Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
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 →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 →| Qidi Tech Plus4 | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 305 × 305 × 280 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC, PPS-CF | PLA, PETG, TPU |
| Released | Sep 20, 2024 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~408 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | Ender 3 V4 or V3 KE 2 (Expected mid-2026) |
One of the largest build volumes in the prosumer enclosed category — 40% more printable area than the Bambu X1C at a lower price point.
The second-generation active heating delivers consistent chamber temperatures for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the full build plate.
Handles high-performance engineering composites including PA-CF, PET-CF, and PPS-CF without requiring a separate hotend upgrade.
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.