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
$3699
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 | $3699 |
| 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 $3,699, you're paying significantly 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, the safest enclosed workspace, and dual-laser versatility (fiber + diode). It does not make sense for buyers optimizing for color marking throughput, raw wattage, or price-per-watt value.