The Elegoo Centauri 2 (entry) and Flashforge AD5X (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 CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The AD5X costs $100 more and gets you extra engineering materials (ABS and PA-CF) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); the Centauri 2 answers with 58% more build volume.
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 →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri 2 | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jun 24, 2026 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | — | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
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.
The AD5X was released on Jun 15, 2025, 515 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 AD5X has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the AD5X at $399 — $100 apart, so the AD5X costs 33% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the Centauri 2 versus $37 for the AD5X — the Centauri 2 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Our pick for most buyers is the Centauri 2, for a lower price ($100 less) and 58% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.2 vs 8.0) and better buy-now timing. Go for the AD5X instead if you need ABS and PA-CF — they are on its materials list but not the Centauri 2's.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
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.
The AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.