๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Qidi Tech Plus4vsFlashforge AD5X

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.
Qidi Tech Plus4
Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh โ€” 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 โ€” particularly those printing PA-CF, ABS, and PC at scale.

Full details โ†’
Flashforge AD5X
Buy/Wait:Buy

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

Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 โ€” primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.

Full details โ†’
Qidi Tech Plus4Flashforge AD5X
TierProsumerProsumer
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume305 ร— 305 ร— 280 mm220 ร— 220 ร— 220 mm
Max Speed600 mm/s600 mm/s
Multicolorโœ… 4 slotsโœ… 4 slots
Enclosureโœ…โŒ
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโŒ
Upgrade Kitโ€”โ€”
MaterialsPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC, PPS-CFPLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, PLA-CF, PA-CF, PETG-CF
ReleasedSep 20, 2024Jun 15, 2025
Cycle length~408 daysโ€”
Cycle adviceWaitBuy
Deals adviceBuyCaution
Next modelโ€”โ€”

Why buy each?

Qidi Tech Plus4

305ร—305ร—280 mm build volume

One of the largest build volumes in the prosumer enclosed category โ€” 40% more printable area than the Bambu X1C at a lower price point.

Active 65ยฐC chamber heating

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.

370ยฐC bimetal hotend

Handles high-performance engineering composites including PA-CF, PET-CF, and PPS-CF without requiring a separate hotend upgrade.

Flashforge AD5X

Built-in 4-color multicolor at $399

The AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer โ€” no separate accessory needed.

OrcaSlicer with local-only control

No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software โ€” familiar to most experienced makers.

Hardened steel nozzle as standard

Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade โ€” a genuine differentiator at this price point.