Prusa MK4S
- Price
- $929
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Prusa MK4S vs QIDI X-Plus 3
- The QIDI X-Plus 3 wins, 8.4 vs 7.8 out of 10.
- X-Plus 3 prints 1.8× the volume (280×280×270 ÷ 250×210×220 = 1.83) and costs $430 ($929 − $499) less.
- X-Plus 3 is faster, 600 vs 200 mm/s.
- Pick the Prusa MK4S 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.
QIDI X-Plus 3
- Price
- $499
- Score
- 8.4/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the X-Plus 3.
8.4/10 vs Prusa MK4S's 7.8/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. This is the printer for ABS and Nylon at a price that doesn't hurt. The chamber heating is the feature: everything else at this price is warping-mitigation theater. If you're printing PLA only, look elsewhere. If ABS is part of your workflow, look here first.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Prusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
vsX-Plus 3QIDI · FDM
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | X-Plus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $929 | Price | $499 (wins) |
| 11.6 L | Build volume | 21.2 L (wins) |
| 200 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 7 kg | Weight | 17 kg |
Features
| Prusa MK4S | Feature | X-Plus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Open source | No |
| Yes | PrusaSlicer | No |
| Yes | Nextruder | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Input shaping | No |
| Yes | Ethernet | No |
| No | Enclosed | Yes |
| No | CoreXY | Yes |
| No | Chamber heating (60C) | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
Value math
$929 ÷ 11.6 L and $499 ÷ 21.2 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | X-Plus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $80.43 | $ per liter | $23.57 (wins) |
| $4.64 | $ per mm/s | $0.83 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | X-Plus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Value | 9 (wins) |
| 8 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 7 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 9 |
| 6 | Speed | 9 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 7.8 | Overall | 8.4 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 210 × 220 mm
- 280 × 280 × 270 mm
What owners say
My 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)Active chamber heating to 60C at this price? QIDI is quietly winning the enclosed printer game.
X-Plus 3 owner, r/3DprintingThe X-Plus 3 handles Nylon and PC better than printers costing twice as much.
X-Plus 3 owner, Edge of Tech (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
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
- −$929 for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025
X-Plus 3
- +60C active chamber heating is the real feature: ABS stops warping, Nylon actually sticks
- +Handles PA, PC, and carbon-fiber composites without drama
- +CoreXY at 600mm/s inside a heated enclosure is genuinely rare under $600
- −QIDI's slicer software feels like 2020: functional but not pleasant
- −Community is small; problems require more DIY solving than Bambu or Creality
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 MK4S better than the QIDI X-Plus 3?
By the numbers, the QIDI X-Plus 3 scores higher (8.4/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Prusa MK4S may be the smarter buy if you need reliability.
Which is better for beginners, Prusa MK4S or QIDI X-Plus 3?
The Prusa MK4S is more beginner-friendly (8/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Prusa MK4S worth $430 more than the QIDI X-Plus 3?
The QIDI X-Plus 3 actually scores higher (8.4/10) despite costing $430 less. The Prusa MK4S only makes sense if you specifically need reliability.
What's the main difference between Prusa MK4S and QIDI X-Plus 3?
Build volume (250x210x220mm vs 280x280x270mm) and print speed (200 vs 600 mm/s). The Prusa MK4S is best for reliability; the QIDI X-Plus 3 targets engineering.