The Elegoo Centauri 2 (entry) and Qidi Tech Plus5 (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 CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Plus5 costs $450 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 83% more build volume; the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 →Just released — full support runway ahead
Best for: Makers and small businesses who need a large enclosed build volume for engineering materials at a prosumer price — particularly those printing PA-CF, ABS, and PC at scale.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri 2 | Qidi Tech Plus5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $749 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | ★ 320 × 320 × 300 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 | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~684 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| 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 Plus5 was released on Aug 5, 2026, 99 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 684 days, so it is 14% of the way through — roughly 585 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Centauri 2 launched 141 days ago and the Plus5 has roughly 585 days of runway on past cadence. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the Plus5 at $749 — $450 apart, so the Plus5 costs 151% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the Centauri 2 versus $24 for the Plus5 — the Centauri 2 is the better value per litre as well.
Our pick for most buyers is the Plus5, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 83% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.4 vs 8.2). Go for the Centauri 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $450 cheaper ($299 vs $749).
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.
An 18% larger build volume than the Plus4's 305×305×280 mm, in the same enclosed prosumer class.
A 550 W third-generation chamber heater holds 65°C for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the build plate.
Handles high-performance engineering composites including carbon- and glass-fiber reinforced filaments and PPS-CF without a separate hotend upgrade.