Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
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 →Just released — 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 — and are comfortable with a hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 225 × 225 × 265 mm | 220 × 220 × 235 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU | PLA, PETG, TPU |
| Released | Jul 15, 2023 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | — | — |
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.
The V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.
The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units — one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.
The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.