This year, CES was all about AI-powered gadgets and home assistant robots, which meant 3D printing and laser technologies fit right in. Creality, Snapmaker, AtomForm, and Protopasta each showed off the latest trends in the world of consumer 3D printing.
Creality
Creality emerged as the show’s clear winner, earning Tom’s Hardware’s Best 3D Printer of CES 2026 award for its new Creality SPARKX i7. The SPARKX i7 is an easy-to-use multicolor printer with AI-assisted features aimed at reducing friction for new users. While reviewing the SPARKX i7, we were impressed with its super-simple CFS Lite and quick-swap hotend. The programmable RGB lights along the bottom aren’t just for bling; they’re also a cheerful status indicator. When paired with the Creality Cloud app, users can pre-select files from the Creality library and send them directly to the printer, making the SPARKX truly plug and play.
Creality’s booth also showcased an updated Ender-3 V4, the Falcon T1 Laser Engraver with five swappable laser modules, and the Sermoon 3D scanner, all reinforcing the company’s push toward a consumer home fabrication ecosystem.
AtomForm
Newcomer AtomForm debuted the Palette 300 3D printer at parent company MOVA Group’s booth. MOVA is known for making robot vacuum cleaners, and they themselves are a sub-brand of Dreame, maker of premium household appliances, which is part of the Xiaomi Ecosystem, who are known for their smartphones and consumer electronics. TL’DR is AtomForm is not just a couple of dudes in a garage making cool stuff; they have some serious backers in the world of Chinese consumer electronics.
The Palette 300 is a fairly large, fully enclosed Core XY 3D printer with 12 nozzles stored on a wheel that it can swap like a mini tool changer. It can handle up to 36 colors and has a 300x300x300mm build volume. We’ve been hearing about this machine since last August, but this is the first time we’ve been in the same room with one. Unfortunately, this was a static display, so we can only assume they’re using a nozzle swapping method similar to Bambu Lab’s H2C or Bondtech’s INDX that will soon be featured on the Prusa CORE One.
The OmniElement automatic nozzle-swapping system is intended to dramatically reduce purge waste while maintaining print speed and quality through the use of four internal cameras and 50 sensors. The company claims the printer can hit speeds of 800mm/s with a 25,000 mm/s² acceleration speed. We’ll report back once we get a test unit if the AtomForm lives up to the hype.
AtomForm plans to launch the printer through Kickstarter later this year. Prices will start at $999 for a standalone printer and $1299 for an RFD-6 Combo, which will have a six-spool filament management system. A 12-spool system (with 2 RFD-6 units) will have an early bird price of $1808, nearly half off the full retail price.
xTool
xTool had a large display area to show off a wide variety of lasers, plus new technology like this prototype UV printer coming in Q2. This machine will be similar to the EufyMake E1 and will print a 3D texture onto objects using UV ink that it can cure as it prints, building up layers of texture. xTool promises a true prosumer-level machine that is more than a hobby printer, but not as expensive as an industrial unit. This is more of a lateral move for xTool, as they already market to small business users and have a deep catalog of blank merchandise you can buy to engrave and now UV print.
The unnamed UV printer does not yet have a price. xTool said the prototype brought to CES is used for design validation, and that while the core features are developed, they are still refining hardware and software.
xTool also showed off their new flagship P3 CO2 laser (starting at $6499), which we reviewed in November, as well as the xTool F2 Ultra fiber laser, which we just finished reviewing. The F2 Ultra is a MOPA laser that can color engrave metal with interesting results, and is currently on sale starting at $4699.
Protopasta
Protopasta showcased a materials innovation with its Quantum Dot filament. The PLA-based filament is filled with tiny semiconductor crystals, just a few nanometers across, that hyper fluoresce when excited by black light. This produces material that has a significantly brighter and more vivid glow than anything currently on the market. The filament was developed in collaboration with artist Olga Alexapoulou of Quantum Light, who pioneered Quantum pigment.
Quantum Dot filament is part of Protopasta’s experimental line of limited edition filaments. If you want to secure a sample or a few spools, you can subscribe to Endless Exploration before Feb. 28, 2026.
Snapmaker
Snapmaker was invited to showcase its affordable, four-color tool changer at the Kickstarter booth. The U1 had a highly successful Kickstarter launch that raised $20 million. The tool changer is our current pick for best multicolor 3D printer, as it offers high-quality speed with practically no wasted filament. Rather than announcing new hardware, Snapmaker focused on community engagement, allowing CES attendees to see the machine in person and marking the project’s transition from crowdfunding success to production reality.
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