I spent a full month testing the Genmitsu Kortek to see if it’s actually a good “starter laser” when you’re trying to stay under about $150. In this video I walk through the basics that matter for beginners—what you get in the box, how assembly goes, how focusing works, and what software options you can realistically use with a small diode engraver like this. The Kortek is compact and portable, with a 200×150 mm work area and a 5W module, so I went into it expecting hobby-level results—not miracles. From there I ran it through the kinds of materials people actually want to engrave at home: wood, black acrylic, leather, slate, coated aluminum, and even stainless steel. I call out what it does well for the money (clean engraving on the right materials, easy to add to a small shop) and where the limitations show up (power, speed, and the obvious constraints of the smaller work area). If you’re brand new to laser engraving and want an honest look at what you can and can’t expect from an ultra-budget machine, this review is meant to save you time—and a few headaches.