stainless steel; if color is needed, the separate B4 30W MOPA (ASIN B0DRY12JMW) has the JPT MOPA source; both use the B4 body but they are different machines
- LightBurn Galvo license not included — budget an additional $60–$80 beyond the machine price; a frequent surprise for buyers who expected plug-and-play LightBurn from existing licenses
- Initial LightBurn setup requires loading a markcfg7 config file and calibrating corfile field size for whichever lens is mounted — LightBurn forum threads show first-time owners spending hours on initial configuration
- No color marking — reinforcing the most important caveat: despite 'B4' appearing in ComMarker's MOPA lineup branding, this specific ASIN is the Raycus Q-switch variant; verify the ASIN if color marking is needed
- Customer support response is 24hr+ with documented language barriers — not viable for time-sensitive production downtime per LightBurn forum users
xTool F1 Ultra 20W Fiber Laser Engraver
Pros
- Best-in-class tumbler engraving results — hobbylasercutters.com called it 'the best result I ever got with tumblers, testing all types of lasers'; the two-pass method (diode removes coating, fiber polishes) with a chuck rotary produces showroom-quality marks
- 16MP built-in camera with AI auto-align — places jobs on multiple randomly-oriented pieces automatically in xTool XCS; a workflow advantage that competing machines requiring manual positioning cannot match
- 220×220mm base work area (expandable to 220×500mm with conveyor) — the largest effective work area of any portable fiber galvo in this tier; 400×400mm in earlier specs was an error
- xTool's US support and warranty service is the most responsive of any Chinese laser brand — English-speaking support with real turnaround times, not 24hr+ WhatsApp queues
- Fully enclosed with automatic safety shutoffs — safe to operate without OD5+ eyewear or a dedicated controlled workspace, unlike every open-frame competitor
Cons
- NOT a MOPA laser — the F1 Ultra is Q-switched fiber galvo; no controllable pulse width, no MOPA-quality vivid color on stainless; xTool explicitly reserves 'MOPA' for the F2 Ultra only
- LightBurn fill-engraving shift bug documented Dec 2024 — after a firmware update, fill layers shift 1cm+ mid-job in LightBurn; xTool XCS performs the same jobs correctly; advanced LightBurn users face workflow disruption
- Camera autofocus and AI auto-align are XCS-only — these signature features do not work in LightBurn; users who prefer LightBurn lose the core differentiating workflow features
- Autofocus calibration drifts over time — xTool support confirms autofocus can deviate over 0.5mm and requires periodic manual recalibration
- Fiber laser power reduction reports in xTool community — multiple threads document 'F1 Ultra fiber laser not firing' or 'drastically reduced power'; may indicate a reliability pattern worth tracking
Our Verdicts
ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver
The ComMarker B4 30W is the machine to buy when deep, production-speed engraving on metals is the priority and color marking is not required. The dual-lens system (110mm + 200mm, both included) is a genuine differentiator — you can mark fine detail on jewelry at 110mm and switch to a full A4-size workpiece at 200mm without a second machine or aftermarket purchase. If color marking is in your roadmap at all, buy the OMTech 30W MOPA at a similar price or the B4 30W MOPA variant instead — you cannot add color capability to a Q-switched machine later. For monochrome production marking at volume, this is a fast, capable machine with real workflow flexibility.
xTool F1 Ultra 20W Fiber Laser Engraver
The xTool F1 Ultra is the best-supported fiber laser in this price range for buyers who prioritize setup experience and safety over raw wattage or color marking. The enclosed design, 16MP camera, and xTool's responsive English-speaking support are genuinely differentiated. It is not a MOPA — color marking on stainless is limited to Q-switched thermal oxidation, not MOPA-grade vivid results. At $1,299, you're paying more than the ComMarker B4 60W MOPA ($1,099) for 20W vs 60W and no MOPA capability. The premium makes sense for buyers who want the smoothest possible onboarding and the safest enclosed workspace. It does not make sense for buyers optimizing for color marking throughput or raw wattage.