Prusa MK4S
- Price
- $929
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Prusa MK4S vs QIDI X-Smart 3
- The QIDI X-Smart 3 wins, 8 vs 7.8 out of 10.
- Prusa MK4S prints 2.3× the volume (250×210×220 ÷ 175×175×165 = 2.29) for $580 ($929 − $349) more.
- X-Smart 3 is faster, 600 vs 200 mm/s.
- Pick the X-Smart 3 if your prints fit in 16.5 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
QIDI X-Smart 3
- Price
- $349
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the X-Smart 3.
8/10 vs Prusa MK4S's 7.8/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. The right machine if space is the primary constraint and you want an enclosure. A full desk-sized printer won't fit in a dorm room; this one does. The 175mm volume is the genuine trade-off.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Prusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
vsX-Smart 3QIDI · FDM
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $929 | Price | $349 (wins) |
| 11.6 L (wins) | Build volume | 5.1 L |
| 200 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 7 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| Prusa MK4S | Feature | X-Smart 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 CoreXY | Yes |
| No | Chamber heating (35C) | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
Value math
$929 ÷ 11.6 L and $349 ÷ 5.1 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $80.43 | $ per liter | $69.07 (wins) |
| $4.64 | $ per mm/s | $0.58 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Value | 8 (wins) |
| 8 | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 6 | Speed | 8 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 7.8 | Overall | 8 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 210 × 220 mm
- 175 × 175 × 165 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)Enclosed 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 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-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 MK4S better than the QIDI X-Smart 3?
By the numbers, the QIDI X-Smart 3 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, Prusa MK4S or QIDI X-Smart 3?
Both score 8/10 for beginners. Go with the QIDI X-Smart 3 to save $580.
Is the Prusa MK4S worth $580 more than the QIDI X-Smart 3?
The QIDI X-Smart 3 actually scores higher (8/10) despite costing $580 less. The Prusa MK4S only makes sense if you specifically need reliability.
What's the main difference between Prusa MK4S and QIDI X-Smart 3?
Build volume (250x210x220mm vs 175x175x165mm) and print speed (200 vs 600 mm/s). The Prusa MK4S is best for reliability; the QIDI X-Smart 3 targets compact.