3D Printing Info

Printer comparison

Positron V3.2 vs QIDI X-Smart 3

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

2 selected · all documented properties

Positron V3.2 vs QIDI X-Smart 3 — documented properties and sources
PropertyPositron V3.2COREXYQIDI X-Smart 3COREXY
Identity
BrandPositron3DQIDI
ClassCOREXYCOREXY
Identity & Market
Manufacturer & exact marketed model name (verify the exact product identity first)LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit, revision v3.2 Rev A[1]QIDI X-Smart 3, listed in QIDI navigation as X-Smart3[2][3]
Release date (announcement and actual shipping)Not documentedNot published by QIDI on the pages checked (Aug 2026)[2][3]
Street price (USD; dated snapshot per entry)Not documented$399 on QIDI's official US page, which routes purchases to its AliExpress and Amazon stores; checked Aug 2026[3]
Variants & sibling models — and how to tell them apart (spec-contamination risk)The defining trait is the inverted geometry: the print head is below the bed and the machine prints upside down. Sold as a self-assembly kit; the complete printed-parts set is a separate purchase. A hard storage case is included[1]Entry model of the 3-series. Unlike the X-Plus 3 and X-Max 3 it has no heated chamber, a 300 °C rather than 350 °C hotend, a brass rather than copper-alloy/hardened-steel nozzle head, and no Ethernet. It shares the Cortex-A53 board with them, so control-board specs must not be read as shared print specs[2][4][5]
Physical & Frame
Build volume X×Y×Z (mm) — advertised vs actually usable180 x 180 x 165 mm[1]175 x 180 x 170 mm advertised[2][3]
Machine footprint (mm) & clearance needed (cable/spool overhang)200 x 200 x 70 mm folded, 200 x 200 x 270 mm unfolded[1]370 x 362 x 397 mm[2]
Net weight (kg)3 kg net; 5.5 kg with the hard case[1]10.5 kg[2]
Frame construction & materialFolding frame designed to fit in a filament box; supplied with a black hard case[1]QIDI publishes no frame-material breakdown for this model[2]
Enclosure: open / enclosed; panel material; door/lidOpen frame[1]No heated chamber. 3DJake's table records "Heated chamber: No"; QIDI does not describe an enclosure for this model[2]
Kinematics & Motion Hardware
Kinematics (bedslinger i3 / CoreXY / other)CoreXY, inverted — the machine prints upside down[1]CoreXY[2][3]
Speed & Acceleration
Max print speed (claimed, mm/s)250 mm/s maximum print speed (manufacturer claim)[1]<=500 mm/s (manufacturer claim)[2][3]
Max acceleration (claimed, mm/s²)8,000 mm/s2 (manufacturer claim)[1]20,000 mm/s2 (manufacturer claim)[3]
Max volumetric flow claimed (mm³/s)Not documented30 mm3/s extruder flow (manufacturer claim)[2][3]
Extruder
Type (direct drive / bowden) & design nameBowden-style, single extrusion[1]Direct-drive extruder, single, 1.75 mm filament[2][3]
Hotend & Nozzle
Hotend design (proprietary/standard; quick-swap mechanism?)PS plated-copper nozzle, 0.4 mm[1]Brass nozzle head. 0.4 mm stock, 0.2/0.6/0.8 mm optional[2][3]
Max nozzle temp claimed AND firmware max temp limit (both values)260 °C maximum (manufacturer claim)[1]<=300 °C claimed[2][3]
Stock nozzle material (brass / hardened steel / plated copper / composite tip)Plated copper[1]Brass[2]
Heated Bed & Surface
Max bed temp claimed AND firmware limit85 °C maximum bed temperature — the lowest in this group, and the reason the material list stops at PETG[1]<=120 °C claimed[2][3]
Bed surface (material, texture, coating), single/double-sidedHeated removable ITO glass bed[1]Double-sided flexible magnetic RF plate[2]
Leveling & Z-Offset
Auto bed leveling: probe technology (inductive / strain gauge / load cell / touch probe)Not documented16-point automatic bed levelling per QIDI's US page; probe technology not named[3]
Mesh grid size (probe point count — firmware evidence)Not documented16 points (QIDI's US page). Not verified against firmware[3]
Filament Handling & Detection
Filament runout sensor (type, location)Not documentedFilament detection fitted; type and location not published[2]
Electronics & Power
Mainboard model & MCU (exact chip markings if teardowns exist)LDO Positron mainboard[1]Not documented
Host computer (SoC, RAM, storage) if firmware runs on embedded LinuxNot documentedCortex-A53 64-bit at 1.5 GHz, 1 GB DDR3, 8 GB eMMC[2]
PSU (brand, wattage, rail voltage)DC 24 V, 200 W[1]Not documented
Input voltage (110/220 V, switch or auto)Not documented100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz[2]
Total rated power drawNot documented350 W rated[2]
Firmware & Openness
Firmware base & current version (Klipper fork / Marlin fork / proprietary)Klipper[1]Klipper[3]
Connectivity, UI & Camera
Display: size, type, touch?3.5-inch LCD touchscreen[1]4.3-inch touchscreen[3]
WiFi (band/standard), Ethernet, USB ports, SD/flash-driveWi-Fi, USB, Ethernet[1]Wi-Fi and USB. No Ethernet listed for this model[2][3]
Calibration Routines & QoL
Assembly level & time from unbox to first printSelf-assembly kit, manufactured in China[1]Not documented
Materials Support
Officially supported filament listPLA and PETG only, per the manufacturer[1]Not documented
Reliability, Support & Ecosystem
Warranty length & support reputation (evidence, not vibes)Not documented1-year coverage (QIDI standard store terms)[6]

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. LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit matterhackers.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  2. QIDI Tech X-Smart 3 technical data table 3djake.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. QIDI X-Smart 3 official US page qidiusa.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. QIDI Tech X-Plus 3 technical data table 3djake.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. QIDI Tech X-Max 3 technical data table 3djake.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. QIDI Max4 product page (US store) us.qidi3d.com · 2026-08 · vendor