The Prusa Research Mini+ (entry) 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. The Max4 costs $590 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 787% more build volume; the Mini+ answers with an open-source design.
Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Beginners who prioritize open-source hardware, community support, and long-term reliability over speed — and don't mind a slower, more deliberate printing experience.
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 Mini+ | Qidi Tech Max4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $459 | $1,049 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | ★ 390 × 390 × 340 mm |
| Max Speed | 200 mm/s | ★ 800 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ★ ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Apr 25, 2021 | Dec 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Mini+ was released on Apr 25, 2021, 2,027 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days; it is now 1,297 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
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 Mini+ is 1,297 days past its ~730-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Mini+ lists at $459 and the Max4 at $1,049 — $590 apart, so the Max4 costs 129% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $79 for the Mini+ 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 Max4, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 787% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.2 vs 7.9) and better buy-now timing. Go for the Mini+ instead if you want to spend less — it is $590 cheaper ($459 vs $1,049). The Max4 is also in a sale window right now (Black Friday 2026, until Dec 5, 2026).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The Mini+ has been on the market since 2021 and has proven its durability with thousands of community print-hours logged.
Prusa stocks replacement parts for all Mini+ components. Community guides cover every repair scenario.
The lowest-cost way to enter the Prusa ecosystem with a fully supported printer.
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.