The Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro (prosumer) and Prusa Research Mini+ (entry) 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 open-frame bed-slinger printers with automatic calibration. The Mini+ costs $199 more and gets you an open-source design; the Neptune 4 Pro answers with 130% more build volume and a top speed of 500 mm/s (vs 200).
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 →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Beginners who prioritize open-source hardware, community support, and long-term reliability over speed — and don't mind a slower, more deliberate printing experience.
Full details →| Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | Prusa Research Mini+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $260 | $459 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 225 × 225 × 265 mm | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 500 mm/s | 200 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jul 15, 2023 | Apr 25, 2021 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| 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 Mini+ was released on Apr 25, 2021, 2,027 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days; it is now 1,297 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
Both are overdue for a refresh with no successor announced. That should keep prices near their lowest, but a replacement could be announced at any time — check the launch calendar before buying. The Mini+ is the more overdue of the two.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Neptune 4 Pro lists at $260 and the Mini+ at $459 — $199 apart, so the Mini+ costs 77% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $19 for the Neptune 4 Pro versus $79 for the Mini+ — the Neptune 4 Pro is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Neptune 4 Pro.
Our pick for most buyers is the Neptune 4 Pro, for a lower price ($199 less) and 130% more build volume. Go for the Mini+ instead if you want an open-source printer you can modify and repair yourself — the Neptune 4 Pro is not open source. One caveat: the Neptune 4 Pro is 766 days past its ~450-day cycle with no successor announced, so check the launch calendar before you buy. The Neptune 4 Pro is also in a sale window right now (Black Friday 2026, until Dec 5, 2026).
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 Mini+ has been on the market since 2021 and has proven its durability with thousands of community print-hours logged.
Prusa stocks replacement parts for all Mini+ components. Community guides cover every repair scenario.
The lowest-cost way to enter the Prusa ecosystem with a fully supported printer.