P2 is a cutting powerhouse with a large working area, and F1 Ultra is better suited for small-size deep metal engraving.

Both are similarly priced. Think about your use case, working area, and speed.

P2 (CO2 laser) excels in cutting and can handle all color acrylic.; F1 Ultra (fiber laser) handles metals well. P2 offers 600mm x 305mm working area at 600mm/s, while F1 Ultra provides 220mm x 220mm at 10000mm/s.

Efficiency: CO2 laser cutters have ultra-high absorption efficiency. xTool P2 can cut 3mm basswood at the speed of 35mm/s , which is 6 times faster than a 20W diode laser and 3 times faster than a 40W diode laser.

Materials Versatility: CO2 laser cutter can cut all colors of acrylic, including clear acrylic, and directly engrave on glass, offering unmatched versatility for your creative projects.

Some of the materials xTool P2 can cut include:

Wood: pine, oak, maple, birch, walnut, cherry, plywood and basswood.

Acrylic: all colors and all types, including translucent, mirrored, opaque and clear acrylic.

Fabric: cotton, polyester, nylon, silk, linen, polyester and polyamide fabric.

Leather: genuine, synthetic, faux leather.

Others: EVA foam, felt pad, plastic, rubber, paper, cork and cardboard.

But, xTool P2 cannot cut metal or glass, but it can engrave on it.

Metal: coated metal, anodized aluminum alloy, and anodized titanium steel. For stainless steel, you need to spray a coating on it before marking.
 
Glass: float glass, insulated glass, frosted glass, tinted glass…etc.Please note that glass that is too hard or too thin may lead to break.

If it can be cut, it can generally be engraved.

You can cut solid wood of thickness up to 18 mm, such as black walnut and cherry wood. When cutting plywood, you are advised not to cut a piece thicker than 12 mm. The cutting of thick plywood may cause a fire.

You can use LightBurn to create your design and operate xTool P2 to cut materials. Currently, the camera and auto-focus functions are not supported by LightBurn. You need to perform framing to preview the processing area and manually input the material thickness.

When working with xTool P2 (baseplate in place), the rotary attachment supports cylinders with a diameter of 3 to 42mm; and when working with xTool P2 and its riser base, the rotary attachment supports cylinders with a diameter of 0 to 180mm.

Largest circle diameter: 305mm
Smallest circle diameter: 0.01mm

xTool P2 is incredibly easy to use and highly smart. Most of our users said that they can complete their first setup (unboxing, plugging in, and setting up) in just around 20 minutes. This is due to various smart features such as camera positioning and autofocus ranging system.

We provide plenty of resources for assistance: a detailed manual to help you quickly and easily learn how to use it, our community can typically answer most questions within hours, and the Support Centre provides detailed learning materials covering the most common questions. If you have any questions, we are always here to assist you.

Consider the usage effects and environment when choosing the right machine.

For environments like craft studio, living space, or basements that require mobility (such as moving upstairs or downstairs), a desktop CO2 laser machine is convenient.

For ground-level spaces like sheds, warehouses, or woodworking space, opt for a floor-standing CO2 laser cutter to avoid moving up and down.

Floor-standing machines typically have higher power, around 100W, but may lack advanced intelligence and can be challenging to use.

On the other hand, desktop CO2 laser cutters offer lower power, typically above 50W is sufficient for productivity, and often come with smart features.

RF CO2 lasers are more expensive, offer excellent engraving precision, and have a lifespan of up to 10,000 hours, while Glass CO2 lasers are lower priced, have a shorter lifespan of around 6000-8000 hours, with performance gradually decreasing and dropping by about 5% at 1000 hours, and a larger spot size but meet the needs of most SMBs.

Specifically, the lifespan of the P2's Glass Tube is 6000-8000 hours. The laser wattage gradually decreases over time, approximately down to 95% at 1000 hours, and the overall laser power will decrease to 70% at 6000-8000 hours. The actual performance may vary depending on your usage and power settings. Whether you need to replace the laser tube should be based on your real experience and feelings, so it is possible that the laser tube may actually last longer.

Yes, you can use the P2 without WiFi. Whether using XCS software or LightBurn, simply connect the machine to your computer via Type-C cable to operate without WiFi.