The Creality Ender 3 V3 KE and Elegoo Centauri 2 are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $20 apart. Note that the Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new. Both are open-frame printers with a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Centauri 2 costs $20 more and gets you 4-slot multicolor and 44% more build volume.
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want fast Klipper-based printing without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget buyers who mainly print PLA, PETG and TPU and want fast CoreXY multicolor for as little as possible, without paying for an enclosure they won't use.
Full details →| Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Elegoo Centauri 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $279 | $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ★ ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Sep 15, 2023 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~854 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Buy |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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 Centauri 2 was released on Jun 24, 2026, 141 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Centauri 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 141 days ago, while the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V3 KE lists at $279 and the Centauri 2 at $299 — $20 apart, so the Centauri 2 costs 7% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE versus $18 for the Centauri 2 — so the pricier Centauri 2 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the Centauri 2. The Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Ender 3 V3 KE appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Centauri 2 against the Ender 3 V4.
Compare Creality Ender 3 V4 vs Elegoo Centauri 2 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The KE keeps the Ender 3's familiar bed-slinger layout but runs Klipper-based firmware, reaching 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 K2 and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.
The Centauri 2 Combo includes the 4-color CANVAS system with RFID filament detection, auto refill and tangle detection. It is one of the cheapest CoreXY multicolor packages from a major brand.
It uses the same 256×256×256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50–100 less.
The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.