What Are 3 Must-Haves When Buying a 3D Printer?
If you’re buying a 3D printer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with specs, brands, and features.
But after 9 years of hands-on printing, I can tell you—most of that doesn’t matter.
What does matter is choosing a printer that’s reliable, easy to use, and won’t waste your time.
Here are the 3 must-have features every 3D printer should have in 2026.
1. App Control (Print From Your Phone)
Being able to control your printer from an app is a game changer.
You can:
- Start and stop prints remotely
- Monitor progress with a camera
- Get notifications when prints finish or fail
This is especially helpful if you’re running prints during the day while working or overnight.
2. Auto Bed Leveling
Manual bed leveling is one of the biggest frustrations for beginners—and honestly, even experienced users.
Auto bed leveling:
- Saves time on setup
- Improves first layer quality
- Reduces failed prints
If a printer doesn’t have this in 2026, it’s already behind.
3. Filament Runout Detection
Running out of filament mid-print used to mean a completely wasted job.
With runout detection:
- The printer pauses automatically
- You reload filament
- The print resumes where it left off
This is critical for long prints or overnight jobs.
Things to Consider (Especially for Multi-Color Printing)
If you plan on doing a lot of multi-color prints, your printer choice matters even more.
Larger or multi-material systems can:
- Reduce print time
- Cut down filament waste
- Handle bigger, more complex prints
Consider a printer with Multiple Heads.
Final Thoughts
If you focus on these three features—app control, auto bed leveling, and filament runout detection—you’ll avoid a lot of the common headaches people run into with 3D printing.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Start with a machine that makes printing easier, not harder. A good printer should make your life easier, not harder.