3D Printing Info

Printer comparison

Creality Ender-3 V3 Plus vs Original Prusa MINI+

Compare hardware, build volume, printing specifications, dated prices and sources.

2 selected · all documented properties

Creality Ender-3 V3 Plus vs Original Prusa MINI+ — documented properties and sources
PropertyCreality Ender-3 V3 PlusBEDSLINGEROriginal Prusa MINI+BEDSLINGER
Identity
BrandCrealityPrusa Research
ClassBEDSLINGERBEDSLINGER
Identity & Market
Manufacturer & exact marketed model name (verify the exact product identity first)Creality Ender-3 V3 Plus, marketed as a "Plus-sized CoreXZ 3D Printer"[1]Original Prusa MINI+ Semi-assembled 3D Printer[2]
Street price (USD; dated snapshot per entry)$339.00 on store.creality.com, Aug 2026[3]$508.33 on prusa3d.com, Aug 2026[4]
Variants & sibling models — and how to tell them apart (spec-contamination risk)Larger sibling of the Ender-3 V3 on the same CoreXZ platform: 300 x 300 x 330 mm against 220 x 220 x 250 mm, with dual Y-axis motors and support rods added to carry the bigger bed. Not to be confused with the bed-slinger SE and KE, which are not CoreXZ[1][5]Sold semi-assembled and, historically, as a kit; also offered in an Enclosure Bundle. Distinguish from the larger i3-family machines - the MINI+ is Bowden-fed with 2209 drivers, a 280 C nozzle ceiling and a 100 C bed, all lower than the MK3S+/MK4S. Note that Prusa's own MINI+ page carries an "Awards & Press Reviews" paragraph that is entirely about the MK3S, not the MINI+[2][6]
Physical & Frame
Build volume X×Y×Z (mm) — advertised vs actually usable300 x 300 x 330 mm[1]180 x 180 x 180 mm (manufacturer figure)[2]
Machine footprint (mm) & clearance needed (cable/spool overhang)410 x 445 x 577 mm[1]380 x 330 x 380 mm (X x Y x Z), stated without the spool holder and external PSU - the external PSU brick needs additional desk space[2]
Net weight (kg)Not documented4.5 kg without spool holder and external PSU[2]
Enclosure: open / enclosed; panel material; door/lidOpen frame, no enclosure[1]Open frame; sold with an optional Enclosure bundle[2]
Kinematics & Motion Hardware
Kinematics (bedslinger i3 / CoreXY / other)CoreXZ - Creality states the X and Z axes are rigged together so two high-torque motors work in unison; the bed moves in Y on dual motors and support rods[1]Not documented
Y-axis guide typeY axis driven by two 500 mN.m motors running on two linear rods[1]Not documented
Belts (type, width, e.g. Gates?)XZ timing belts are tensioned automatically, which Creality offers as the fix for belt slip and jams[1]Not documented
Stepper drivers (exact model e.g. TMC2209; UART/SPI; sensorless homing?)Not documentedTrinamic 2209 silent stepper drivers, with sensorless homing on the X and Y axes[2]
Speed & Acceleration
Max print speed (claimed, mm/s)600 mm/s max printing speed (Creality Lab claim)[1]Not documented
Recommended/typical print speed300 mm/s typical printing speed (Creality Lab figure, stated in the same footnote as the 600 mm/s claim)[1]Not documented
Max acceleration (claimed, mm/s²)20000 mm/s2 max acceleration (Creality Lab claim)[1]Not documented
Extruder
Type (direct drive / bowden) & design nameDirect-drive extruder kit that Creality markets as clog-free[1]Bowden extruder with 3:1 gearing - the only current Prusa FFF machine that is not direct drive[2]
Gear ratio & drive gear materialNot documented3:1 extruder gearing[2]
Hotend & Nozzle
Hotend design (proprietary/standard; quick-swap mechanism?)Quick-swap tri-metal nozzle[1]Not documented
Max nozzle temp claimed AND firmware max temp limit (both values)Not documented280 C claimed max nozzle temperature - lower than the 290-300 C of the i3-family machines[2]
Heated Bed & Surface
Max bed temp claimed AND firmware limitNot documented100 C max heatbed temperature[2]
Bed surface (material, texture, coating), single/double-sidedNot documentedRemovable magnetic steel sheets in several surface finishes; heatbed with cold-corner compensation[2]
Leveling & Z-Offset
Auto bed leveling: probe technology (inductive / strain gauge / load cell / touch probe)Not documentedSuperPINDA inductive probe with no temperature drift, driving automatic mesh bed levelling[2]
Cooling & Air Handling
Part-cooling fan(s): count, size, ducting designTwo part-cooling fans[1]Not documented
Electronics & Power
Mainboard model & MCU (exact chip markings if teardowns exist)Not documentedCustom 32-bit board of Prusa's Buddy family; the MINI/MINI+ is covered by the same Prusa-Firmware-Buddy source tree as the MK4, XL and CORE One. The exact board revision is not given on the product page[2][7]
Firmware & Openness
Firmware base & current version (Klipper fork / Marlin fork / proprietary)Not documentedOpen-source Prusa Buddy firmware. The source tree (prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware-Buddy on GitHub) explicitly covers the Original Prusa MINI/MINI+, MK4, XL and CORE One and was last pushed to in August 2026. Updates are applied from a USB drive, through Prusa Connect or through the Prusa mobile app[7][8]
Connectivity, UI & Camera
Display: size, type, touch?Not documented2.8-inch 65k-colour graphic screen with G-code preview[2]
On-device UI capabilities (model preview, per-object controls, etc.)Not documentedOn-device colour UI with G-code preview; remote print management through Prusa Connect[2]
WiFi (band/standard), Ethernet, USB ports, SD/flash-driveNot documentedUSB port, RJ-45 Ethernet, optional ESP Wi-Fi module (sold separately); compatible with Prusa Connect[2]
Calibration Routines & QoL
Assembly level & time from unbox to first printNot documentedSemi-assembled: Prusa ships it in a small number of pre-built sections; also historically sold as a full kit[2]
Materials Support
Officially supported filament listNot documentedPLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC, CPE, PVA/BVOH, PVB, HIPS, PP, Flex, nGen, Nylon, Woodfill and other filled materials (Prusa's own list; the 100 C bed and open frame are the practical limit for ABS/ASA)[2]
Safety
Thermal runaway protection (verify in firmware source if at all possible)Not documentedThree thermistors and fan RPM sensors are fitted, and the firmware is open-source and auditable (Prusa-Firmware-Buddy); Prusa does not describe the thermal-runaway implementation on the product page[2][7]
Reliability, Support & Ecosystem
Warranty length & support reputation (evidence, not vibes)Creality's US store states "Up to 12-Month Warranty", a 14-day return and refund window and "Lifetime Customer Support" on its printer product pages. The "up to" wording means the term is not uniform across parts[9]2-year warranty for consumers in the EU, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland; 1 year for EU enterprises and 1 year for the rest of the world, which includes the United States. A printer bought from a reseller or privately carries 1 year from the original delivery date and is handled by the reseller. Prusa advertises 24/7 chat and e-mail support in seven languages[10][8]

Manufacturer claims, independent measurements, packages and test conditions retain their source wording. FDM linear speed and resin vertical speed use different units and are not directly comparable. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. Creality Ender-3 V3 Plus product page creality.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  2. Original Prusa MINI+ Semi-assembled 3D Printer product page (Technical Parameters + Full Features List, January 2025 Edition) prusa3d.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. Creality US store - Ender-3 V3 Plus 3D Printer product page (live price) store.creality.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. Prusa 3D printers category listing with live e-shop prices, Aug 2026 prusa3d.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Creality Ender-3 V3 product page (full specification table) creality.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ 10th Anniversary Edition product page (Technical Parameters + Full Features List) prusa3d.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. GitHub - prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware-Buddy (firmware for MINI, MK4, XL and CORE One) github.com · 2026-08 · doc
  8. Original Prusa MK4S 3D Printer product page (Technical Parameters + CORE One+/MK4S/XL comparison table) prusa3d.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Creality US store - K1 3D Printer product page (live price, warranty and returns banner) store.creality.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Prusa Knowledge Base - Warranty help.prusa3d.com · 2026-08 · doc