The AnyLaser X1, a 430-gram desktop laser engraver powered entirely via USB-C PD with no wall adapter required, is now shipping to backers after a Kickstarter campaign that raised roughly HK$5.9 million against a HK$39,200 goal — about 150 times its target. Priced at $99 for “super early bird” backers with a planned $150 retail price, the X1 is positioned squarely at makers who want a real laser in their workflow without the desk space, cost, or setup complexity of a full-size unit.
What’s actually inside a device this small
Backers choose between a low-power 380mW blue-violet (405nm) diode or a 650nm red diode. The unit includes an integrated fan and a low-power visual preview mode for lining up a job before committing to a cut, though it skips automatic focus — focus is handled manually via a twist knob, a reasonable tradeoff at this size and price point. Materials it can realistically handle include plastics, 3D-printed parts, solid wood, acrylic, and leather, plus glass when paired with laser marking paper; metal work is out of reach for both laser options, which is the expected ceiling for diode lasers in this power class.
Why LightBurn compatibility is the feature that matters most
Rather than building a proprietary control app, the X1 supports LightBurn, LaserGRBL, and any GRBL-based software — meaning it plugs directly into the same tooling ecosystem that already runs the vast majority of hobbyist laser cutters and engravers on the market. For anyone who’s already learned LightBurn on a different machine, that removes the single biggest friction point in adopting a new laser: there’s no new software to learn, just a new (much smaller, much cheaper) device to point it at.
Where a device like this actually fits
The X1 isn’t trying to replace a Bambu Lab H2C or a Makera Z1 for anyone doing serious production work — it’s a different category entirely, aimed at portability and low barrier to entry rather than throughput or material range. For a maker who wants to engrave on the go, test designs before committing to a bigger machine, or just doesn’t have room for a full-size laser cutter, a 430-gram unit that runs off the same USB-C cable charging a laptop is a genuinely new option, not just a cheaper version of an existing one.