The Prusa Research CORE One+ and Qidi Tech Plus5 are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $250 apart. Both are enclosed CoreXY printers with a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The CORE One+ costs $250 more and gets you an open-source design and 8 multicolor slots to the Plus5's 4; the Plus5 answers with 107% more build volume and extra engineering materials (PA-CF and PPS-CF).
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 →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 →| Prusa Research CORE One+ | Qidi Tech Plus5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $999 | ★ $749 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 250 × 220 × 270 mm | ★ 320 × 320 × 300 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 8 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | 🔧 From CORE One+, MK4S | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~209 days | ~684 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 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.
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 Plus5 has roughly 585 days of runway on past cadence. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Plus5 lists at $749 and the CORE One+ at $999 — $250 apart, so the CORE One+ costs 33% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $67 for the CORE One+ versus $24 for the Plus5 — the Plus5 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Plus5.
This one is close on paper. If you just want to print, save the $250; if you want to modify and repair the machine yourself, the open-source CORE One+ earns its premium. The Plus5 also brings 107% more build volume and extra engineering materials (PA-CF and PPS-CF).
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.
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.