Creality Ender-3 V3 SE vs Elegoo Neptune 4
- The Neptune 4 has 11% more build volume (13.4 L against 12.1 L).
- Per litre, the Neptune 4 is the cheaper space at $16 against $16.
- Neither manufacturer publishes a volumetric flow rate, so neither speed claim can be checked against what the hotend can melt.
Creality
Ender-3 V3 SE
~$199 · 12.1 L
A first printer on a tight budget, where price matters more than speed or materials.
Elegoo
Neptune 4
~$219 · 13.4 L
A cheap, fast first printer for someone who would rather tinker with Klipper than with a gantry.
| Ender-3 V3 SE | Neptune 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$199 | ~$219 |
| Build volumex × y × z converted to litres, so three numbers become one comparable one | 12.1 L | 13.4 L |
| Dimensions | 220 × 220 × 250 mm | 225 × 225 × 265 mm |
| Per litre | $16 | $16 |
| Type | FDM bedslinger | FDM bedslinger |
| Motion | bedslinger | bedslinger |
| Max flowthe hotend's rated volumetric flow — what actually caps print speed | not published | not published |
| Real line speedestimated from flow at a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layer | not published | not published |
| Max speedthe manufacturer's claim — gantry movement, not extrusion | 250 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Hotend max temp | 260 °C | 300 °C |
| Bed max temp | 100 °C | 110 °C |
| Enclosure | Open frame | Open frame |
| Extruder | direct drive | direct drive |
| Auto level | probe | probe |
| Hardened nozzle | No | No |
| Multi-material | None | None |
| True multi-material priceprinter plus the changer it is photographed with | — | — |
| Firmware | Marlin | Klipper |
| LAN-only mode | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
| Assembly | Partly assembled | Partly assembled |
| Noise | — | — |
| Released | 2023 | 2023 |