The Prusa Research Mini+ and Qidi Tech Q1 Pro are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $40 apart. Note that the Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new. The Q1 Pro costs $40 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 147% 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 →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Q2.
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who need active chamber heating for ABS, ASA, and PA printing. Look for clearance deals — the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.
Full details →| Prusa Research Mini+ | Qidi Tech Q1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $459 | $499 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | ★ 245 × 245 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 200 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Apr 25, 2021 | Mar 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | ~518 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| 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The Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the Mini+ is the safer buy right now — it is 1,297 days past its ~730-day cycle with no successor announced, while the Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Mini+ lists at $459 and the Q1 Pro at $499 — $40 apart, so the Q1 Pro costs 9% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $79 for the Mini+ versus $35 for the Q1 Pro — so the pricier Q1 Pro actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the Mini+. The Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Q1 Pro appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Mini+ against the Q2.
Compare Prusa Research Mini+ vs Qidi Tech Q2 →
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 Q1 Pro's heated chamber was groundbreaking at its price point. ABS, ASA, and PA prints come out without warping that plagues open-frame printers.
Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.