Elegoo Neptune 4 Max
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Elegoo Neptune 4 Max vs Prusa Core One
- The Prusa Core One wins, 8.2 vs 7 out of 10.
- Neptune 4 Max prints 5.7× the volume (420×420×480 ÷ 250×220×270 = 5.70) and costs less.
- Same 500 mm/s top speed.
- Pick the Prusa Core One if your prints fit in 27 cm.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Prusa Core One
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
The verdict
Buy the Prusa Core One.
8.2/10 vs Neptune 4 Max's 7/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. Outstanding print quality and the best support in the business. The price premium is real, though. If you don't care about the Prusa ecosystem specifically, there are better deals. If you do, it's worth every krona.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Neptune 4 MaxElegoo · FDM
vsPrusa Core OnePrusa Research · FDM
| Neptune 4 Max | Spec | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| 84.7 L (wins) | Build volume | 14.8 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 22 kg | Weight | 22.5 kg |
Features
| Neptune 4 Max | Feature | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Klipper firmware | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| Yes | 420x420x480mm build | No |
| No | Enclosed CoreXY with active chamber heating (55C) | Yes |
| No | Nextruder direct drive (10:1 planetary) | Yes |
| No | 360-degree cooling duct | Yes |
| No | Ethernet + WiFi + NFC | Yes |
| No | MMU3 multi-material compatible | Yes |
| No | Open-source firmware (PrusaSlicer) | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Neptune 4 Max | Spec | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 6 |
| 5 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 (wins) |
| 7 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 7 | Speed | 8 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 10 (wins) |
| 7 | Overall | 8.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 420 × 420 × 480 mm
- 250 × 220 × 270 mm
What owners say
420mm Klipper for [this price]. Elegoo just won the large format budget race.
Neptune 4 Max owner, r/3DprintingPrinted a full cosplay breastplate in one go. Absolutely remarkable value.
Neptune 4 Max owner, r/cosplayFinally, Prusa takes on Bambu! The Core One is better in a box.
Prusa Core One owner, Tom's HardwareRail smoothness holds up well after months of hard use, minimal belt wear, and consistent chamber heat stability.
Prusa Core One owner, Prusa ForumIf you value open source and lifetime support, Prusa is still the gold standard. Just bring your wallet.
Prusa Core One owner, r/3Dprinting
Pros & Cons
Neptune 4 Max
- +420x420x480mm with Klipper: the price-to-volume ratio is hard to beat
- +Direct drive on a bed this large is unusual and useful for flexible materials
- +Klipper gives you full control to tune speed and acceleration for the mass of this bed
- −Open frame at this scale means ABS warping will ruin prints without serious prep
- −The sheer footprint means a dedicated table minimum; don't try to share desk space
Prusa Core One
- +Prusa reliability is not marketing. It's earned over years.
- +55C active chamber heating handles demanding materials
- +Fully open-source, no vendor lock-in anywhere
- −The assembled price is hard to justify against the Bambu alternatives
- −Build volume is smaller than what you'd expect at this price
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 Elegoo Neptune 4 Max better than the Prusa Core One?
By the numbers, the Prusa Core One scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Neptune 4 Max may be the smarter buy if you need large-prints.
Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Neptune 4 Max or Prusa Core One?
The Prusa Core One is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 5/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Prusa Core One worth paying more for over the Elegoo Neptune 4 Max?
The Prusa Core One scores higher overall (8.2/10 vs 7/10). The extra money gets you prusa reliability is not marketing. it's earned over years..
What's the main difference between Elegoo Neptune 4 Max and Prusa Core One?
Build volume (420x420x480mm vs 250x220x270mm) and print speed (500 vs 500 mm/s). The Elegoo Neptune 4 Max is best for large-prints; the Prusa Core One targets precision.