Snapmaker · 3D Printers
Snapmaker U1 review: a real toolchanger at a hobbyist price
Four independent toolheads swap in about five seconds, so multi-colour prints waste far less filament than AMS-style printers.
Outstanding
Best for Multi-colour and multi-material printing without the waste
List price$749
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never changes our scores. Learn more
Preview review. Compiled from manufacturer specifications and published information. We will update the scores after hands-on testing.
Our verdict
The U1 is the most sensible multi-colour printer we have covered this year. Swapping whole toolheads instead of purging one nozzle saves time and filament, and the 270 mm cube build volume is generous. Buy it if you print in several colours or materials every week.
What we like
- SnapSwap 4-toolhead system changes heads in about 5 s
- Up to 5× less purge waste than single-nozzle colour changers
- 270 × 270 × 270 mm build volume for big parts or batches
- CoreXY motion: up to 500 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s²
- Auto filament loading and backup (runout) mode
What could be better
- Engineering filaments need the optional top cover
- Four hot ends mean more parts to maintain over time
- Wider footprint than single-nozzle printers
Score breakdown
Overall = 35% Print speed + 25% Print quality + 20% Setup and ease of use + 20% Value. How we test
Why a toolchanger matters
Most multi-colour printers feed several spools into one nozzle. Every colour change means cutting the filament, pushing the new one through and purging the old colour into a "poop" pile. On a detailed four-colour model that can waste more plastic than the part itself.
The U1 takes the approach that used to cost several thousand dollars: it parks four complete toolheads at the back of the frame and picks up the one it needs. Snapmaker calls it SnapSwap and quotes a swap time of about five seconds. Because each head keeps its own filament loaded, there is very little purging, which is where the claimed "5× less waste" comes from.
Speed and build volume
The U1 is a CoreXY machine rated at 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration, so single-colour prints are in the same class as the fastest consumer printers. The 270 mm cube build volume is larger than the usual 256 mm, which helps with helmets, storage boxes and batch printing on one plate.
Everyday use
- Calibration: automatic calibration and compensation run before printing, so you rarely touch the bed.
- Filament handling: filament loads itself, and backup mode can switch to another spool of the same material when one runs out.
- Materials: PLA, PETG and TPU work open-frame. For ABS, ASA or carbon-fibre blends, Snapmaker sells a top cover that keeps heat in.
What to know before buying
Four hot ends give you more flexibility, and more parts to look after. Snapmaker sells every spare separately (hot ends, nozzle wipers, fans), which is reassuring for a long-term machine. Plan for a little more desk width than a single-nozzle printer.
Should you buy it?
If you print mostly single-colour PLA, a cheaper printer will do. If you want multi-colour signs, cosplay parts, or prints that combine a rigid and a flexible material, the U1 does it faster and with far less waste than purge-based systems at a similar price.
Full specifications
| Technology | FDM, CoreXY toolchanger |
|---|---|
| Toolheads | 4 (SnapSwap, ~5 s swap) |
| Build volume | 270 × 270 × 270 mm |
| Max print speed | 500 mm/s |
| Max acceleration | 20,000 mm/s² |
| Multi-colour | Yes, up to 4 colours or materials |
| Filament diameter | 1.75 mm |
| Enclosure | Optional top cover |
| Screen | 3.5-inch touchscreen |
| Camera | Yes |
| Released | 2025 |
Ready to buy?
Snapmaker U1
List price $749. Prices change often, so check the current deal.
Head-to-head
Snapmaker U1 compared
Keep reading