The Flashforge AD5X (prosumer) and Qidi Tech Max4 (professional) 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 CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Max4 costs $650 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 386% more build volume; the AD5X answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Professional makers and small studios who need the maximum enclosed build volume in Qidi's lineup for large engineering parts, architectural models, or batch production — at a price point below the Bambu H2S.
Full details →| Flashforge AD5X | Qidi Tech Max4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $399 | $1,049 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Professional |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 220 mm | ★ 390 × 390 × 340 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | ★ 800 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jun 15, 2025 | Dec 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | — | — |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
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.
The Max4 was released on Dec 1, 2025, 346 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Max4 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 346 days ago, while the AD5X has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The AD5X lists at $399 and the Max4 at $1,049 — $650 apart, so the Max4 costs 163% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $37 for the AD5X versus $20 for the Max4 — so the pricier Max4 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Max4, for an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 386% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.2 vs 8.0) and better buy-now timing. Go for the AD5X instead if you want to spend less — it is $650 cheaper ($399 vs $1,049).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
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.
The Max4 offers the largest build volume in Qidi's lineup — enabling large functional parts, architectural models, and production batch runs that exceed Plus5 capacity.
The Max4's closed-loop XY adds positional feedback for improved accuracy at high speeds — a differentiating feature at this price tier that reduces dimensional errors on large prints.
Qidi's proven active chamber heating technology scaled to a 390×390 mm bed — critical for consistent ABS, ASA, PA-CF, and PPS-CF results across the full build plate.