Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- Price
- $218
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE vs Elegoo Neptune 4
- The Elegoo Neptune 4 wins, 8.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- Near-same build volume (225×225×265 vs 220×220×250 mm, 1.11×).
- The Neptune 4 is faster (500 ÷ 250 = 2.0×) and costs $19 ($218 − $199) less. Easy pick.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Neptune 4
- Price
- $199
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Neptune 4.
8.2/10 vs Ender 3 V3 SE's 8/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. Very close race with the Ender 3 V3 KE. The KE has WiFi, this has a slightly larger bed. Pick based on brand preference or which one is in stock. Neither is wrong.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Ender 3 V3 SECreality · FDM
vsNeptune 4Elegoo · FDM
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Spec | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| $218 | Price | $199 (wins) |
| 12.1 L | Build volume | 13.4 L (wins) |
| 250 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 7.8 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Feature | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Direct drive extruder | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | Yes |
| No | Klipper firmware | Yes |
| No | Direct drive | Yes |
| No | High-speed mode | Yes |
Value math
$218 ÷ 12.1 L and $199 ÷ 13.4 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Spec | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| $18.02 | $ per liter | $14.83 (wins) |
| $0.87 | $ per mm/s | $0.40 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Spec | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Value | 10 |
| 9 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 7 | Print Quality | 8 (wins) |
| 6 | Speed | 8 (wins) |
| 8 (wins) | Reliability | 7 |
| 8 | Overall | 8.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 220 × 220 × 250 mm
- 225 × 225 × 265 mm
What owners say
The V3 SE sets a new baseline for cheap 3D printing.
Ender 3 V3 SE owner, All3DPBest $200 I ever spent on a hobby. Prints great out of the box.
Ender 3 V3 SE owner, r/ender3Klipper for $199 with a direct drive? Elegoo is giving Creality a real run for their money.
Neptune 4 owner, r/3DprintingSolid budget machine. Does what it says at a price that's hard to beat.
Neptune 4 owner, Maker's Muse (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Ender 3 V3 SE
- +Auto-leveling that works on the first try, not the fourth
- +Direct drive means you can print TPU without fighting the extruder
- +r/ender3 has 200,000 members who've fixed every problem you'll ever have
- −250mm/s max is half what CoreXY printers do at this price in 2024
- −Open frame, no WiFi, no camera: this is a no-frills machine
Neptune 4
- +Klipper at $199 means real input shaping and pressure advance, not just fast travel speeds
- +Direct drive handles TPU without a fight
- +500mm/s capable on stock profiles
- −No WiFi on the base model: Elegoo charges extra for connectivity the KE includes free
- −Elegoo's community is smaller than Creality's, which matters when you hit unusual problems
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
- ELEGOO PLA filament, 1kgThe easy filament to start on. Prints at low temperatures and warps less.
- ELEGOO PETG filament, 1kgTougher and more heat tolerant than PLA, for parts that get handled or sit in the sun.
- SUNLU filament dryer S1 PlusWet filament causes stringing and rough surfaces. A dryer fixes that before you blame the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE better than the Elegoo Neptune 4?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Neptune 4 scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE may be the smarter buy if you need beginners.
Which is better for beginners, Creality Ender 3 V3 SE or Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE is more beginner-friendly (9/10 vs 8/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE worth $19 more than the Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Elegoo Neptune 4 actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing $19 less. The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE only makes sense if you specifically need beginners.
What's the main difference between Creality Ender 3 V3 SE and Elegoo Neptune 4?
Build volume (220x220x250mm vs 225x225x265mm) and print speed (250 vs 500 mm/s). The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE is best for beginners; the Elegoo Neptune 4 targets budget.