Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- Speed
- 250 mm/s
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE vs Prusa MK4S
- The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE wins, 8 vs 7.8 out of 10.
- Near-same build volume (220×220×250 vs 250×210×220 mm, 1.05×).
- The Ender 3 V3 SE is faster (250 ÷ 200 = 1.3×) and costs less. Easy pick.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Prusa MK4S
- Speed
- 200 mm/s
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Ender 3 V3 SE.
8/10 vs Prusa MK4S's 7.8/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. Under $250, this is still the safe answer. The community alone is worth something when you're learning. Creality's newer V3 is faster but costs more; the V3 SE is the baseline you graduate from.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Ender 3 V3 SECreality · FDM
vsPrusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| 12.1 L (wins) | Build volume | 11.6 L |
| 250 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 200 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 7.8 kg | Weight | 7 kg |
Features
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Feature | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Direct drive extruder | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| No | Open source | Yes |
| No | PrusaSlicer | Yes |
| No | Nextruder | Yes |
| No | Input shaping | Yes |
| No | Ethernet | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Ender 3 V3 SE | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 6 |
| 9 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 7 | Print Quality | 9 (wins) |
| 6 | Speed | 6 |
| 8 | Reliability | 10 (wins) |
| 8 (wins) | Overall | 7.8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 220 × 220 × 250 mm
- 250 × 210 × 220 mm
What owners say
The V3 SE sets a new baseline for cheap 3D printing.
Ender 3 V3 SE owner, All3DPBest [money] I ever spent on a hobby. Prints great out of the box.
Ender 3 V3 SE owner, r/ender3My MK3 ran for 5 years without a single failed print. The MK4S continues that legacy.
Prusa MK4S owner, r/prusa3dIf reliability is your #1 priority, nothing beats Prusa. Nothing.
Prusa MK4S owner, Thomas Sanladerer (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
Prusa MK4S
- +Prusa's QC is genuinely better than anyone else's: every printer is test-printed before shipping
- +PrusaSlicer is open source and powerful, no subscription, no cloud required
- +Customer support answers in hours, not weeks
- −200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price
- −The price for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025
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 Prusa MK4S?
By the numbers, the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE scores higher (8/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Prusa MK4S may be the smarter buy if you need reliability.
Which is better for beginners, Creality Ender 3 V3 SE or Prusa MK4S?
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 Prusa MK4S worth paying more for over the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE?
The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE actually scores higher (8/10) despite costing less. The Prusa MK4S only makes sense if you specifically need reliability.
What's the main difference between Creality Ender 3 V3 SE and Prusa MK4S?
Build volume (220x220x250mm vs 250x210x220mm) and print speed (250 vs 200 mm/s). The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE is best for beginners; the Prusa MK4S targets reliability.