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: Beginners who prioritize open-source hardware, community support, and long-term reliability over speed — and don't mind a slower, more deliberate printing experience.
Full details →| Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Prusa Research Mini+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 200 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ASA, TPU |
| Released | Sep 15, 2023 | Apr 25, 2021 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | Ender 3 V4 or V3 KE 2 (Expected mid-2026) | Prusa Mini 2 (Expected 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 Mini+ has been on the market since 2021 and has proven its durability with thousands of community print-hours logged.
Prusa stocks replacement parts for all Mini+ components. Community guides cover every repair scenario.
The lowest-cost way to enter the Prusa ecosystem with a fully supported printer.