3D Printer Announcements & Launches - January 2026

[Beginner]

January 2026 is shaping up to be an interesting month in the 3D printing space, with several manufacturers pushing out new models and feature updates that address long-standing pain points for makers. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about upgrading your setup or jumping in for the first time, there’s probably something worth considering in this month’s announcements.

Prusa Mk4S: Precision Meets Refinement

Prusa Research officially released the Mk4S this month, and it’s basically what happens when you take one of the most reliable printers on the market and make it even more reliable. The new model features a redesigned extruder that handles filament switching faster—about 30% quicker than the previous generation—and the bed leveling system is now fully automatic with their updated PINDA 3 sensor.

What matters to you: If you’re a beginner looking for a printer that just works out of the box, the Mk4S lives up to the hype. The build volume is 250 x 210 x 210mm, which is solid for most hobby projects. Print speed ranges from 20mm/s for high-quality prints up to 200mm/s for rapid prototyping. The price point sits at around $1,299, which isn’t cheap, but consider that you’re buying a printer with an exceptional community behind it and proven reliability.

The trade-off? The Mk4S still uses a proprietary nozzle system, so replacing parts isn’t quite as straightforward as some budget alternatives. But the upside is consistency—the system is specifically engineered for their setup.

Bambu Lab P1S Plus: Speed and Connectivity

Bambu Lab’s P1S Plus is now widely available after a brief exclusive period, and the upgrade from the original P1S is worth noting. They’ve integrated a filament dryer into the unit itself—essentially a heated chamber that keeps your filament dry during prints. For materials like Nylon PA6 and PETG, which absorb moisture like a sponge, this is genuinely useful.

Build volume: 256 x 256 x 256mm (cubic, which is nice for symmetrical prints). Print speeds reach 250mm/s reliably, with the new multi-material heads allowing up to four colors in a single print if you invest in their AMS (Automatic Material System).

Price: $699 for the base P1S Plus, with the AMS running another $199-299 depending on configuration.

The real question here is whether you want cloud connectivity and smartphone monitoring built into your printer. Bambu includes this as standard, which some makers love and others avoid on principle. The prints are genuinely fast—I’m talking 8-10 hour prints that would take 20+ hours on machines from just 2-3 years ago.

Ultimaker S7 Pro: Enterprise Gets Smaller

Ultimaker announced the S7 Pro as their entry into the “prosumer” segment—basically, professional features at a price that doesn’t require commercial financing. The 200 x 200 x 200mm build volume is modest, but the real story is their new Aerostream print head, which can reach 500°C, making it compatible with high-temperature materials like ULTEM and Polycarbonate.

Price point: $2,199. This is solidly professional-grade equipment.

Who this is for: If you’re running a small business, doing contract work, or printing functional parts that need to withstand serious conditions, the S7 Pro deserves consideration. Standard users don’t need this—but if you do, you know who you are.

Artillery Sidewinder X4 Plus: The Value Play

Artillery released the Sidewinder X4 Plus, and it’s one of those announcements that doesn’t make headlines but matters for budget-conscious makers. At $349, it’s positioned as a direct Creality Ender competitor with some genuinely useful improvements.

The X4 Plus features a direct-drive extruder (better for flexible materials like TPU), a 240 x 240 x 270mm build volume, and—here’s the kicker—a newly designed linear rail system that reduces vibration. Print speed tops out around 180mm/s for normal work, with decent print quality at the price point.

This is genuinely solid hardware for the money. The limitation is support; Artillery has a smaller community than Creality, which means fewer user-generated upgrades and mods available. But if you want a reliable machine without paying for the brand name, it’s worth a look.

What This Means for Buyers

If you’re just starting: The Prusa Mk4S or Bambu P1S Plus represent two different philosophies. Choose Prusa if you value community support and traditional reliability. Choose Bambu if you want speed and modern connectivity.

If you’re upgrading: The new models are iterative improvements—faster, more reliable, better material handling. Unless your current printer is failing, there’s no desperate need to upgrade immediately. But if you’re eyeing an older device, the gap in capability has genuinely widened.

If you’re budget-conscious: The Artillery Sidewinder X4 Plus is one of the best “bang for your buck” announcements in months. It’s not fancy, but it works.

The 3D printer market in January 2026 isn’t about revolutionary leaps—it’s about steady refinement. Faster prints, better reliability, smarter material handling. For makers, that translates to more time actually printing and less time troubleshooting. And that’s always worth paying attention to.