🖨 3D Printer Radar

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2vsQidi Tech Plus5

💰Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is $390 cheaper (109% less)
📐Qidi Tech Plus5 has 83% more build volume
⚡Qidi Tech Plus5 tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
🏠Only Qidi Tech Plus5 has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments
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.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
Buy/Wait:Buy

First-generation product — recently released, still early days

Best for: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers — or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $449.

Full details →
Qidi Tech Plus5
Buy/Wait:Buy

Just released — full support runway ahead

Best for: Makers and small businesses who need a large enclosed build volume for engineering materials at a prosumer price — particularly those printing PA-CF, ABS, and PC at scale.

Full details →
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2Qidi Tech Plus5
Pricing
Starting Price★ $359$749
Print Specs
TierProsumerProsumer
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume256 × 256 × 256 mm★ 320 × 320 × 300 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s★ 600 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots✅ 4 slots
Enclosure❌★ ✅
Auto Calibration✅✅
Open Source❌❌
Upgrade Kit——
Buy Timing
ReleasedJan 26, 2026Aug 5, 2026
Cycle length—~684 days
Cycle adviceBuyBuy
Deals adviceBuyBuy
Next model——

Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
$359 starting
📐
Large prints
Qidi Tech Plus5
320×320×300 mm
⚡
Fastest prints
Qidi Tech Plus5
600 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie

Bottom Line

💰Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 saves you $390 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint
🏠Qidi Tech Plus5 is the only choice if you print ABS, ASA, PA, or PC — those materials require an enclosure

Materials

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 only
—
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
Qidi Tech Plus5 only
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
PPS-CFExtreme temperature and chemical resistance

Why buy each?

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

Elegoo's first multicolor FDM

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

350°C nozzle for engineering filaments

The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY — 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 $449.

Qidi Tech Plus5

320×320×300 mm build volume

An 18% larger build volume than the Plus4's 305×305×280 mm, in the same enclosed prosumer class.

Active 65°C chamber heating

A 550 W third-generation chamber heater holds 65°C for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the build plate.

370°C bimetal hotend

Handles high-performance engineering composites including carbon- and glass-fiber reinforced filaments and PPS-CF without a separate hotend upgrade.