Elegoo Neptune 4
- Price
- $199
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Elegoo Neptune 4 vs Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro
- The Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro wins, 8.6 vs 8.2 out of 10.
- Neptune 4 prints 1.3× the volume (225×225×265 ÷ 220³ = 1.26) and costs $180 ($379 − $199) less.
- Adventurer 5M Pro is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the Adventurer 5M Pro if your prints fit in 22 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro
- Price
- $379
- Score
- 8.6/10
- Wins
- 3/5
The verdict
Buy the Adventurer 5M Pro.
8.6/10 vs Neptune 4's 8.2/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. If you want an enclosure and filtration, this is the best value under $400. Schools, family rooms, shared offices: the HEPA and enclosure are features, not marketing. The small build volume is the only genuine trade-off.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Neptune 4Elegoo · FDM
vsAdventurer 5M ProFlashforge · FDM
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Adventurer 5M Pro |
|---|---|---|
| $199 (wins) | Price | $379 |
| 13.4 L (wins) | Build volume | 10.6 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9.5 kg | Weight | 12.5 kg |
Features
| Neptune 4 | Feature | Adventurer 5M Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Klipper firmware | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| Yes | High-speed mode | No |
| No | Enclosed | Yes |
| No | Auto leveling | Yes |
| No | Quick-swap nozzle | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
| No | HEPA filter | Yes |
Value math
$199 ÷ 13.4 L and $379 ÷ 10.6 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Adventurer 5M Pro |
|---|---|---|
| $14.83 (wins) | $ per liter | $35.59 |
| $0.40 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $0.63 |
Scores out of 10
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Adventurer 5M Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 9 |
| 8 | Beginner Friendliness | 9 (wins) |
| 8 | Print Quality | 8 |
| 8 | Speed | 9 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 8.2 | Overall | 8.6 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 225 × 225 × 265 mm
- 220 × 220 × 220 mm
What owners say
Klipper 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)Perfect for the classroom. Kids can't touch hot parts, and the HEPA filter keeps the air clean.
Adventurer 5M Pro owner, r/3DprintingToolless nozzle swap is genuinely useful. Switch from 0.4 to 0.6 in seconds.
Adventurer 5M Pro owner, Teaching Tech (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
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
Adventurer 5M Pro
- +HEPA filter and enclosure at $379 is genuinely rare in this class
- +Nozzle swaps with no tools: pull out, push in, done in 30 seconds
- +600mm/s means speed doesn't suffer for the enclosure premium
- −220x220mm build volume is cramped compared to open-frame rivals
- −Proprietary nozzles mean you can't raid a generic nozzle pack
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 better than the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro?
By the numbers, the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro scores higher (8.6/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Neptune 4 may be the smarter buy if you need budget.
Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Neptune 4 or Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro?
The Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro is more beginner-friendly (9/10 vs 8/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro worth $180 more than the Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro scores higher overall (8.6/10 vs 8.2/10). The extra $180 gets you hepa filter and enclosure at $379 is genuinely rare in this class.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Neptune 4 and Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro?
Build volume (225x225x265mm vs 220x220x220mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Elegoo Neptune 4 is best for budget; the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro targets beginners.