So for a lot of people, this might come as a surprise, but do you know that there is now a piece of technology known as a 3D pen?

Yes, that’s right, this new technology is quickly gaining popularity among artists or other people who are on the lookout to unleash their creativity using the 3D prints.

But what exactly is a 3D pen?

A 3D pen is basically something that looks like a bulkier version of an ordinary pen or a pencil, however, instead of using the traditional lead or ink that is used in pencils or pen, the 3D pen operates using plastic. Yes, you’ve heard it.

Now it’s safe to say that there are a lot of questions roaming in your head about how difficult it is to use or is it even a good thing. Well, yes; first of all, using a 3D pen is no different than using a normal pen or a pencil, you get to hold it the same way you hold the other aforementioned instruments, and yes, there are a lot of ways one can use a 3D pen.

How does a 3d Pen Work?

A 3D pen basically uses plastic instead of ink, you insert the plastic filament at one, and once it’s inside the pen, it gets heated using some sort of heating technology inside, the heat is strong enough to melt the plastic, and turn it into a liquid, once that’s done, you can start using the pen to write on pretty much everything you want; the good thing about a 3D pen is that it works on almost all the surfaces.

If you are in awe, then don’t worry, we have seen similar technology like this known as the glue gun, which works on almost the same principle as a 3D pen does. 3D pens basically come in several different colors in order to truly bring out the artist inside you.

If you are wondering what you can do with a 3D pen, the possibilities are limitless to be honest, where the drawings that you usually create using the ordinary pen and pencil are two dimensional, the 3D pens can add another dimension and make your drawings and artwork extra realistic. With that out of the way, even though these 3D pens are relatively new on the market, the market is quite saturated, this means that there are hundreds of choices, and if you are someone who is relatively inexperienced in this field, then you might have a really hard time finding the best 3D pen on the market.

Best 3D Pens 2016

So, we have penned down a handy list that contains the best 3D pens in the market, to make things easier for you, we have chosen the 10 best 3D pens in the market, alongside their brief reviews and features to help you have a better understanding of what you are about to buy.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at the list of best 3d pens 2016.

1. Scribbler 3D Pen V3

The first on the list is the Scribbler 3D Pen V3, and as the name may suggest, it is an updated version of the legacy Scribbler 3D Pen, this pen has been in the market for quite some time and is taking people by surprise. Perhaps one of the best features about this pen is the amazing build quality and perfect ergonomics that make this pen such a breeze to use. With that said, let’s find out some details about how good this 3D pen is.

For starters, the 3D pen comes in various different colors, but don’t worry, you can actually use filaments of different colors with the pen. As of now, the 3D pen is available in a total number of 8 colors, the available colors are Blue, Green, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow.

The pricing for this 3D pen starts from $100 and goes up to $110. With that said, this is perhaps one of the best 3D pens available in the market. In our testing, it was revealed that the pen is extremely light weight and highly easy to operate, and if you are having concerns about how easy it is to change the filament, then don’t, the pen operates in a rather easy and friendly manner that allows you to operate it without any hassle. To be very honest, the Scribbler 3D Pen V3 didn’t really have any major downsides to begin with, all the tests were passed with flying colours, however, for people who are used to the traditional way of drawing using a pen or a pencil might have some issues drawing with this pen at first because like all 3D pens, this one has a learning curve. Rest assured, this is without a shadow of a doubt, an amazing 3D pen.

2. Lix 3D Printing Pen – Most Smallest and Smartest 3D Pen out there

Lix took the world by surprise when the announced the world’s smallest 3D Printing Pen, as opposed to the first 3D printing pen as well as the others in the market, the Lix 3D printing pen proved to be a wonder for both the consumers and the critics alike. The pen tore through its Kickstarter campaign and was finally available for the consumers to buy. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a review unit of this amazing 3D printing pen. Our impressions about this pocket-sized powerhouse? Let’s find out.

Like we stated earlier, the Lix 3D is perhaps the smallest 3D printing pen available in the market, but how does it perform? Well, you’d be surprised; the pen proved to be pretty much amazing in all the tests we have done. We conducted different tests including using this pen in a complete pin drop silent environment to test out if it has any of the issues that plague other 3D pens, to our surprise, this is perhaps one of the most quite 3D pens we have had the pleasure to use. With that said, the build quality of this 3D pen is really top notch, and it works brilliantly on almost all the surfaces we have tested on without any hiccups.

Another great thing about this 3D pen is that it is powered via a USB cable, this is really a big advantage considering how most of the 3D pen we have used required power through a power brick, which needed to be plugged into an outlet. However, you can use the Lix 3D printing pen without all that hassle, it can power up as long as it has a power source to power it up, you can even use a power bank to use it. Super simple.

If you are wondering whether or not this pen has any cons, then you’d be surprised to know that during our testing, we failed to find anything bad about this. The only thing we have to say about Lix 3D printing pen is how amazing it at the tasks it is supposed to handle. With that said, if you are in the market for a 3D printing pen that looks good and performs good, then you have a winner at your hand.

3. 7TECH 3D Printing Pen

The next up on our list is the 7TECH 3D Printing Pen. This specific 3D printing pen was designed with only one purpose in mind; the easy to use, user-friendly nature. With that said, the company behind this amazing 3D printing pen ensured us that the product will have an incredibly silent operating mode, in addition to that, the pen also comes with several features that make this 3D printing pen, one of the best we have seen. Let’s find out more about it.

The 7TECH 3D printing pen has some advanced features that are welcomed additions, for instance, this 3D printing pen comes with one of the best thermal control, in addition to that, the 3D printing pen also manages to notify you about the filament getting stuck. Last but not the least, in case you hate the super-fast or super-slow extrusion of many 3D pens, you don’t have to worry about this one as it actually lets you control the extrusion according to your own preferred speed.

The only 2 issues we actually encountered during our review and testing were the lack of supplied filaments as well as how hot the pen can get while it’s fully operational. Do keep in mind that while you are operating the pen, the temperature can go incredibly high, and to an extent that it may cause damage to your skin if you get In contact with it. With that said, we also realized that the supplied filament wasn’t enough, but then again, companies through these in for the royalty. With that said, the 7TECH 3D Printing Pen is one of the finest 3D printing pens we have used and is certainly one of the top 3D pens.

4. ccbetter Intelligent 3D Pen

The fourth on our list is the ccbetter Intelligent 3D Pen before we go into details, you should know that this pen is also sold under a different name that is called Joyluxy Intelligent 3D. With that said, the Intelligent 3D pen is one of the best 3D pens 2016 we have had the pleasure of reviewing. Speaking of functions and features, the 3D pen is quite basic and has all the necessities anyone would want in a 3D pen. With that out of the question, let’s take a closer, and proper look at the CCbetter Intelligent 3D pen from Joyluxy.

The pen comes in a sleek-looking box that is no bigger than your usual smartphone box, inside the box, you find the usual power brick along with the 2 supplied filaments. Do keep in mind that you can always purchase separate filaments of your own choice, the manufacturer was nice enough to include a stand that you can use to put your pen on when it is not in use. The 3D printing pen was rather easy to use for both the newcomers as well as veteran artists, the testing revealed that it managed to work on almost all the major materials with great ease and consistently gave us brilliant results. The pen also comes with an OLED that has a small status indicator that tells you when the filament is heated and ready to use, quite a nice tough to be honest.

Speaking of cons, the thorough and concise testing didn’t really reveal any issues to begin with, however, we would have liked a bit more detailed instruction guide, especially for people who are reluctant when it comes to using such stuff without the proper guide to help them out. Apart from that, the pen managed to perform excellently in all the tests.

With that said, the CCBetter Intelligent 3D Pen from Joyluxy is probably one of our most favourite 3D pens we have used, and is a definite recommendation for someone who’s looking for the best bang for the buck.

5. Lay3r 3D Pen – Best 3D Pen for Kids

We are halfway through the list, and the next product on our list is the Lay3r 3D pen. Before you say anything about the name, try and think about the saying that goes like “do not judge a book by its cover”, with that said, the Lay3r 3D pen took us be surprised as we weren’t expecting something so amazing. How is it amazing? Well, there’s only one way to find out. Let’s see.

As compared to the other 3D printing pens we have used and reviewed, the Lay3r 3D pen is oddly large, however, as big as it may seem, the 3D pen proved to be extremely good at handling and not heavy at all. Another great advantage of the Lay3r 3D pen is that it is really easy to use. How easy, you ask? With proper guidance, a 12-year-old can use the pen without making any mistakes. However, the great thing about it is that it doesn’t matter if a kid is using this amazing pen or some veteran artist is, the pen is extremely easy to handle for people of all age and skill level. We were surprised to see that the company has included a fan inside the pen to make sure it stays cool during the hot operating temperature, last but not the least, the pen comes with an automatic shutdown feature that turns off the pen when it’s not being operated.

As for the downsides, the only downside we actually think exists is the size of the pen, but then again, considering how it has a fan built inside of it, the size can be justified.

6. GENESIS 3D

The next product on our list is the GENESIS 3D Pen, for those who don’t know, the company is also known for creating a really popular 3D printer. The company behind Genesis 3D pen is known as Lasso Labs and today we are bringing you this brilliant 3D pen. Let’s see how it manages to fair against the tough competition that is currently existing because of the saturated market of 3D printing pens.

The Genesis 3D pen is nicely designed and looks quite sophisticated, it’s nowhere near as slim and small as the Lix 3D printing pen but when it comes to doing the job, it isn’t any less than the competition. Our review unit came in all black, however, there are a few other color combinations available. The pen managed to perform eloquently in all the tests; it was smooth, the plastic filament didn’t get stuck, and the pen’s chassis didn’t get abnormally hot – something that is common with a lot of 3D pens. Lasso Labs was also kind enough to add in 5 filaments in the box, and you can always purchase the filaments separately. With that said, the Genesis 3D pen pleased us with the consistent performance and a minimal learning curve.

Moving on to the complaints, we don’t really have any. The only 3D pen managed to perform perfectly fine in almost all the situations and didn’t disappoint us at all.

7. 3Doodler 3d Printing Pen – Comes with 50 Stands of Plastic

The next one in the list is 3Doodler 3D printing pen. This stylish pen comes with 50, yes, you have heard it, 50 plastic filaments — the most number of filaments we have received with a 3D printing pen. The overall looks and feels of the pen are amazing, and the color (black) we received for reviewing made the pen look like something that came out from a Tom Clancy novel. With that said, let’s see if the pen is worth the $110 price tag. However, before we begin, you should know this pen is in no way related to another product that goes by the same name and is also known as the first 3D printing pen in the world.

This is perhaps one of the best-looking 3D printing pens available in the market, right next to the Lix 3D printing pen we have reviewed earlier, the greatest thing about this pen is that it comes with 50 filaments, and they are extremely easy to replace and do not get clogged. The testing phase revealed that the pen manages to work perfectly fine on almost all the surfaces. The pen happens to be really easy to use, especially for the veteran artists who have good experience with drawing and using such tools, as for newcomers, there is a slight learning curve for them.

In all honesty, we didn’t find any cons at all. There were some concerns, but pointing them out would be nitpicking as almost all the 3D pens we have reviewed had them with the exception of Lix 3D printing pen.

8. Glyby Intelligent 3D Printing Pen

Our next entry is the Glyby Intelligent 3D printing pen. Reviewers and users have hailed it as one of the best 3D printing pens ever available, and sure, it is nowhere near good looking as the Lix 3D printing pen, but in terms of functionality, the pen manages to perform quite well. How well, you ask? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

The Glyby Intelligent 3D printing pen is perhaps the cheapest 3D printing pen available in the market, it retails for just $50 and in terms of performance, it manages to give a groundbreaking performance and works on almost all the surfaces. With that said, do keep in mind that this 3D printing pen is made with kids in mind, so if you want something for some extra professional work, you probably might want to spend your money somewhere else, and on something more expensive that would be more appropriate for the professional work. Moving on, the pen is easy to use for kids, it has enough features to keep them happy for a long time, and as long as they operate under a proper supervision, things won’t go wrong.

At the given price, there isn’t anything to complain about the Glyby Intelligent 3D printing pen, the main purpose of this 3D printing pen is to make sure that the children can developer their minds properly, and it does a great job at that. Sure there are better 3D printing pens available in the market, but do keep in mind that they are usually above $90. With that said, the Glyby 3D printing pen is an amazing gift for kids who are always up for learning new, interesting and soulful things.

9. CreoPop 3D Printing Pen – Cordless 3D Pen

We are bringing something extraordinary for you, just like the Lix 3D printing pen, the CreoPop 3D cordless printing pen is a revolution on its own. What’s good about it? It doesn’t require a wire to work, which means that there is an insane amount of portability that comes with this 3D printing pen, and if you want more cool things from this pen then here’s another surprise; unlike the rest of the 3D printing pens, this one doesn’t have any heating parts. Yes, you have heard it, this pen uses plastic without even heating and melting it.

As compared to the other pens that use thermoplastics, the CreoPop uses photopolymers, this is the type of ink that starts liquefying as soon as it is exposed to LED diodes. With that said, let’s find out more about the pen itself. Considering how there is no heated, melting plastic involved, the pen is extremely easy to use and completely safe for children as there won’t be accidental burns. The testing revealed that despite a completely different ink, pen managed to perform excellently in almost all the tests despite having a completely different type of ink.

Coming to the cons, or things we didn’t like about the pen, to be honest, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. If you want something that is futuristic, easy to use, and fancy, then you should definitely get this one. The only concern we have is that currently, the ink is supplied only by one company, and that might be a problem for some people as other pens can pretty much use any plastic filament available in the market. With that out of the way, the CreoPop 3D Cordless Printing Pen is amazing and one of a kind that will make any art lover happy.

10. 3Doodler 2.0 – The latest version of 3Doodler but not as good as the first one!

The last product on our list is 3Doodler 2.0, for those who don’t know, this is a successor of 3Doodler; which is also known as the first 3D printing pen ever.

With that said, the pen is an absolute upgrade over the funky looking original. As compared to the predecessor, this one looks absolutely spectacular and quite sophisticated. Another great thing about this pen is that it comes with a total of 50 plastic filaments, 25 of them are the ABS plastic, and the remaining 25 are the PLA plastic filaments. This is a really nice gesture from the company as most of the 3D printing pens we have received only came with either 3 or 5 filaments. With that said, you can always buy additional filaments and they don’t really cost much.

As for the performance of this pen, the company improved it a lot over the predecessor, the 3Doodler 2.0 managed to perform excellently in almost all the tests we have conducted, the pen works on a number of different surfaces including paper. Luckily, we didn’t experience any clogging or the chassis heating up. Last but not the least, the design is also a great thing about the 3Doodler 2.0, it is largely improved over the original design and highly useful.

The 3Doodler 2.0 is an improvement over the original one in almost all the ways possible, the concerns that were present in the original version aren’t there anymore. With that said, if you are looking for a stylish, yet highly effective 3D pen, then the 3Doodler should be your number one choice However, I got the defective piece by the first time and had to exchange it.

3d Pen Buyer’s Guide

Before buying a 3D pen, you must familiarize with its functioning and applications. The modus operandi is different with each brand. Between filament and design, there can be tons of variables. Newest 3D pen products may not share the same design as the world’s first 3Doodler model. 3Doodler for instance, uses plastic filament, thus making it easy to draw in the air. Real-time creation of 3D objects in serious pace was a real prospect. 3D pens don’t have a long history.

The very first project of its kind was funded as a kick starter product.  So, you wouldn’t have too many variables to know about, in order to master 3D pen technology. The success of 3Doodler inspired another gem of a product in Scribbler. With productions in China, Scribbler was still able to deliver with 6-month warranty plus return policy. Some unattended promises such as Lix tiny 3D pen still work under progress for years now. If you don’t know how to go about choosing your 3D pen, this can be trickiest of markets.

3D technology takes large steps as we speak. Nevertheless, there isn’t too much to learn about, in comparison to typical household electronics. Getting a grasp of this technology can be real easy. Evolution of this technology can be explained quickly by comparing plastic and cool ink pens.

3D plastic pen vs. Cool Ink pen

3Doodler and Scribbler accounted for most products of 3D printing pens in the initial stage of 3D pens market. All of them used plastic for drawing 3D objects in the air. The successive development took place in the form of cool ink pens. They made drawing in 3D as possible as it was in the case of plastic pens. The added advantage to it was the riddance of hot parts. Without hot components, it was a safer option for all age groups, especially kids. Since September 2015, cool ink pen models were released and competed for market share.

First, few cool ink pens such as the 3D Creation Maker didn’t provide users with an option of drawing in air. The drawing happens on a horizontal surface and the art is hardened later. It didn’t match the feel of drawing in the air. During November last year, products like CreoPop came up with a solution. They put UV to use, thereby making drawing in the air possible. The plastic pens vs. cool ink pens sum up the evolution of 3D printing pens.

Additional Features

The first and foremost function of 3D pens are to draw 3D art or objects. The functioning and design would facilitate filament loading, filament conversion and draw process. Additionally, some extra features can come to rescue, when needed the most. Standby mode would be a classic example of the useful additional feature. Large LCD screens can give a product an edge over competitors. Some products even have filament jamming detection system. Smart 3D pens come with extreme options like thermal management, working LED etc..

• Type of control: Quality of 3D pen can be boosted with the extra bit of control it gives the user. For instance, the temperature can be controlled in plastic 3D pens. You can also control the speed of drawing in few products. The adjustable feed can help regulate flow and speed of drawing. Continuous speed regulation elevates your comfort and ease of drawing. Adjustable temperature can help fine tune your drawings to levels you didn’t know existed. It changes the entire 3D art experience. Intelligent controls are what the new millennium product needs, to create massive appeal.
• Design: Ergonomic design is the need of the hour when it comes to 3D pens of now. Many promises haven’t been delivered, including the tiny 3D pen from Lix. Slimmer 3D pens are what that’s preferred in current market scenario. Best products are super small and can be recharged even through laptop USB. Design plays a huge role in how easy controls feel on your hand.  The design should allow easy access to display. Your view should flow seamlessly from filament to dropping ink or plastic. Light weight and ergonomic design would enhance the quality of 3D pen any day.
• Filament type: Type of filament would have a say in your drawing style. It determines how you hold the pen and which grip you would be getting. Filament contains the plastic element, which enables drawing. At this point in time, there are more than a dozen different filament types available in the market. As a rule of thumb, the easier it is to replace, the better it is for use. Easily replaceable filament type helps a great deal in the long run. It makes your 3D pen usable for a long time. There are 4 major categories in filaments – Standard, Flexible, Composite, and Specialty.
• Brand name: Brand name definitely matters in this young technology. 3Doodler invented the world’s first 3D printing pen. Scribbler offers the luxury of 6-month warranty. The catch would its production model based in China. Brands like Lix are proven to be innovative. Every brand makes users come up with few realistic expectations. Compare brands and models on the basis of quality and features available. False marketing is what you would commonly see in this category of products. It would be your responsibility to examine the brand and know what to expect.
• Check Reviews: Word of mouth wouldn’t work for 3D pens on reputation or marketing front. Every 3D printing pen artists would be first generation users. You got to trust internet reviews and marketing claims. Read customer reviews across different and shopping site. Beware of fabricated reviews and spot them when things look too good to be true. It is the easiest way to determine quality and worth of your product. Reviews would be the first-hand information you need before deciding if the product would work or not. A lot of 3D printing pen models made promises which were never delivered. Dig more for video reviews on YouTube. This way, you can see for yourself, how these pens work.

Conclusion – Wrapping it up

Right now, buying a 3D printer is a simple equivalent of spending an awful lot of money. Yes, a 3D printer makes sense if you have to undertake large projects that are simply not possible on a 3D printing pen.

However, if you want a 3D printing pen for doing a small exhibition or school projects than it is more than an adequate choice.

With that said, the market is relatively new, but the choices are quite a lot, that’s why this list was made. In order to assist interested consumers in picking the best possible 3D printing pen.

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