The Flashforge AD5X and Qidi Tech Plus5 are both prosumer-tier printers, but the Plus5 costs 1.9× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Plus5 costs $350 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 189% 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 →Just released — full support runway ahead
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.
Full details →| Flashforge AD5X | Qidi Tech Plus5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $399 | $749 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 220 mm | ★ 320 × 320 × 300 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 | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~684 days |
| 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 Plus5 was released on Aug 5, 2026, 99 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 684 days, so it is 14% of the way through — roughly 585 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
On timing alone, the Plus5 is the safer buy right now — it is only 14% of the way through its expected cycle, 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 Plus5 at $749 — $350 apart, so the Plus5 costs 88% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $37 for the AD5X versus $24 for the Plus5 — so the pricier Plus5 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Plus5, for an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 189% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.4 vs 8.0) and better buy-now timing. Go for the AD5X instead if you want to spend less — it is $350 cheaper ($399 vs $749).
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.
An 18% larger build volume than the Plus4's 305×305×280 mm, in the same enclosed prosumer class.
A 550 W third-generation chamber heater holds 65°C for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the build plate.
Handles high-performance engineering composites including carbon- and glass-fiber reinforced filaments and PPS-CF without a separate hotend upgrade.