How We Test
How StarterBench picks 3D printers and gear, and how to tell a hands-on verdict from a research pick.
Updated
Every product box on StarterBench carries one of two labels. They tell you exactly where the verdict comes from.
Tested on our bench
We own the machine and have used it. Every printer goes through the same routine, so results compare fairly:
- Setup time: from opening the box to the first print starting.
- First print: whether the first print out of the box succeeds without fixes.
- Noise: measured during a standard print.
Bench-tested picks show these measurements, and the photos are our own.
Research pick
We haven't had the product on our bench yet. The verdict comes from:
- Verified specs: checked against the manufacturer's own published specifications and documentation.
- Owner reports: patterns across large numbers of real buyers' experiences, such as failure modes, assembly problems and support quality.
- Price and value: what each dollar buys a beginner at current street prices.
Research picks never show bench measurements, because we haven't taken any.
What we don't do
- We don't rank products by commission.
- We don't invent scores, ratings or test results.
- We don't hide problems to protect a sale.
As our bench grows, research picks get re-tested and relabelled. Spot something we got wrong? Email hello@starterbench.com.