Prusa Research MK4SvsQidi Tech Plus4

💰Qidi Tech Plus4 is $230 cheaper (33% less)

📐Qidi Tech Plus4 has 126% more build volume

⚡Qidi Tech Plus4 tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s

🏠Only Qidi Tech Plus4 has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments

Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.

Prusa Research MK4S

Buy/Wait:Upgrade Kit

Late in cycle — but an upgrade kit is available. Existing owners can upgrade without buying new

🔧 Upgrade kit available — from MK4, MK3.5

Best for: Makers who value open-source hardware, community support, long-term repairability, and battle-tested reliability over raw speed or multicolor features.

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Qidi Tech Plus4

Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

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.

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	Prusa Research MK4S	Qidi Tech Plus4
Pricing
Starting Price	$929	★ $699
Print Specs
Tier	Prosumer	Prosumer
Motion	BedSlinger	CoreXY
Build Volume	250 × 210 × 220 mm	★ 305 × 305 × 280 mm
Max Speed	500 mm/s	★ 600 mm/s
Multicolor	❌ No	★ ✅ 4 slots
Enclosure	❌	★ ✅
Auto Calibration	✅	✅
Open Source	★ ✅	❌
Upgrade Kit	🔧 From MK4, MK3.5	—
Buy Timing
Released	Mar 20, 2024	Sep 20, 2024
Cycle length	~730 days	~408 days
Cycle advice	Upgrade Kit	Wait
Deals advice	Buy	Buy
Next model	Prusa MK5 (Expected 2027)	—

Quick Winner

Bottom Line

💰Qidi Tech Plus4 saves you $230 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint

🏠Qidi Tech Plus4 is the only choice if you print ABS, ASA, PA, or PC — those materials require an enclosure

🎨Qidi Tech Plus4 is the pick if multicolor printing is important to you

🔓Prusa Research MK4S is the pick for open firmware, community mods, and long-term repairability

Materials

Prusa Research MK4S only

—

Both

PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts

PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant

ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure

ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure

TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels

PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage

PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print

Qidi Tech Plus4 only

PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles

PPS-CFExtreme temperature and chemical resistance

Why buy each?

Prusa Research MK4S

Upgrade kit available — no need to buy new

MK4 and MK3.5 owners can upgrade to MK4S specs without purchasing a whole new printer. This is Prusa's commitment to owners and is unique in the industry at this level.

Fully open source

Firmware, PCB schematics, hardware designs, and slicing profiles are all published under open licenses. You own the printer completely.

Best community and documentation

Prusa's forum, knowledge base, and repair guides are unmatched. Parts are stocked and available for years after purchase.

Qidi Tech Plus4

305×305×280 mm build volume

One of the largest build volumes in the prosumer enclosed category — 40% more printable area than the Bambu X1C at a lower price point.

Active 65°C chamber heating

The second-generation active heating delivers consistent chamber temperatures for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the full build plate.

370°C bimetal hotend

Handles high-performance engineering composites including PA-CF, PET-CF, and PPS-CF without requiring a separate hotend upgrade.