Next model already announced — wait for the new release
Best for: Professional makers, studios, and engineers who need large-format printing with genuine multi-material capability, open-source hardware, and Prusa's long-term support.
Full details →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
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 →| Prusa Research XL | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 360 × 360 × 360 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 5 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC | PLA, PETG, TPU |
| Released | Nov 20, 2023 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | XL Pick & Place Toolhead (Late 2026) | — |
Unlike filament-switching AMS/MMU systems, the XL physically swaps print heads. Each material has its own nozzle, eliminating purge towers entirely and enabling true multi-material prints.
One of the largest build volumes available in a CoreXY printer at this price point — suited for large props, architectural models, and batch production.
Every component is documented, parts are stocked for years, and the community has developed hundreds of modifications and improvements.
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.