Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who need active chamber heating for ABS, ASA, and PA printing. Look for clearance deals — the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.
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 Q1 Pro | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 245 × 245 × 240 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC | PLA, PETG, TPU |
| Released | Mar 20, 2024 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~518 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | Ender 3 V4 or V3 KE 2 (Expected mid-2026) |
The Q1 Pro's heated chamber was groundbreaking at its price point. ABS, ASA, and PA prints come out without warping that plagues open-frame printers.
Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.
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.