Prusa Core One
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Prusa Core One vs QIDI X-Smart 3
- The Prusa Core One wins, 8.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- Prusa Core One prints 2.9× the volume (250×220×270 ÷ 175×175×165 = 2.94) for more money.
- X-Smart 3 is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the X-Smart 3 if your prints fit in 16.5 cm.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
QIDI X-Smart 3
- Speed
- 600 mm/s
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Prusa Core One.
8.2/10 vs X-Smart 3's 8/10, and it wins 2 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.
Prusa Core OnePrusa Research · FDM
vsX-Smart 3QIDI · FDM
| Prusa Core One | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 14.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 5.1 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 22.5 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| Prusa Core One | Feature | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Enclosed CoreXY with active chamber heating (55C) | No |
| Yes | Nextruder direct drive (10:1 planetary) | No |
| Yes | 360-degree cooling duct | No |
| Yes | Ethernet + WiFi + NFC | No |
| Yes | MMU3 multi-material compatible | No |
| Yes | Open-source firmware (PrusaSlicer) | No |
| No | Enclosed CoreXY | Yes |
| No | Chamber heating (35C) | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Prusa Core One | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Value | 8 (wins) |
| 7 | Beginner Friendliness | 8 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 8 | Speed | 8 |
| 10 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 8.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 220 × 270 mm
- 175 × 175 × 165 mm
What owners say
Finally, 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/3DprintingEnclosed CoreXY that fits on a small desk. QIDI nailed the compact premium market.
X-Smart 3 owner, r/3DprintingThe X-Smart 3 is the printer I recommend when people ask for a quiet, enclosed machine that's not huge.
X-Smart 3 owner, Edge of Tech (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
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
X-Smart 3
- +Fully enclosed CoreXY in a footprint smaller than most open-frame printers
- +35C chamber heating helps layer adhesion on ABS and PETG without a full 60C setup
- +QIDI's slicer is better than Creality's for enclosed use cases
- −175mm cube is the real ceiling: anything larger needs to be split and assembled
- −QIDI's community is a fraction of Bambu's or Creality's size
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 Prusa Core One better than the QIDI X-Smart 3?
By the numbers, the Prusa Core One scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the QIDI X-Smart 3 may be the smarter buy if you need compact.
Which is better for beginners, Prusa Core One or QIDI X-Smart 3?
The QIDI X-Smart 3 is more beginner-friendly (8/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Prusa Core One worth paying more for over the QIDI X-Smart 3?
The Prusa Core One scores higher overall (8.2/10 vs 8/10). The extra money gets you prusa reliability is not marketing. it's earned over years..
What's the main difference between Prusa Core One and QIDI X-Smart 3?
Build volume (250x220x270mm vs 175x175x165mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Prusa Core One is best for precision; the QIDI X-Smart 3 targets compact.