๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Qidi Tech Q1 ProvsPrusa Research Core One

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 Q1 Pro
Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh โ€” 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 โ€” the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.

Full details โ†’
Prusa Research Core One
Buy/Wait:Caution

Mid-cycle โ€” watch for announcements before buying

Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability โ€” without Bambu's closed ecosystem.

Full details โ†’
Qidi Tech Q1 ProPrusa Research Core One
TierEntryProsumer
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume245 ร— 245 ร— 240 mm250 ร— 220 ร— 270 mm
Max Speed600 mm/s600 mm/s
MulticolorโŒ NoโŒ No
Enclosureโœ…โŒ
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโœ…
Upgrade Kitโ€”โ€”
MaterialsPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PCPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PC
ReleasedMar 20, 2024Jan 14, 2025
Cycle length~518 days~730 days
Cycle adviceWaitCaution
Deals adviceBuyCaution
Next modelโ€”Core One S (enclosed) (Expected 2027)

Why buy each?

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro

Active 60ยฐC chamber heating

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.

600 mm/s CoreXY speed

Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.

Prusa Research Core One

Prusa's answer to Bambu P-series

The Core One matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source โ€” firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.

Fully open source

Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the Core One can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.

MMU3 multicolor compatible

Existing MMU3 units and the new MMU3 for Core One bring 5-color multicolor printing to the CoreXY platform.