The Prusa Research CORE One+ (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 enclosed CoreXY printers with automatic calibration. The Max4 costs $50 more and gets you 248% more build volume and extra engineering materials (PA-CF and PPS-CF); the CORE One+ answers with an open-source design and 8 multicolor slots to the Max4's 4.
Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from CORE One+, MK4S
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
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 →| Prusa Research CORE One+ | Qidi Tech Max4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $999 | $1,049 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Professional |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 250 × 220 × 270 mm | ★ 390 × 390 × 340 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | ★ 800 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 8 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | 🔧 From CORE One+, MK4S | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Aug 13, 2026 | Dec 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~209 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Caution | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The CORE One+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 209 days, so it is 44% of the way through — roughly 118 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
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.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The CORE One+ has roughly 118 days of runway on past cadence and the Max4 launched 346 days ago. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The CORE One+ lists at $999 and the Max4 at $1,049 — $50 apart, so the Max4 costs 5% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $67 for the CORE One+ versus $20 for the Max4 — so the pricier Max4 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Max4.
Our pick for most buyers is the CORE One+, for an open-source design and a lower price ($50 less), plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.2). Go for the Max4 instead if you print large parts — its 390 × 390 × 340 mm build volume holds 248% more than the CORE One+'s 250 × 220 × 270 mm.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The CORE One+ matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the CORE One+ can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
The CORE One+ (Gen 2) can be ordered with Prusa's INDX toolchanger in 4- or 8-tool versions, shipping from 15 October 2026. Each material gets its own nozzle, with about 12 seconds per material change and almost no purge waste. The MMU3 remains compatible as a 5-color add-on.
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.