This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
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 →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want a capable CoreXY with Klipper firmware for customization — without Bambu's closed ecosystem or Prusa's premium pricing.
Full details →| Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $279 | ★ $260 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | ★ 225 × 225 × 265 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Sep 15, 2023 | Jul 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~854 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Wait |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
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.
The Neptune 4 Pro ships with Klipper pre-installed — enabling advanced input shaping, pressure advance, and configuration flexibility without modding.
Competitive CoreXY speed at a price significantly below Bambu and Prusa alternatives.
Full automatic bed leveling reduces setup time and calibration friction.