The Flashforge AD5X and Qidi Tech Plus4 are both prosumer-tier printers, but the Plus4 costs 1.8× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Note that the Plus4 has been replaced by the Plus5 and is no longer sold new. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Plus4 costs $300 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 145% 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 →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Plus5.
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. Look for clearance deals — the Plus5 is the current model.
Full details →| Flashforge AD5X | Qidi Tech Plus4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $399 | $699 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 220 mm | ★ 305 × 305 × 280 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jun 15, 2025 | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~408 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| 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The Plus4 has been replaced by the Plus5 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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 AD5X is the safer buy right now — it has no release history pointing to a successor yet, while the Plus4 has already been replaced by the Plus5.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The AD5X lists at $399 and the Plus4 at $699 — $300 apart, so the Plus4 costs 75% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $37 for the AD5X versus $27 for the Plus4 — so the pricier Plus4 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the AD5X. The Plus4 has already been replaced by the Plus5 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Plus4 appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the AD5X against the Plus5.
Compare Flashforge AD5X vs Qidi Tech Plus5 →
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.
One of the largest build volumes in the prosumer enclosed category — 40% more printable area than the Bambu X1C at a lower price point.
The second-generation active heating delivers consistent chamber temperatures for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the full build plate.
Handles high-performance engineering composites including PA-CF, PET-CF, and PPS-CF without requiring a separate hotend upgrade.