Creality · Laser Engravers & Cutters
Creality Falcon A1 review: a safe, enclosed first laser for $549
A pre-assembled, enclosed 10 W diode laser with camera and a 381 × 305 mm bed. One owner ran it 4–7 hours a day for weeks; 10 W limits speed and metal work.
Good
Best for Beginners who want an enclosed laser for wood, leather and acrylic
List price$549
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Preview review. Compiled from manufacturer specifications and published information. We will update the scores after hands-on testing.
Our verdict
The A1 arrives assembled and enclosed, so beginners can start safely within an hour. Grouchy Farmer ran one 4–7 hours a day for weeks and found it reliable, with tight box-joint kerfs. The 10W laser cannot mark bare metal, rarely reaches the 600 mm/s headline speed, and the camera calibration is weak. A very good learning machine at $549.
What we like
- Arrives fully assembled; running in under an hour
- Enclosed with interlocks on both covers
- Generous 381 × 305 mm bed for its size
- Cut 1/4-inch plywood cleanly; accurate kerf for box joints
- Reliable in heavy daily use; LightBurn compatible
What could be better
- 10W cannot engrave bare metal or cut foil
- Rarely reaches its 600 mm/s speed in real jobs
- Stops with a beep but no error message
- Weak built-in fan with a short hose; no honeycomb bed
- Camera calibration is fiddly and inaccurate near the edges
Score breakdown
Overall = 35% Power and speed + 25% Results and build + 20% Software and safety + 20% Value. How we test
What is it?
The Falcon A1 is Creality’s entry-level enclosed laser: a 10W diode in a closed box with a camera and CoreXY motion. It is the cheaper sibling of the A1 Pro, without autofocus or the touchscreen.
It costs $549 on the official store (list $599).
Setting up
The A1 ships fully assembled. CGMagazine set aside a whole evening and was running in under an hour. Both covers have safety switches that stop the laser when opened.
In daily use
Grouchy Farmer bought one at full retail and ran it 4–7 hours a day for several weeks:
- Made 12 key tags per 12 × 12-inch sheet of 1/8-inch plywood.
- Cut dense 1/4-inch plywood cleanly.
- Cut 3/8-inch white oak slowly, sometimes needing two passes.
- Box joints fitted tightly thanks to an accurate kerf.
- Powder-coated steel bottle openers marked well, but bare metal and thin foil were beyond it.
LessFume’s critical guide argues the 10W laser means real jobs rarely reach the 600 mm/s speed, and reported trouble engraving walnut.
Problems
- The machine sometimes beeped and stopped with no error message; a power cycle fixed it (about four times in Grouchy Farmer’s weeks of use).
- The built-in fan is weak and the hose is only about 4 feet long.
- No honeycomb bed in the base kit.
- Camera calibration is a pain and inaccurate near the edges.
Who should not buy it
- Anyone who wants to mark bare metal: get an IR or fibre laser.
- Anyone planning production volume: a 20W+ laser saves hours.
vs rivals
- vs Falcon A1C ($269–$399): cheaper and smaller (150 × 150 mm), with an optional IR module. See A1 vs A1C.
- vs Falcon A1 Pro ($1,099): 20W, autofocus and a touchscreen for twice the price.
- vs Falcon2 22W ($549): same price, more power and a bigger bed, but open-frame.
Final thoughts
The A1 is a safe, reliable place to learn laser work. Add a honeycomb bed and a better exhaust, and it will serve a hobbyist for years.
Sources
Full specifications
| Laser | 10W blue diode |
|---|---|
| Work area | 381 × 305 mm |
| Motion | CoreXY, up to 600 mm/s (claimed) |
| Features | Pre-assembled, HD camera, batch processing |
| Enclosure | Fully enclosed with lid interlocks |
| Software | Falcon Design Space, LightBurn |
| Price | $549 · basic kit $599 · all-in-one kit $699 |
| Released | 2025 |
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Creality Falcon A1 (10W)
List price $549. Prices change often, so check the current deal.
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Creality Falcon A1 (10W) compared
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