The Bambu Lab X1C (professional) and Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro (prosumer) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. Note that the X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new. The X1C costs $939 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 4-slot multicolor.
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab X2D.
Best for: Professional makers seeking the X1C should now consider the X2D (its direct successor) or P2S (prosumer enclosed). Clearance X1C units offer the LiDAR and AI monitoring features at a reduced price.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want a capable bed-slinger with Klipper firmware for customization — without Bambu's closed ecosystem or Prusa's premium pricing.
Full details →| Bambu Lab X1C | Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $1,199 | ★ $260 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 225 × 225 × 265 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jul 25, 2022 | Jul 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Wait |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
The Neptune 4 Pro was released on Jul 15, 2023, 1,216 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 450 days; it is now 766 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
On timing alone, the Neptune 4 Pro is the safer buy right now — it is 766 days past its ~450-day cycle with no successor announced, while the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Neptune 4 Pro lists at $260 and the X1C at $1,199 — $939 apart, so the X1C costs 361% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $71 for the X1C versus $19 for the Neptune 4 Pro — the Neptune 4 Pro is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the Neptune 4 Pro. The X1C has already been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the X1C appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Neptune 4 Pro against the X2D.
Compare Bambu Lab X2D vs Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The X1C's LiDAR sensor maps bed surface deviation and adjusts in real time — the most reliable first-layer consistency in its class.
The built-in camera with spaghetti detection pauses prints automatically when failures are detected — critical for unattended production runs.
The X1C uses a die-cast metal frame and carbon-fiber-reinforced structure for rigidity at high speeds.
The Neptune 4 Pro ships with Klipper pre-installed — enabling advanced input shaping, pressure advance, and configuration flexibility without modding.
A 500 mm/s rated speed at a price significantly below Bambu and Prusa alternatives.
Full automatic bed leveling reduces setup time and calibration friction.