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Creality Falcon A1 Pro Review - Almost Broken. Almost Brilliant. Completely Addictive
Aug 5, 2025
š„ *Check out the Creality Falcon A1 Pro Laser Engraver Here* https://geni.us/CrealityFalconA1Pro
*USE CODE "A1P8" 8% off*
I use these Safety Glasses for Diode Lasers: https://geni.us/FreeMascotOD6Diode
I use These Safety Glasses for IR Lasers: https://geni.us/FreeMascotOD7IR
*Laser Safety Video Coming Soon*
*Active USB Extentin Cable* - https://geni.us/ActiveUS
The Creality Falcon A1 Pro is one of the most feature-packed laser engravers Iāve testedāand yes, that surprised me too. This machine comes equipped with a 20W diode laser module for cutting and engraving wood, leather, acrylic, and more. It also includes a 2W infrared (IR) laser module for engraving metal, ceramics, and plastics, giving hobbyists and professionals alike a powerful dual-laser setup without breaking the bank.
In this brutally honest laser engraver review, I push the Falcon A1 Pro through real-world tests on plywood, anodized aluminum, and coated metal surfaces to see what it's actually capable ofāand where it falls flat. If you're looking for the best desktop laser cutter under $1,000, the A1 Pro might be a contender. But like most Creality machines, it's not without quirks, bugs, and moments of complete confusion. From camera calibration issues to Wi-Fi dropouts, I cover everything you need to know before buying this machineāespecially if you're a beginner trying to avoid expensive mistakes.
This isn't just about specs. It's about usability. This review covers the top-down camera preview system, the CoreXY motion platform, Crealityās Falcon Design Suite software, and LightBurn compatibility. I also dig into safety features like the Class 1 laser enclosure, OD-rated shielding, and why you should wear OD6+ laser safety glasses if you're even remotely attached to your eyesight.
āļø FEATURES COVERED IN THIS VIDEO:
-Dual-laser engraving system (20W blue diode + 2W IR)
-318mm x 305mm work area
-Built-in air assist compressor
-Exhaust outlet for fume extraction
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Right, let's get this out of the way. I
0:02
am not a laser expert. I'm a beginner
0:05
hobbyist trying to be informative to
0:07
other beginner hobbyists. This is
0:10
literally my second laser machine. And
0:12
the first one, absolute garbage. You
0:14
didn't need to be an expert to know
0:15
that. It was so bad its product name is
0:17
now often used as a punchline in laser
0:20
circles. That's how I got started. But
0:23
now I've got the Falcon A1 Pro. And
0:25
would you believe it, this one actually
0:27
worked. Not only did it work, I enjoyed
0:30
it. I powered it up, ran some jobs, and
0:32
genuinely had a good time. I've made
0:34
some cool stuff already, even though
0:36
I've barely etched the surface. And
0:38
yeah, pun intended. Now, this thing is
0:41
incredibly easy to use once you work out
0:45
how to use it. There is some learning to
0:47
do, but honestly, someone actually said
0:49
on one of my recent Creity printer
0:50
reviews that Creality aren't a printer
0:52
company. They're a laser company. And
0:54
after using this and speaking directly
0:56
with some of the team behind it, yeah, I
0:59
can see that this is one of the best
1:01
reality products I've ever used and I
1:03
only have a prototype. And the main
1:05
upgrades over the base A1 and that being
1:08
a jump from 10 watt to 20 watt on the
1:09
diode laser along with the inclusion of
1:11
an IR module too. Yeah, that's
1:14
impressive. So, let's take a look at
1:16
Creality finally starting to get it and
1:20
let's hope that this is a sign of a new
1:22
direction from the brand. Hi, I'm Ross
1:25
and this is Faux Hammer Videos. Now, I
1:27
expect since I'm new to lasers on my
1:30
channel, many of you who are into lasers
1:32
are probably new to me. So, this bits
1:34
for you as an introduction. I'm not
1:36
about reading the spec sheet and saying,
1:37
"This one's amazing. They're all
1:39
amazing. Buy it. Use my affiliate link."
1:41
I'm more of a here's all the nits I can
1:44
pick with it. whilst working in a few
1:46
dad jokes. Look, my goal is you now have
1:49
your expectations set realistically
1:51
rather than just what the brand tells
1:53
you in order to inflate it. And if
1:55
that's useful to you and you still want
1:57
the thing, I would appreciate you using
1:59
my affiliate link. Yeah. First, I'm
2:01
going to read the spec sheet. So, this
2:02
is the Falcon A1 Pro. It's a laser
2:05
engraver that comes with a 20 W blue
2:07
diode head and a quick swapping 2 W
2:09
infrared laser for metals, plastics, and
2:12
ceramics. It's got a built-in top- down
2:14
camera for previews, Wi-Fi, air assist,
2:16
and an extraction hose as standard. And
2:19
it even has add-on accessories you can
2:20
buy. I got the honeycomb plate, but you
2:23
can also get a rotary attachment that's
2:24
available, too. So, buy this one. It's
2:27
the best. Click my affiliate link.
2:29
Right. No, seriously. With a work area
2:31
of 318x 305 mm, all packed within a
2:35
well-built and rather attractive frame,
2:37
this is a pretty stacked little box.
2:39
Now, for beginners like me, this is what
2:41
you call a corxy laser. Yeah, like the
2:43
printers. This means that when cutting
2:45
or engraving, the laser head itself
2:47
moves in the X and Y dimensions and
2:50
projects straight downwards at all
2:52
times. On this model, the head itself
2:54
can also move up and down mechanically,
2:57
but that's to achieve the correct focal
2:59
distance for the laser. And I'm making
3:01
this distinction because it's different
3:02
to the more compact, taller lasers
3:04
called galvo lasers, which can usually
3:07
move the laser around faster for
3:08
engraving, but have a limited work area
3:11
and aren't typically the best at cutting
3:13
straight lines. Because with them, the
3:15
further you go from the center, you
3:17
you're projecting the laser at an angle.
3:19
Setup of this is incredibly easy. It's
3:21
literally take it out of the box and
3:23
remove the packaging. The only assembly
3:25
I had to do wasn't even really assembly.
3:27
You just plug in and attach the control
3:29
screen on the right hand side. Now, this
3:31
is the first knit because it does feel a
3:33
bit flimsy, almost like it's asking to
3:36
be easily knocked or snapped off. All of
3:38
the ports for this are on the back right
3:40
hand side at the bottom, which includes
3:42
the power and rocker switch, the
3:43
interface and hose inlet for the
3:45
separate small compressor, and that's
3:47
used for air assist. It's got a six pin
3:49
interface for the rotary tool along with
3:51
two USBC ports. One to connect to an
3:54
external computer and another to plug in
3:56
external devices like USB drives. And
3:58
you actually get a USBC toA adapter in
4:01
the box. Just no drive. You've got to
4:03
get that yourself. There's also a lock
4:05
in the bottom back corner. And without a
4:06
key in here, the device simply cannot be
4:08
turned on. So if you need to protect
4:11
other people in your house from using
4:12
it, trying to have fun, yeah, just take
4:14
the key out. And if there's an emergency
4:17
during use, the ESTOP is directly
4:19
accessible on the right hand side of the
4:21
machine. And unlike other lasers I've
4:23
tested recently, this one works. And it
4:26
also advertises built-in Wi-Fi, which is
4:29
lovely until it drops out and doesn't
4:31
automatically reconnect to anything.
4:33
Mine kept disconnecting constantly
4:35
during the camera calibration process,
4:37
and that was quite a problem because if
4:40
it cuts out mid-calibration, you're
4:42
starting all over from scratch. My first
4:43
calibration attempt took me over an hour
4:46
when it should have taken 5 minutes. And
4:48
for some reason, there's no Ethernet
4:50
port on this. None. Why is this still a
4:52
thing in 2025? Every connected tool I
4:56
own seems to be allergic to Ethernet.
4:58
And I think that's important
4:59
realistically. This is a device that
5:01
kind of expects a computer to be
5:03
connected directly at all times, at
5:06
least to get the best out of it anyway.
5:08
And whilst USBC may sound modern, it's a
5:11
problem if your computer isn't a laptop
5:12
or isn't nearby. USBC has strict limits
5:15
on how long the cable can be before the
5:17
signal craps out. So, you'll need an
5:19
active USB data repeater cable if you're
5:22
actually trying to run this more than a
5:24
few meters from your machine. I had to
5:26
go out and buy a 10 m one and this one
5:28
works. So, I'll link it in the
5:29
description. And yeah, it will be an
5:31
affiliate link. Everything I'm going to
5:32
post is going to be an affiliate link.
5:34
That's how I fund the channel. Right,
5:35
let's talk airflow. Now, as I said, this
5:37
unit comes with a small air compressor,
5:39
and it hooks up via a cable and hose to
5:42
blow through the laser head, and this
5:44
helps push away soot and debris and
5:46
prevents scorch marks. It works fine.
5:48
Sounds like a Smurfs running around with
5:50
a leaf blower. It's standard stuff. Now,
5:52
for smoke extraction, there's an exhaust
5:54
outlet to connect ducting and ideally
5:56
vent outside. Now, I don't have an
5:59
external setup yet. I'm working on it,
6:01
but Creity have also sent me their
6:03
indoor smoke filter. Now, I have to
6:05
point out this isn't the correct model
6:07
for the A1 or the A1 Pro. They're
6:09
actually working on a new one, but they
6:11
sent this so I had something to work
6:13
with, and we were able to get it working
6:15
well enough for me to do my testing, at
6:17
least for now, before I get a proper
6:19
extraction, air con, and HVAC system set
6:21
up in my workshop in the coming weeks.
6:24
So, massive thanks, Creality. Right,
6:26
let's move on to the fun, not fun part,
6:28
the camera. Now, the A1 Pro's top- down
6:31
camera sounds like magic. The idea is
6:33
snap a pick of items on the bed, drop
6:35
your artwork into place, hit go, perfect
6:37
placement, right? Yeah. No. Before you
6:41
do anything, you have to calibrate the
6:42
camera with a dot pattern card that you
6:44
get in the box. Now, the app says move
6:46
it around to nine different places. The
6:48
wiki makes it less clear, and it all
6:50
needs to be in one place based on the
6:51
images. And when you're doing it, it can
6:53
be hard based on the lighting in your
6:55
room and the glare inside the machine
6:57
from its own lights. I even tried to
6:59
disconnect them at one point just to get
7:01
it working. But it was while on a call
7:03
with Creity that we were just having, I
7:06
actually made it a point to get them to
7:07
confirm I wasn't doing it wrong. Yes,
7:10
you are meant to move it, but you're
7:11
also meant to manually tweak the
7:13
contrast slider until the software
7:15
detects it properly and gives you a high
7:17
rating. And no, none of this is
7:19
explained clearly in the instructions or
7:21
the wiki. But even after that, you've
7:23
then got to engrave four crosses, align
7:25
them in the software, but still your
7:27
preview won't directly match unless you
7:30
set manual offsets. And even then, I
7:32
could only line up either the center or
7:35
the edges, never both. And it's
7:38
important to know that this only works
7:40
when engraving an object at a particular
7:42
height. And you also need to do this for
7:44
different platforms. So the bed itself
7:46
and if you've got the honeycomb plate
7:48
in. So for each of those scenarios,
7:50
you've got to go through this
7:51
calibration multiple times to engrave
7:54
materials that are different heights.
7:55
And it's sort of like increments of one
7:57
to two or even 3 millimeters that you've
7:59
got to do it again. It's fine if you're
8:01
only ever really going to engrave thin
8:03
things, but if you're ever doing
8:04
anything taller, you you're going to
8:06
have to muck about if you want to use
8:07
this feature, but even then, right now,
8:09
you've just got to be aware that this
8:11
still isn't super accurate. Maybe
8:13
they've got some more work to do in the
8:15
back end. But yeah, don't expect this to
8:17
just be snap a picture and drop
8:18
everything perfectly in place. Maybe
8:20
that's something that more experienced
8:21
laser users just know as standard. But
8:24
yeah, it's a powerful feature in theory.
8:26
What I tend to do is still before I
8:28
engrave anything, just do a small
8:30
initial test mark and then compensate
8:32
manually every time. But honestly,
8:34
general newbie question here. If every
8:37
camera in every one of these is in the
8:39
same spot for everyone who buys an A1,
8:42
why can't it just be calibrated from the
8:44
factory? What? Why? Right. Software.
8:48
Yes, it works with LightBurn if you're
8:50
up for spending 90 on a license. That's
8:52
a very powerful laser program.
8:54
Incredibly powerful, even if it looks
8:56
like it was designed for Windows 98. The
8:59
manual also mentions Laser GBL if you're
9:02
more into freeware, but out of the box
9:04
you get Creality's own Falcon design
9:06
suite. And well, as somebody who's used
9:08
a lot of Creity software, this isn't
9:12
awful, at least once you get the hang of
9:14
it. It is a more beginner friendly tool.
9:17
You take a snapshot of your bed. Yes,
9:18
it's not that accurate, but you take a
9:20
snapshot, drop in your design, line it
9:22
up, cross your fingers, click autofocus,
9:25
and hit engrave or start. And the
9:28
autofocus feature is pretty cool.
9:30
There's a secondary laser pointer coming
9:31
from the front right corner of the
9:33
machine that projects onto the center of
9:35
the bed. Simply put whatever material
9:37
you're using under that spot, and it'll
9:40
measure the height of what you're
9:41
engraving to determine the height that
9:42
the laser head needs to get to so that
9:45
the correct focal point is on the
9:46
surface of that material. It's simple,
9:49
it's intuitive, and it works. And the
9:51
thing with having their own software,
9:53
yeah, it's it's handy. It's a good
9:55
thing, but they've also done the thing
9:57
that we're seeing in 3D printers. It It
9:59
puts their marketplace called Craft Seek
10:01
front and center. Every time you open
10:04
it, it's in your face. And right now,
10:06
it's got an incredibly limited number of
10:09
files. And honestly, it feels like a
10:11
beta that they just slipped out early.
10:13
Now, if they maintain it, it might be
10:15
useful. Right now, it's just a bit meh.
10:17
So, if you know good sources that you
10:19
can get laser files, please drop them in
10:21
the comments. The software has got
10:23
features like smart fill and that's to
10:25
duplicate designs across multiple
10:27
objects automatically. Yeah, doesn't
10:29
work. And there's also a companion phone
10:31
app. It mirrors most of the functions of
10:33
the main app and that means that you
10:35
could buy this and yeah, do quite a lot
10:37
in a mobile app. Then we come on to the
10:39
machine's UI itself. I would describe
10:42
this as passible. But again, there's
10:44
obviously just no real user experience
10:46
designed to speak of. If you start a job
10:49
remotely, as you're most likely to do,
10:51
the devices screen just sits there. It
10:53
doesn't show you a preview, no progress
10:55
bar, no countdown timer to say roughly
10:57
when it'll be done. And even something
11:00
as simple as sending the laser head to
11:02
the home position. You don't have a
11:04
separate movement menu. The movement
11:06
menu is hidden inside the job
11:08
preparation menus. This whole thing does
11:11
exist. It does work, but it feels like
11:13
someone duct taped features to a
11:14
template and called it a day. All in
11:16
all, when it comes to software, in my
11:18
experience, this whole thing just feels
11:21
very Creality. Now, where premium brands
11:23
wouldn't release a feature until it's 95
11:26
or 99% done, Creity have frequently been
11:29
more than happy to release features at
11:32
70% done. And from my experience with
11:34
them in 3D printing, they may come back
11:37
and improve it later with emphasis on
11:39
the May. Honestly, a lot of the
11:42
development I've seen in their previous
11:43
apps are dependent on how much people
11:45
are winging about the problems, right?
11:47
Safety features. We've already covered
11:49
the key lock and the emergency stop, but
11:51
what about optical safety? You know, the
11:54
stuff that stops you going blind. Now,
11:56
after my last laser review, I got a ton
11:58
of comments warning me that some brands
12:00
use cheap plastic shields and glasses
12:02
that may not block laser light properly.
12:04
So, I asked Reality directly and they
12:06
told me, and I need to put the emphasis
12:08
on this is what they told me, just like
12:12
the A1, the A1 Pro is a certified class
12:15
one device for both the diode and
12:17
infrared lasers. Now, from what I've
12:19
looked at, class one means that it's
12:21
safe under normal use because of the
12:23
shielding and interlocks that shut it
12:24
down if the doors are open. And I've
12:27
tested it, that works. Open the door, it
12:29
shuts off. But what I've also come to
12:32
learn is that at bare minimum, class one
12:35
only implies that the orange cover is
12:37
OD3+ rated, meaning it's got an optical
12:40
density rating of 3+. And that should
12:43
block 99.9% of laser light. But then I
12:46
actually spoke directly with a guy
12:48
called Kobe Schmidt, an awesome guy that
12:50
I also referenced in my last video,
12:52
somebody who's an experienced laser user
12:54
and has his own channel. I learned from
12:56
him that most recommended safety glasses
12:58
for this kind of work, whether it's
13:00
hobby or professional, are OD6 rated,
13:03
offering way more protection. Now, since
13:06
I'm new to lasers, whilst I was doing
13:08
this review, I got a little bit
13:10
overfueled by all the comments I had
13:12
combined with my own anxieties and I had
13:14
a pretty big scare whilst working with
13:16
this. So, one day whilst I'm using it,
13:19
my vision suddenly started to go blurry.
13:21
I panicked and I went straight to the
13:23
optitians. These guys, got to say,
13:26
awesome people. And they gave me an OCT
13:28
scan and a normal eye test. Turns out my
13:30
prescriptions completely changed and I
13:32
should have had one three years ago. But
13:33
anyway, they clearly explained to me how
13:35
this test worked, what I could see, and
13:38
thankfully no laser damage. Few. It
13:41
turns out the blurring was most likely
13:43
because all I'd had for breakfast that
13:44
day was three coffees. Anyway, this has
13:47
still put enough in my mind for me to
13:49
say that, yeah, from now on, I'm going
13:51
to be wearing and recommending anyone
13:53
who gets one of these gets proper
13:56
certified OD6 rated glasses every time
13:59
you use it. And I'll put links to what I
14:01
buy in the description. Yeah, they're
14:03
not going to be cheap, but they're
14:04
probably cheaper than new eyeballs. So,
14:06
after playing with this for a while,
14:08
here's the verdict. As far as laser
14:10
engravers go, this is the best one I've
14:12
ever used. Yeah, but that's out of two.
14:15
Now, looking around for the price and
14:16
features compared to what else is out
14:18
there, I'll say yeah, it's decent. It
14:21
works. The hardware is sturdy, and even
14:23
with the silly hurdles, it is pretty
14:25
straightforward to use. It's solid,
14:27
powerful, and packed with features. And
14:29
honestly, it's incredibly fun. But like
14:32
everything else I've ever used from
14:34
Creity, it also feels like it was
14:36
released at 80% complete. It's not bad.
14:39
In many ways, I'd even describe it as
14:41
good, very good. It's just so obviously
14:45
somewhere between unrefined and
14:47
unfinished. And based on my experience
14:49
with the brand, I'm just not confident
14:51
that it ever truly will be. Just like
14:54
all of their 3D printers, I'm always
14:56
acutely aware of how many simple things
14:59
could be easily improved. It's almost
15:01
death by a thousand cuts. It works. It
15:04
works great, but everything around it
15:06
software-wise just feels like loweffort,
15:08
minimum viable product. But if you are
15:11
looking at one, it can work okay for
15:13
beginners. You'll probably need a little
15:14
bit of support beyond what they give.
15:16
So, Facebook groups, forums, and the
15:18
like. But it also depends on your
15:20
affinity to tech. Someone could pick
15:22
this up and get it working in 5 minutes.
15:24
Someone could scratch their head for a
15:25
week. And the thing is that's just with
15:27
their software. Get LightBurn involved
15:29
and you can push this to be a pretty
15:31
advanced and powerful machine, too,
15:33
considering how compact and tidy it is.
15:36
So, honestly, it works. I've made a load
15:38
of fun things on it and the truth is I
15:41
don't want to stop. I actually don't
15:43
want to move this off my desk. I want to
15:45
move on to learning LightBurn and
15:47
unlocking even more power from this than
15:49
what I currently have. But the thing is,
15:51
I do have other products to review.
15:53
That's now my job. I have other things
15:55
to move on to. But this genuinely is the
15:58
first time in a long time that I don't
16:01
want to go to work tomorrow and play
16:02
with the next shiny toy. I want to keep
16:05
playing with this. Is there a better
16:07
device out there? No idea. Ask me again
16:10
in six months when I've reviewed three,
16:12
four, five, seven more of them. But I
16:14
can say I've enjoyed it. And from
16:16
reality, this is actually one of the
16:18
best things I think I've ever touched of
16:20
theirs. Anyway, I want to say thanks for
16:21
watching me rant and ramble. I hope you
16:23
enjoyed it. I'm sure I got some useful
16:25
info over to you somewhere in there.
16:26
Anyway, but yeah, thanks for watching
16:28
with a huge thanks going to our members
16:30
who are on screen now. Please consider
16:32
joining them. They get their name in the
16:33
credits along with early access and
16:35
exclusive videos and Discord rolls, too.
16:38
Thanks again for watching. Until next
16:40
time, I'm flying Jack. Faux hammer out.
16:47
[Music]