The Prusa Research Mini+ (entry) and Qidi Tech Plus5 (prosumer) 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 Plus5 costs $290 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 427% 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 →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 Mini+ | Qidi Tech Plus5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $459 | $749 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | ★ 320 × 320 × 300 mm |
| Max Speed | 200 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ★ ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Apr 25, 2021 | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | ~684 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 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 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 Plus5 at $749 — $290 apart, so the Plus5 costs 63% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $79 for the Mini+ versus $24 for the Plus5 — so the pricier Plus5 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Plus5.
Our pick for most buyers is the Plus5, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS-CF on its materials list) and 427% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.4 vs 7.9) and better buy-now timing. Go for the Mini+ instead if you want to spend less — it is $290 cheaper ($459 vs $749). The Plus5 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.
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.