3D Printers: Best Models, Top Brands & What's Actually Worth Your Cash

Alright, let's talk about these Black Friday 3D printer "deals." Every year, the same song and dance. Companies slap a "discount" sticker on their gear, and suddenly, everyone's supposed to lose their minds. Give me a break.

The Bambu Hype Train

Bambu Lab, Bambu Lab, Bambu Lab. It's like they're the only 3D printer company that exists anymore. Don't get me wrong, their printers are decent, I guess. The P1S Combo is getting a lot of buzz, going for $619 down from $1,148. A steal, they say. But is it really a steal, or just clever marketing? They launched an upgraded P2S model, offcourse, that's why the P1S is "on sale."

And the AMS unit? Doubles as a filament dryer for an extra $70? Please. Like we didn't already have a dozen ways to dry filament. It's all part of the ecosystem lock-in. Buy our printer, buy our filament, buy our accessories. And people fall for it every damn time.

Best Buy's now an official Bambu Lab reseller, too. Which, fine, whatever. Easier returns, I guess? But it also means the hype machine is in full swing. Every tech blog is gonna be pushing these "deals" for the next week. In fact, The Best Black Friday 3D Printer Deals Are at Best Buy, an Official Bambu Lab Reseller.

Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. Maybe everyone else is genuinely excited about saving a few bucks on a printer they don't really need. Nah.

Creality's Laser Focus

Okay, so maybe 3D printers aren't your thing. How about a laser engraver? Creality's Falcon A1 is down to $466. "Insanely low price," they claim. I tested this not long ago and quickly fell in love with how easy it was to use for complete newbies to laser engraving (like I was). It's a little on the large side, but that gives you plenty of room for larger DIY projects.

But let's be real, who actually needs a laser engraver? Cosplayers, maybe? People who make personalized keychains? It's a niche market, and these companies know it. They're just trying to expand their reach, get more people hooked on their products.

Filament Frenzy

And of course, there's the filament. SUNLU's offering 57% off its silk spools. Minimum order quantity of three, naturally. Gotta get you buying in bulk. I've been testing out this filament with some Cinderwing dragons, and the results are amazing.

It's the razor-and-blades model all over again. Sell the printer cheap, then make a killing on the consumables. And we, the consumers, are the ones getting shaved.

So, What's the Real Story?

It's all marketing. Every last bit of it. These "Black Friday deals" are designed to create a sense of urgency, to make you think you're getting a great deal when really, you're just buying into the hype. Don't fall for it.