The Creality Ender 3 V4 (entry) 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. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Ender 3 V4 costs $139 more and gets you 4-slot multicolor; the Neptune 4 Pro answers with extra engineering materials (ABS and ASA) and 18% more build volume.
Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want optional multicolor printing in the trusted Ender 3 form factor at an accessible price — and are comfortable with a 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 bed-slinger with Klipper firmware for customization — without Bambu's closed ecosystem or Prusa's premium pricing.
Full details →| Creality Ender 3 V4 | Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $399 | ★ $260 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 235 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jul 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~854 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Ender 3 V4 was released on Jan 15, 2026, 301 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 854 days, so it is 35% of the way through — roughly 553 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
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 Ender 3 V4 is the safer buy right now — it is only 35% of the way through its expected cycle, while the Neptune 4 Pro is 766 days past its ~450-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Neptune 4 Pro lists at $260 and the Ender 3 V4 at $399 — $139 apart, so the Ender 3 V4 costs 53% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $35 for the Ender 3 V4 versus $19 for the Neptune 4 Pro — the Neptune 4 Pro is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Our pick for most buyers is the Ender 3 V4, for 4-slot multicolor, plus a higher editor score (8.2 vs 7.7) and better buy-now timing. Go for the Neptune 4 Pro instead if you want to spend less — it is $139 cheaper ($260 vs $399).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.
The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units — one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.
The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.
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.