Anker is a brand best known for its power banks and phone accessories, so I wasn't sure what to expect from the company's first 3D printer. Turns out it's pretty amazing, one of the simpler models I've ever used and definitely the fastest. But how does the AnkerMake M5 fare in general? Is it a good choice for beginners and hobbyists? What about expert users? After spending some time fleshing out dragons, spaceships and other 3D objects, I'm ready to make a judgement. Here is my AnkerMake M5 3D printer review.
(Note: This includes updates after six months of using the machine. During that time I experienced some additional frustrations due to software updates and reduced bed adhesion, but overall I still find the M5 to be a fast and useful printer.)
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$699 at Amazon
AnkerMake M5 design and installation
The M5 is one of the most visually striking 3D printers I've seen, a glossy two-tone affair that resembles industrial art. The touchscreen control panel is built into the right pillar, which is a little strange (because it moves up and down like the print head does), but not problematic.
Assembling the machine was usually a piece of cake; only the Creality Sermoon V1 required fewer steps. The instruction manual describes every step of the process, including how to unpack the printer. (I do wish the text was larger and the illustrations a little clearer, though.) Cleverly, the foam wrapping plays a role in supporting the portal so you can attach the base. A few cable connections and a handful of screws later and the machine is ready to go. The entire build took me about 25 minutes; If I had watched this video I could have easily done it in 15. There are indeed more and better instructions available on the AnkerMake site; I highly recommend starting there.
To connect the M5 to your Wi-Fi network, you'll need the AnkerMake app, which is available for Android and iOS. You'll also need an Anker account - yes, another password to create and maintain. Fortunately, everything went quickly and smoothly, and after that it only took a few minutes to install a firmware update.
From there I loaded the AnkerMake slicer software for Windows. To my surprise, it automatically detected the printer on the network; I didn't have to go through any other setup. The software imports 3D printing files (from sites like Cults3D and Thingiverse), allows you to adjust the print size and other parameters, previews the job, and then sends it to the printer. Like the printer's touchscreen interface, the software is polished and admirably simple. That said, anyone new to 3D printing will definitely want to spend some time with online tutorials and videos; there are basic operations, such as feeding filament, that are not covered in the manual.
You can also print directly from the mobile app, although you'll be limited to a few dozen sample models. For now, there's no way to access files from a cloud account, for example. That's a shame, because the app is excellent in other respects too, letting you check status, adjust settings and stream a live feed from the camera.
AnkerMake M5 features and performance
The M5 meets all the important requirements of a modern 3D printer: heated bed, automatic leveling, magnetic flexible steel circuit board and built-in camera. It has a printing area of 235x235x250 mm, which is a decent size for a hobby printer - just now enough space to print most of an Iron Man helmet, for example. You can feed the PLA, PETG, TPU or ABS filament.
Anker promises print speeds of up to 500mm/second (in fast mode), although the default is 250mm/s. Many other printers top out at 200mm/s, and some chug at half that speed. When my review copy first came to life for a 'bankchy' test print (a little boat), it scared me a little. There were loud clicking and grinding noises, and the print bed was oscillating so fast that the machine shook the desk (which, to be honest, was a bit wobbly). I'd never seen a 3D printer move so quickly, but luckily it didn't shake itself apart - and the resulting bench looked pretty good overall.
Despite going through the auto-leveling procedure (which takes all of 10 minutes), I could see that the print head ended up just a hair too close to the bed, resulting in a bit of scraping of the nozzles on the first layer and some problems removing the skirts (the outer edge) after the prints were made. Traditionally this is handled by adjusting the "Z-offset", i.e. the nozzle height. Unlike some printers, which bury this setting or make it complicated to perform, the M5 offers a dedicated Z-offset menu that's just two taps away (or one if you're in the middle of printing). I set it to +0.10mm and presto, problem solved.
That said, the whole point of auto-leveling is that you don't have to mess around with Z-offset; Anker needs to fine-tune this setting so that it works properly right away.
I also think a few other default settings are a bit off. Most of my first prints showed some stringing, that is, thread-like strings between different parts. This is probably because the nozzle temperature was set too high (in this case 230 degrees); I lowered it and the problem mostly disappeared.
Another glitch: Every time I tried to feed a new spool of filament, it seemed to hit a block before getting stuck in the extruder. I have experimented with different solutions; the best way is to pull out the bowden tube from the top, manually straighten the filament and then feed it. Once it's stuck, I put the tube back in. This isn't complicated, but it shouldn't work this way.
Once I got past these initial hiccups, the machine worked beautifully. Filament adhesion to the print bed: zero problems. Removing completed prints: zero problems. (You just lift the magnetic plate and give it a few bends.) Quality of the prints: Overall excellent, even on fast mode.
And speaking of which, the speed at which the M5 prints is revealing. For example, I printed an articulated dragon that would normally take up to 24 hours - or at least that's how long it took with the aforementioned Sermoon V1. The M5 completed it in just over seven hours. 3D printing has long been a game of patience; it feels pretty magical to pull out your favorite models in a fraction of the time.
Meanwhile, the built-in camera can stream a live feed in real time in 720p, as well as capture time-lapse recording in 1080p (suitable for Instagram, TikTok, etc.). I love being able to track printing progress via the mobile app or while sitting at my computer, without having to run to the printer every 20 minutes and check it. However, because the camera lens is embedded at a fixed angle in the left side of the touchscreen module, your view is far from ideal. At the start of the print it is level with the print bed; most of the image is just empty space underneath. It's only as the print gets larger that you get real value from the camera. It's a shame Anker didn't mount it higher, or at least make it adjustable, so you can see more of what's happening.
AnkerMake M5 3D Printer: Should You Buy It?
For a first attempt, the AnkerMake M5 is a truly impressive 3D printer. It gets a lot of things right, starting with the design: the hardware is really nice and the software is more polished than most. Assembly is as easy as can be, and you can make your first print in minutes.
Speed is indeed the M5's claim to fame, and I drink the Kool-Aid. Once you get used to printing things in hours instead of days (or minutes instead of hours), it's hard to go back to slower machines. You'll certainly pay a premium for it (there are many 3D printers priced lower), but the time you save can help justify the cost.
(Speaking of price, Anker is now offering the AnkerMake M5C for just $399. It does away with the touchscreen - you control everything with your PC and/or the mobile app - and has a slightly smaller print bed, but also comes with an all-in-one metal hotend, allowing for a greater variety of filaments (namely those requiring higher temperatures).)
While I'm not sure I'd recommend the M5 to absolute beginners, who still need to educate themselves on filament, nozzle temperatures and the like, it's a blow to hobbyists who know what they're doing. You'll be up and running in no time and, I think, absolutely love the AnkerMake M5.
