The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 and Qidi Tech Plus5 are both prosumer-tier printers, but the Plus5 costs 2.1× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Plus5 costs $390 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 83% 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 →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 Carbon 2 | Qidi Tech Plus5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $359 | $749 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | 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 | Jan 26, 2026 | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~684 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| 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 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 Carbon 2 launched 290 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 Carbon 2 lists at $359 and the Plus5 at $749 — $390 apart, so the Plus5 costs 109% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 versus $24 for the Plus5 — the Centauri Carbon 2 is the better value per litre as well.
Our pick for most buyers is the Plus5, for an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 83% more build volume. Go for the Centauri Carbon 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $390 cheaper ($359 vs $749).
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.
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.