The Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro and Flashforge AD5X are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $139 apart. Both are open-frame printers with automatic calibration. The AD5X costs $139 more and gets you 4-slot multicolor and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); the Neptune 4 Pro answers with 26% more build volume and extra engineering materials (ASA).
Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want a capable bed-slinger with Klipper firmware for customization — without Bambu's closed ecosystem or Prusa's premium pricing.
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 Neptune 4 Pro | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $260 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 225 × 225 × 265 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ★ ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jul 15, 2023 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Neptune 4 Pro was released on Jul 15, 2023, 1,216 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 450 days; it is now 766 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
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 AD5X is the safer buy right now — it has no release history pointing to a successor yet, while the Neptune 4 Pro is 766 days past its ~450-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Neptune 4 Pro lists at $260 and the AD5X at $399 — $139 apart, so the AD5X costs 53% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $19 for the Neptune 4 Pro versus $37 for the AD5X — the Neptune 4 Pro is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Our pick for most buyers is the AD5X, for 4-slot multicolor and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500), plus a higher editor score (8.0 vs 7.7) and better buy-now timing. Go for the Neptune 4 Pro instead if you want to spend less — it is $139 cheaper ($260 vs $399).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The Neptune 4 Pro ships with Klipper pre-installed — enabling advanced input shaping, pressure advance, and configuration flexibility without modding.
A 500 mm/s rated speed at a price significantly below Bambu and Prusa alternatives.
Full automatic bed leveling reduces setup time and calibration friction.
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.