๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Creality Ender 3 V4vsElegoo Centauri Carbon 2

Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Creality Ender 3 V4
Buy/Wait:Buy

Just released โ€” full support runway ahead

Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want optional multicolor printing in the trusted Ender 3 form factor at an accessible price โ€” and are comfortable with a hands-on setup experience.

Full details โ†’
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
Buy/Wait:Buy

First-generation product โ€” recently released, still early days

Best for: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers โ€” or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $419.

Full details โ†’
Creality Ender 3 V4Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
TierEntryProsumer
MotionBedSlingerCoreXY
Build Volume220 ร— 220 ร— 235 mm256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s500 mm/s
Multicolorโœ… 4 slotsโœ… 4 slots
EnclosureโŒโŒ
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโŒ
Upgrade Kitโ€”โ€”
MaterialsPLA, PETG, TPUPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU
ReleasedJan 15, 2026Jan 26, 2026
Cycle length~854 daysโ€”
Cycle adviceBuyBuy
Deals adviceCautionCaution
Next modelโ€”โ€”

Why buy each?

Creality Ender 3 V4

Die-cast aluminium gantry

The V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.

CFS multicolor Combo

The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units โ€” one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.

Successor to a proven platform

The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

Elegoo's first multicolor FDM

The Centauri Carbon 2 marks Elegoo's entry into multicolor FDM printing โ€” bringing the brand's value-focused approach to a segment dominated by Bambu and Anycubic.

350ยฐC nozzle for engineering filaments

The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY โ€” a notable differentiator at this price point.

CANVAS 4-color multicolor system

Elegoo's proprietary CANVAS system provides 4-color filament switching at a competitive all-in price of $419.