Many promising 3D printers have come and gone, but Bambu Lab’s X1 has galvanized the 3D printing community with its AI-powered capabilities, which can print material in 16 colors roughly twice as fast as competitors. The X1, which can be remotely controlled via Bambu’s “Handy” mobile app, is the result of seven iterations and 22 months of engineering. Company founder Ye Tao says the goal was to move the actual experience of using 3D printers closer to the public imagination of a “magic box that satisfies every need in the blink of an eye.” As of October, 5,575 backers on Kickstarter had pledged $7 million to bring the project to life—making it one of the most successful hardware projects ever on the crowd-funding platform. The X1 should begin shipping this fall.
Preorder Now: Bambu Lab X1 3D Printer
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision