The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 and Qidi Tech Plus4 are both prosumer-tier printers, but the Plus4 costs 1.9× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Note that the Plus4 has been replaced by the Plus5 and is no longer sold new. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Plus4 costs $340 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 55% more build volume.
First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers — or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $449.
Full details →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Plus5.
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. Look for clearance deals — the Plus5 is the current model.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | Qidi Tech Plus4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $359 | $699 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | ★ 305 × 305 × 280 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jan 26, 2026 | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~408 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
The Centauri Carbon 2 was released on Jan 26, 2026, 290 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
The Plus4 has been replaced by the Plus5 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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alone, the Centauri Carbon 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 290 days ago, while the Plus4 has already been replaced by the Plus5.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri Carbon 2 lists at $359 and the Plus4 at $699 — $340 apart, so the Plus4 costs 95% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 versus $27 for the Plus4 — the Centauri Carbon 2 is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the Centauri Carbon 2. The Plus4 has already been replaced by the Plus5 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Plus4 appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Centauri Carbon 2 against the Plus5.
Compare Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 vs Qidi Tech Plus5 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The Centauri Carbon 2 marks Elegoo's entry into multicolor FDM printing — bringing the brand's value-focused approach to a segment dominated by Bambu and Anycubic.
The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY — a notable differentiator at this price point.
Elegoo's proprietary CANVAS system provides 4-color filament switching at a competitive all-in price of $449.
One of the largest build volumes in the prosumer enclosed category — 40% more printable area than the Bambu X1C at a lower price point.
The second-generation active heating delivers consistent chamber temperatures for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the full build plate.
Handles high-performance engineering composites including PA-CF, PET-CF, and PPS-CF without requiring a separate hotend upgrade.