Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want CoreXY speed without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want a capable CoreXY with Klipper firmware for customization — without Bambu's closed ecosystem or Prusa's premium pricing.
Full details →| Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | 225 × 225 × 265 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU |
| Released | Sep 15, 2023 | Jul 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | Ender 3 V4 or V3 KE 2 (Expected mid-2026) | Neptune 5 Pro (Expected mid-2026) |
The KE brings CoreXY motion to the Ender 3 family — historically a bed-slinger platform — delivering 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K1C and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.
The Neptune 4 Pro ships with Klipper pre-installed — enabling advanced input shaping, pressure advance, and configuration flexibility without modding.
Competitive CoreXY speed at a price significantly below Bambu and Prusa alternatives.
Full automatic bed leveling reduces setup time and calibration friction.