The Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro (prosumer) and Qidi Tech Q1 Pro (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. Note that the Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new. The Q1 Pro costs $239 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
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 →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 It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Q2.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 Neptune 4 Pro | Qidi Tech Q1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $260 | $499 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 225 × 225 × 265 mm | ★ 245 × 245 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jul 15, 2023 | Mar 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~518 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| 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The Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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 Neptune 4 Pro is the safer buy right now — it is 766 days past its ~450-day cycle with no successor announced, while the Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Neptune 4 Pro lists at $260 and the Q1 Pro at $499 — $239 apart, so the Q1 Pro costs 92% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $19 for the Neptune 4 Pro versus $35 for the Q1 Pro — the Neptune 4 Pro is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the Neptune 4 Pro. The Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price.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 Neptune 4 Pro against the Q2.
Compare Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro vs Qidi Tech Q2 →
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 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.
Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.