Today, I’m testing the newest flagship CO₂ laser cutter from xTool – the xTool P3.
This is an 80W desktop CO₂ laser cutter with a large working area, packed with state-of-the-art technology, making it one of the most advanced CO₂ laser cutters on the market today.
All that tech also makes the xTool P3 one of the easiest CO₂ lasers to use. It includes more automation and smart features than I’ve ever seen in a desktop laser. It’s incredibly user-friendly — perfect for artists and crafters, yet powerful enough to impress technically minded users like me.
In this article, we’ll cover everything about the xTool P3 — from setup and hardware design, to camera accuracy, cutting and engraving performance, and even some real creative projects to see what this machine can really do. You will see why the xTool P3 is the best laser cutter for wood.
I’ll also compare it to the smaller xTool P2S, so be sure to check that review as well.
Table of Contents
*The links on this website can be affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When you buy through these links you will support this website, which helps me to run this website(which cost money and a TON of time) and provide all these extensive reviews and information to you for free, without any paid membership.
Massive Working Area
The xTool P3 is xTool’s largest machine by far, featuring an enormous working area of 36″ × 18″ (91.5 × 45.8 cm).
To give you a sense of scale, here’s a plywood sheet of that exact size on the bed — it almost covers the entire xTool P2S! (read the review of the P2S) And yes… a banana for scale.
Clean, Smart Design
The xTool P3 features a simple, clean interface.
- Left side: USB-C port and a USB lock key that disables the machine when removed — great for security.
- Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi.
- Back: Power port, coolant port, and exhaust port.
Each unit includes the xTool IF2 inline fan and a long exhaust hose for efficient fume extraction.
For cleaner workspaces or close neighbors, pair it with the xTool AP2 Max air purifier — a professional-grade filtration system.
Fire Safety and Mobility Features
On the opposite side, there’s a CO₂ fire-extinguishing bottle mount for automatic fire suppression, plus a coolant drainage hose.
The xTool mobile work stand table fits the machine perfectly, includes high-quality wheels, and has a hole in the center for taller items.
Despite the xTool P3 weighing 105 kg (230 lbs), it’s easy to move and supports extra shelves for materials.
The mobile work stand table is also essential when using the conveyor feeder.
Inside the Machine
The auto-lifting slat bed features calibration dots for automatic camera alignment — very convenient.
The xTool P3 includes multiple cameras:
- Wide-angle lid camera – full-area monitoring + front side live view monitoring when engraving
- Close-view camera – for ultra precise alignment and positioning
- Side camera – engraving monitoring
- Fourth camera on the side – likely for lens identification and fire detection
Power, Speed, and Lenses
The xTool P3 doesn’t need a riser base thanks to its ample vertical space.
It’s powered by large stepper motors that reach 1200 mm/s — twice as fast as the P2S, with three times the acceleration. It also supports the xTool RA3 rotary attachment with bulk engraving capability.
The laser module includes:
- Protective beam cover to prevent smoke contamination in the laser module
- Interchangeable lens system:
- M lens – standard
- S lens – fine engraving
- L lens – cutting thick materials
Automation and Ease of Use
The xTool P3 delivers true ease of use with automatic camera calibration, automatic bed leveling, and simple optical path calibration — processes that are really tedious and fiddly on other machines.
The system includes a wide-angle camera, close-up camera, and LIDAR autofocus for precision.
You can also add the optional 5W infrared module for engraving uncoated metals and plastics.
Smart Controls and Interface
A highlight feature is the rotating control knob with a high-fidelity display — you can adjust the bed height, track progress, and toggle Auto Mode (ACS – Automatic Creation System).
xTool Studio Software
At first, I was a bit disappointed that LightBurn isn’t supported for the xTool P3, but I quickly changed my mind. xTool Studio has become a very mature and capable platform, and it unlocks the P3’s full potential. The xTool Studio is free and doesn’t require any subscriptions. It’s also what makes the xTool P3 arguably the easiest-to-use CO₂ laser on the market, so I didn’t miss LightBurn at all when using the xTool P3.
- Material library with predefined settings
- Project library with ready-to-make designs
- Shape and icon library
- Generators for generating arrays, barcodes, QR codes, material test patterns, and even templates for earrings, keychains, boxes, and more
- AI Make – transforms photos into engraving-ready designs
- Automatic camera stitching – high-resolution previews, even on the conveyor feeder
Though LightBurn isn’t supported, xTool Studio is a powerful, free platform that unlocks the P3’s full potential.
The Automatic Creation System (ACS)
The ACS – Automatic Creation System makes the xTool P3 almost effortless to use.
- Scans the material using cameras
- Auto positioning for bulk engraving
- Measures distance using LIDAR
- Automatically adjusts focus
Simply place your material — the P3 does the rest.
It can even batch-engrave multiple objects automatically with individual focus and placement.
It’s incredibly smart and beginner-friendly. if using the xTool materials, you don’t even need to adjust the cutting and engraving parameters as the machine will read the QR code on the material and do everything automatically.
Performance Tests
Cutting Power and Speed
Engraving tests for the xTool P3 were ran at double the P2S speed, followed by cutting tests on 3mm plywood — the P3 cut cleanly at 75mm/s in a single pass!.
- 3mm plywood: flawless cuts
- 6mm plywood: 50% faster than P2S
- 10mm plywood: clean and consistent results
- Acrylic (3mm): single-pass cutting at 20–30mm/s
- 10mm acrylic: single-pass cutting at 8mm/s
- 25mm acrylic – single pass at 1mm/s
- 18mm spruce board – single pass at 70% at 5mm/s
Camera Precision
Next, I wanted to test the camera positioning accuracy of the dual camera system in the xTool P3.
I used a sheet of anodized aluminum, which engraves beautifully, and positioned a circle perfectly around an existing hole using the near-field camera.
The result was as precise as it gets — absolutely spot-on.
The camera alignment accuracy is phenomenal, and it can save you a lot of material since you can utilize every millimeter of your workpiece, just like I did here.
High Speed Engraving Test – 1200mm/s!
Then, I moved on to test the xTool P3’s maximum engraving speed by running it at 1200 mm/s.
It’s genuinely mesmerizing to watch such a large laser head move that fast.
Even at that incredible speed, the P3 still has plenty of power in reserve, allowing it to engrave deep and consistently.
The result was perfect, and having the ability to engrave at this speed can save a tremendous amount of time on large-scale projects. At 1200 mm/s engraving speed, results were deep, consistent, and sharp.
Conveyor Feeder System
The conveyor feeder for the xTool P3 installs easily and stays mounted when not in use.
The conveyor module is secured with screws and can remain installed even when it’s not in use — which is a really nice touch. After that, I attached another roller unit to the front, and then slid the feeder rails into place on both sides. These rails are fully adjustable, allowing you to accommodate boards of different widths.
Once everything was in position, I slid the board into the machine and ran a stitching preview to see how well it could visualize larger boards.
The machine automatically moved the board to detect its edges, so there’s no risk of it falling off the rollers.
The resulting preview image was incredible — you can’t even tell where the camera images are stitched together. To really test it, I used a board with a distinctive wood pattern, and it passed perfectly.
Then I proceeded to run a large cutting job using a vector design I purchased from Etsy.
The conveyor feeder processing worked flawlessly. I’ll admit, I was initially skeptical about how reliable this system would be, but the alignment was spot-on — no slippage, no drift, just perfectly continuous cuts.
The final result came out beautifully — a wall art piece that’s definitely going up on my wall.
After use, it’s recommended to remove the front roller, which I now store conveniently at the back of the machine. Both the front and rear doors are magnetic, so you can simply close them when you’re done — quick and easy.
And if you plan to engrave or cut very long boards, I’d definitely suggest getting the conveyor extension module, which helps support extra-long materials and ensures smooth feeding throughout the process.
Creative Project Ideas
Foam Drawer Organizer
Using leftover 20mm packaging foam, I created a custom toolbox organizer. The P3 cut the foam effortlessly with professional results.
Custom Gift Box
Using the Box Generator app, I made a beer bottle gift box from warped plywood. Thanks to slat bed clips and high cutting speeds, the result was clean and elegant.
Using the vector elements from the xTool Studio
You can use the vast library of various vector elements and shapes to quickly make board games, funny keychains or decorations for toys and projects.
Acrylic Projects
The P3 handles thick acrylic like butter, making it perfect for display cases, keychains, and acrylic boxes. The cuts are crystal-clear and polished.
Conclusion
With its 80W laser, dual cameras, LIDAR autofocus, and xTool Studio integration, the xTool P3 is both fast and precise. Combined with accessories like the rotary and conveyor feeder, it’s a truly versatile machine for professionals and makers alike.
If you want a professional-grade laser that’s powerful, reliable, and easy to use, the xTool P3 definitely delivers.
You can get this laser cutter in the xTool US store and xTool EU store and the xTool Amazon store!
By clicking the links above you are also getting some custom discount from me as a thank you for reading this article!
I know the P3 is an investment, but there’s actually a $500 trade-up program running right now. If you’ve owned any laser machine before, you can get a $500 discount voucher to use towards the P3. So, if you’re thinking of upgrading, now might be the perfect time!
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This post was written by JT Makes It.
JT Makes It is an engineer, hobbyist, and DIY-er armed with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and over a decade of professional experience in the industry. From an early age, JT Makes It was pushed by an insatiable curiosity, spending countless hours disassembling, understanding, improving, and creating various gadgets and products. This lifelong passion led to a broad spectrum of technical expertise ranging from electronics, woodworking, metalworking, and CNC machinery, with a particular focus on laser engravers.
For the past 9 years, he has shared his expertise through engaging videos on his YouTube channel. With the last three years dedicated to scrutinizing and testing laser engravers, he also created this website and emerged as a recognized authority in the field. His expertise extends across the spectrum of laser technologies, ranging from diode lasers, CO2 lasers, and fiber lasers, paying attention to details and providing practical insights.
With JT Makes It, expect a blend of technical expertise, backed with hands-on experience, and a genuine passion for innovation and creation, making him a trusted source in the realm of DIY and laser engraving enthusiasts alike.
*The links on this website can be affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When you buy through these links you will support this website, which helps me to run this website(which cost money and a TON of time) and provide all these extensive reviews and information to you for free, without any paid membership.
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