Elegoo Centauri 2 vs Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
The Elegoo Centauri 2 and Qidi Tech Q1 Pro are both entry-tier printers, but the Q1 Pro costs 1.7× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Note that the Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new. Both are CoreXY printers with automatic calibration. The Q1 Pro costs $200 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); the Centauri 2 answers with 4-slot multicolor and 16% more build volume.
💰Elegoo Centauri 2 is $200 cheaper (40% less)
⚡Qidi Tech Q1 Pro tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
🏠Only Qidi Tech Q1 Pro has an enclosure — and it adds ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC to the materials list
🎨Only Elegoo Centauri 2 supports multicolor printing (4 slots)
Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Elegoo Centauri 2
Buy/Wait:Buy
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 →Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
Buy/Wait:Superseded
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Q2.
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who need active chamber heating for ABS, ASA, and PA printing. Look for clearance deals — the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri 2 | Qidi Tech Q1 Pro |
|---|
| Pricing |
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $499 |
| Print Specs |
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 245 × 245 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing |
| Released | Jun 24, 2026 | Mar 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~518 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
Timing: When to Buy
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The Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the Centauri 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 141 days ago, while the Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
Deals & Pricing
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the Q1 Pro at $499 — $200 apart, so the Q1 Pro costs 67% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the Centauri 2 versus $35 for the Q1 Pro — the Centauri 2 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
- Centauri 2: On sale until Dec 5, 2026. Black Friday 2026 — first Black Friday for the Centauri 2; Elegoo is already running sale pricing on the standalone and Combo.
- Q1 Pro: No longer sold new, so there is no sale calendar to track — judge any listing against the Q2's $499 list price.
Who Should Choose Each
Choose the Elegoo Centauri 2 if…
- you want our higher-rated printer — 8.2 vs 7.8 out of 10
- you want to spend less — it is $200 cheaper ($299 vs $499)
- you are buying now — it is the safer pick on timing (recently launched, vs superseded for the Q1 Pro)
- you want multicolor prints — it supports 4 slots, while the Q1 Pro is single-color
- you print large parts — its 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume holds 16% more than the Q1 Pro's 245 × 245 × 240 mm
- you want PLA-CF and PETG-CF — listed for the Centauri 2 but not the Q1 Pro
Choose the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro if…
- you find it at a clearance price — it is no longer sold new, and the Q2 is its replacement
- you want to print ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC — it is enclosed and lists them, while the Centauri 2 is open-frame
- print speed matters — it is rated for 600 mm/s against 500 mm/s
Our Take
Buy the Centauri 2. The Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Q1 Pro appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Centauri 2 against the Q2.
Compare Elegoo Centauri 2 vs Qidi Tech Q2 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
Quick Winner by Buyer Type
💰
Budget pick
Elegoo Centauri 2
$299 vs $499
📐
Large prints
Elegoo Centauri 2
256×256×256 mm
⚡
Fastest prints
Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
600 vs 500 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie
Neither open source
🧪
Engineering filaments
Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
5 vs 0 listed
🎨
Multicolor
Elegoo Centauri 2
4 slots vs none
⭐
Editor score
Elegoo Centauri 2
8.2 vs 7.8
🗓
Buy-now timing
Elegoo Centauri 2
Recently launched
The Gaps That Matter
💰PriceCentauri 2 wins
$299 vs $499 — 40% less than the Q1 Pro
🏠EnclosureQ1 Pro wins
Enclosed Q1 Pro vs open-frame Centauri 2
ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC appear only on the Q1 Pro's materials list. ABS and ASA need an enclosure.
🎨MulticolorCentauri 2 wins
4 slots vs single-color
⚡SpeedQ1 Pro wins
600 vs 500 mm/s — 20% higher rated top speed
📐Build volumeCentauri 2 wins
256 × 256 × 256 mm vs 245 × 245 × 240 mm (16.8 L vs 14.4 L)
The Q1 Pro tops out at 245 × 245 × 240 mm; anything larger has to be printed in pieces.
🗓TimingCentauri 2 wins
Centauri 2: Recently launched · Q1 Pro: Superseded
Materials
PLA-CFCarbon-fibre PLA — rigid matte finish, more brittle
PETG-CFCarbon-fibre PETG — stiffer than PETG, easy to print
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
Why buy each?
Elegoo Centauri 2
CoreXY multicolor for well under $400The 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.
Same core platform as the Centauri Carbon 2It 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.
Add features only if you need themThe camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.
Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
Active 60°C chamber heatingThe Q1 Pro's heated chamber was groundbreaking at its price point. ABS, ASA, and PA prints come out without warping that plagues open-frame printers.
600 mm/s CoreXY speedSame speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.