CES 2026 brought announcements from major manufacturers. Here’s what’s actually launching in Q1 2026 and whether they’re worth waiting for.
Creality K2 Plus (Announced January)
Specs:
- Build plate: 320×320×320mm
- Print speed: 300mm/s (claim)
- Auto-leveling: Yes (claims improvement over K2)
- Estimated price: $649
What’s new:
- Larger build plate (finally)
- Slightly faster speed
- Refined auto-leveling algorithm
Honest assessment:
- Larger plate is useful
- Speed claim likely marketing (practical will be 200-250mm/s)
- Not revolutionary, incremental improvement to K2
Should you wait?
- If you need the size: Yes, wait
- Otherwise: Existing alternatives (Artillery X2 at $399) offer similar value
Bambu Lab P2 (Rumored Q1, Likely Q2)
Expected specs:
- Multi-material support (2 colors/materials simultaneously)
- Build plate: 256×256mm (same as X1)
- Price: ~$1,200+ (estimate)
What’s new:
- Multi-material printing (game-changer if it works)
- Should reduce color-change print time
Honest assessment:
- Multi-material is genuinely useful
- Price will be premium
- Technology is unproven at this scale/price
Should you wait?
- Only if multi-material is essential
- Otherwise: Stick with X1 or wait for X2 later in year
Prusa MK5 (Expected Q2, maybe Q3)
Expected specs:
- Faster autolevel
- Better thermal management
- Incremental improvements to MK4S
What’s new:
- Likely evolutionary, not revolutionary
- Better reliability/durability focus
Honest assessment:
- Prusa iterates carefully; expect solid improvements
- Not a game-changer, just better MK4S
Should you wait?
- If buying Prusa: 6-month wait is reasonable
- Otherwise: MK4S is mature, waiting is optional
Monoprice Max (Budget Large Format)
Expected specs:
- Build plate: 300×300×300mm
- Price: $399
What’s new:
- Large format at budget price
- Direct competition with Artillery X2
Honest assessment:
- Undercuts competition
- Unproven printer, first iteration often has issues
- Could be good value if Monoprice quality holds
Should you wait?
- Only for reviews (first iteration risk)
- Artillery X2 is proven; Monoprice Max is gamble
Formlabs Fuse 3 (Already Available, Just Added)
Not FDM, but worth mentioning: SLS (powder) printer at consumer price (~$9,000). Not relevant for 99% of users, but notable.
The Real Story
What’s NOT happening in Q1 2026:
- Revolutionary new material (chemistry hasn’t changed)
- Fundamentally faster printing (speed battles are over)
- Sub-$100 quality printer (not physically possible)
What IS happening:
- Incremental refinements (better leveling, slightly larger plates)
- Multi-material exploration (Bambu’s play)
- Competitive pricing wars (budget printers getting better specs)
Should You Wait?
For each segment:
Budget ($200-400):
- Don’t wait. Creality K2 Plus is marginal improvement over K2
- Current options (Ender 3 V3, Anycubic Kobra 2) are solid
Mid-range ($500-800):
- Consider waiting 2-3 months for Q1 launches
- Incremental improvements but worthwhile
- Bambu P2 likely won’t arrive in Q1; expect Q2+
Premium ($1000+):
- Prusa MK5 worth waiting for
- Otherwise: MK4S is mature, proven
Multi-material:
- Only Bambu P2 is announced
- Risk of first-iteration issues
- Wait for reviews if this is critical
Pricing Trends
Expect competitive pressure in budget/mid-range:
- Monoprice Max at $399 will push artillery
- Artillery might drop to $349
- Creality K2 Plus at $649 will compress mid-range pricing
Prediction: Expect 5-10% price drops on existing inventory to clear before Q1 launches. Best deals in March-April as new printers arrive.
Q1 2026 isn’t revolutionary. It’s competitive refinement. Don’t wait for launches unless a specific feature (large format, multi-material) is essential. Current printers are excellent; waiting rarely provides meaningful benefit.