If you’re searching for an AnkerMake M5 review in 2026, the most important thing to know isn’t the print speed — it’s that Anker isn’t making this printer anymore. The M5 (and its sibling, the M5C) were paused indefinitely in July 2025, and the company has pivoted its entire printing business toward a different product category. Here’s what actually happened, whether any remaining stock is worth buying, and what to get instead.
AnkerMake M5 by the numbers
- March 2025 — the month Anker spun its 3D printer business out into an independent sub-brand, eufyMake, while still selling the M5 and M5C under that umbrella.
- July 2025 — the month Anker indefinitely paused sales of both printers, citing supply-chain issues for critical components, per spokesperson Brett White as reported by Slashdot.
- 500 mm/s — the M5’s rated top print speed at launch, with AnkerMake claiming up to a 70% cut in average print times versus typical consumer FDM printers of that era.
- 24 mm³/s vs 35 mm³/s — the M5’s extrusion flow rate versus the cheaper M5C’s, per AnkerMake’s own spec comparisons — the smaller, screen-less model actually out-flows its pricier sibling.
- 260°C vs 300°C — the M5’s stock hotend ceiling versus the M5C’s standard all-metal hotend, meaning the “lesser” M5C handles a wider range of materials out of the box.
The naming trap: M5C beats the M5 on the specs that matter
AnkerMake positioned the M5C as the budget-friendly little sibling — no touchscreen, a one-click button interface, and a slightly smaller 220×220×250 mm build volume versus the M5’s 235×235×250 mm. That framing makes it easy to assume the M5 is the better printer across the board. It isn’t. The M5C’s extrusion flow rate is 35 mm³/s against the M5’s 24 mm³/s, and its all-metal hotend ships standard at a 300°C ceiling — the M5 tops out at 260°C with its stock hotend. In practice, the M5C prints faster on bulk fills and handles more materials out of the box than the model with the bigger price tag and the screen.
| Spec | AnkerMake M5 | AnkerMake M5C |
|---|---|---|
| Build volume | 235 × 235 × 250 mm | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Extrusion flow rate | 24 mm³/s | 35 mm³/s |
| Max hotend temp | 260°C (stock) | 300°C (all-metal, standard) |
| Interface | 4.3" color touchscreen | One-click button |
| Original list price | ~$699 | ~$400 |
| Status in 2026 | Sales paused, July 2025 | Sales paused, July 2025 |
What actually happened to AnkerMake
The timeline matters more than any single spec here. Anker launched the M5 in 2022 as a genuinely fast, well-reviewed entrant into consumer FDM printing, backed by an AI-powered monitoring camera that could flag failed prints and pause the job automatically. The cheaper M5C followed in 2023. Then, in March 2025, Anker spun the whole 3D-printing business into eufyMake, an “independent sub-brand” — still selling the same two printers, just under new branding. Four months later, in July 2025, Anker indefinitely paused sales of both the M5 and M5C. Company spokesperson Brett White attributed the pause to supply-chain problems sourcing critical components, as reported by Slashdot and 3DPrint.com. No replacement model has shipped since; eufyMake’s product line now centers on the E1, a UV flatbed printer for coating flat surfaces — a completely different technology from FDM filament printing.
Anker said at the time that existing customers would continue to receive warranty coverage and free replacement parts within the warranty period, with proof of purchase. That promise hasn’t fully held up in practice: Notebookcheck later reported that critical parts like hotends and extruders had quietly disappeared from the eufyMake support site, leaving some owners unable to get the exact parts Anker said it would keep supplying.
AnkerMake M5 (if you find leftover stock)
- 500 mm/s rated speed and AI-monitoring camera were genuinely strong specs at launch.
- No manufacturer support for new units — treat as clearance stock, not an ongoing product.
- Replacement parts (hotends, extruders) have reportedly become hard to source despite Anker's warranty promise.
- Only buy at a steep discount versus the original ~$499-699 list price.
Stocking filament and parts for a shop? A free Amazon Business account unlocks quantity discounts and tax-exempt purchasing.
Should you buy one anyway?
If you stumble on a deeply discounted M5 or M5C — well under half of the original list price — it can still be a capable printer for straightforward PLA and PETG work, and the AI camera genuinely helps catch failed prints early. But go in with clear eyes: there’s no active manufacturer roadmap, firmware updates have stopped, and the community reports on parts availability are inconsistent at best. For anyone who isn’t specifically chasing a bargain-bin deal, it’s simpler and lower-risk to buy a printer from a brand that’s still actively shipping, supporting, and updating its lineup.
What to buy instead
| Printer | Price | Why it's the safer pick |
|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | $299 MSRP ($219-249 on sale) | Closest build-volume match, active firmware, huge spare-parts ecosystem |
| Elegoo Neptune 4 | $199-259 | Cheapest of the three, auto-leveling, direct-drive, still in production |
| Creality K1C | $399 MSRP ($369 direct) | Matches the M5's speed ambitions in an enclosed CoreXY frame with ongoing support |
Each of these comes from a manufacturer that’s still actively selling, updating, and supporting the model today — the single biggest advantage over any remaining AnkerMake stock, regardless of how good the original hardware was.
Bottom line
The AnkerMake M5 was a legitimately fast, well-built printer when it launched, and the M5C’s higher flow rate and standard all-metal hotend made it the better buy even back then. But Anker paused sales of both in July 2025 and hasn’t resumed, and the parts/warranty support the company promised hasn’t fully materialized. Unless you find exceptionally discounted leftover stock and accept the risk, put your money toward a printer from a brand that’s still actively in the game — the Bambu Lab A1 Mini, Elegoo Neptune 4, or Creality K1C all cover similar ground with a manufacturer actually standing behind them.
Related guides
- Best 3D printers of 2026 — the full current lineup, AnkerMake-free.
- Best budget 3D printer — where the Elegoo Neptune 4 and similar picks rank.
- Best 3D printer for beginners — easier, actively supported alternatives.
- Bambu Lab A1 Mini review — the closest build-volume match with active support.
- Elegoo Neptune 4 review — the cheapest safe alternative.
- Creality K1C review — matches the M5’s speed class in an enclosed frame.
- 3D printer repair — what to expect if you do buy a printer with shaky parts support, including the warranty-gap pattern.
- Best 3D printer under $500 — where the A1 Mini, Neptune 4, and K1C all land on price.