Top 5 Best 3D Printers in 2025
These are my top picks for affordable, fast, and multicolor 3D printers.
I’ve evaluated almost a hundred 3D printers, rigorously examining each one for accuracy and speed. However, if a 3D printer is difficult to use, maintain, and upgrade, it can easily become a fancy doorstop. I’ve travelled the world interviewing manufacturers and artisans about the characteristics that make their preferred 3D printers the best available.
In just a dozen years, the consumer 3D printing market has gone from handcrafted nozzles and bare wires to completely automated plug-and-play devices. The Bambu Lab X1C, one of the most well-known 3D printers available today, began as a Kickstarter project in 2022. I review any 3D printer I can get my hands on because of this, and I’m always amazed by how manufacturers are breaking records every year.
Not all 3D printers are technological marvels, of course. Some people are worthless and unworthy of your hard-earned money. We can assist you in finding the ideal machine, whether you’re searching for a multi-material commercial workhorse or an entry-level home machine. With the Best Budget 3D Printers starting at $200 or less, 3D printing has never been more accessible.
However, not every job is a good fit for every printer. A 3D printer such as the Prusa Original MK4S is necessary for high-precision prototyping, and a four-color Bambu Lab A1 Mini can be used to manufacture colorful games and toys on your coffee table. Our list of the Best Resin 3D Printers, which have resolution measured in microns, is a great resource for artists and tabletop gamers. We offer a 3D Printer Speed Hierarchy that ranks printers based solely on speed if you want to produce prototypes as quickly as possible.
Table of Contents
best pocket
1. Creality K2 Plus
best Fastest
2. Elegoo Centauri Carbon
best premium
3. Prusa CORE One
Best 3D Printer for Beginners
4. Bambu Lab A1 Mini
Best Budget
5. Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
1. Creality K2 Plus
Fast color FDM 3D printers will be popular in 2025, and Creality’s K2 Plus is a great example of one. With its revolutionary “Creality Filament System,” this printer can print in four colors with ease and has a maximum acceleration rate of 30000 mm/s². Its cruising speed is 300 mm/s. With a 350mm cubed build space, it can manage prints that are far larger than those of its competitors.
It can handle almost any filament, from PLA to PC, thanks to its high flow nozzle, which can reach temperatures of up to 350 degrees. No one has been able to make soft filaments go through all the tubing required for a color-swapping 3D printer, but TPU must be run through a side port on a conventional spool holder.
According to some, Creality is just copying Bambu Lab and their enormously popular X1-Carbon. However, Creality has introduced other color printing enhancements that we haven’t yet seen from startup Bambu, including a larger print volume, a heated chamber, and the capability to print offline with full open source Klipper. Creality stays true to the open source community while recalling its beginnings as a do-it-yourself 3D printer for hobbyists.
The machine’s retail price of $1,499 for a four-color combination might be out of reach for some people. However, the K2 Plus is simple to use right out of the box, so small business owners and skilled makers aren’t the only ones who can use it. Because of its adaptability, silent fans, and carbon filtering system, it’s a good investment for the house or workplace.
The CFS wastes a little more filament than the Bambu AMS because of its high flow hotend with a larger melt zone and lack of fine control in the custom slicer. That’s the only issue I have with the printer, and it’s difficult to prevent. Because it uses a thick metal plate to provide a smooth print surface, it must also be thoroughly warmed up.
2. Elegoo Centauri Carbon
Everything you could possibly need in a fast, affordable printer is included in the Centauri Carbon. At $299.99, this quick, enclosed Core XY has a bed slinger price tag. With a maximum speed of 500 mm/s and an acceleration of 20,000 mm/s2, it is comparable in size and speed to the top-tier Bambu Lab printer. To minimize vibrations and maximize pressure advance for superior prints, it makes use of an Elegoo fork from Klipper.
In 18 minutes and 19 seconds, we were able to print a PLA 3D Benchy that was flawless. PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, and ASA were all handled flawlessly by the Centauri Carbon’s high flow hotend. To print cooler filaments, the top lid needs to be removed, but this is a common design flaw with inexpensive machines.
It’s ideal for use as a print farm workhorse or as a beginner machine. You just need to unpack it because it is already assembled. The machine is easy to operate with to its front-facing USB port, easy-access spool holder, and straightforward filament loading procedure. Because the Centauri Carbon is based on an Elegoo derivative of Klipper and doesn’t require cloud access, you have complete control over the security of your data.
3. Prusa CORE One
The eagerly anticipated Prusa Research Core XY machine has finally come, and it is excellent. The greatest features of the highly regarded MK4S were taken by engineers and incorporated into a sleek steel exoskeleton with a cooling system that enables the printer to run securely with the door closed, even when PLA is used. The CORE One has somewhat better print quality and is 20% faster than the Prusa MK4S.
When combined, the twelve seemingly insignificant but incredibly well-considered changes made to the CORE One result in a better machine. For instance, the steel container serves as the frame for the printer. In addition to providing a discrete location for a side-mounted spool holder, the walls are punched in to reduce the area and make it easier to heat. Because it is less expensive for Prusa to make, the other side is left empty, creating a storage area that can be tailored to the needs of each customer.
The doors can be mounted with the hinge on either side, are lightweight, and are indestructible. The printer’s tubes and wiring are held in place by a straightforward swing arm, which has replaced cumbersome cable chains. What about that unique cooling? This is made feasible by installing a manually operated vent in the top panel of the printer, which eliminates the need for you to remove it or leave the door open.
Additionally, because it is a Prusa, it offers factory-set input shaping, self-adjusting z height, and fully automatic bed leveling. Many other businesses have adopted its native slicer program as the industry standard for their “custom” slicers. Additionally, the CORE One features dozens of slicer profiles for every possible filament due to Prusa Research’s meticulous attention to detail.
At $1,199, the CORE One is just $200 more expensive than the MK4S. Converting an MK4S for $449 or building the kit version for $949 will save you money.
4. Bambu Lab A1 Mini
The A1 Mini from Bambu Labs is the ideal choice if you’re looking to gain as much printing capability in a tiny space (and on a limited price) as feasible. A “lite” AMS (Automatic Material System) can be added to this bed slinger-style mini 3D printer. It’s almost as quick as Bambu’s larger Core XY machines and the fastest bed slinger we’ve measured so far.
With a printer price of $299 and an AMS Lite price of $459, it offers more functionality than the competitors at a far lower cost. It has quick-change steel nozzles, an easy-to-use color touch screen, and a powerful 10,000mm/s2 acceleration speed for crisp, speedy prints.
The A1 Mini’s small footprint is somewhat ruined by the AMS, which must be placed next to the printer rather than on top of it. With tangle-detection sensors and a spindle for each spool that can handle odd-sized or cardboard spools of filament, it makes up for the inconvenience by being better than the full-sized AMS.
5. Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
Creality’s Ender 3 V3 SE is the most affordable and user-friendly 3D printer available. Leveling by hand and scratch builds are over. This machine self-levels and sets its own Z height after only 15 minutes of assembly. The machine is easy to use thanks to its contemporary LED interface, which also includes instructions for changing filaments and other tasks.
With a maximum speed of 250 mm/s, it outperforms earlier Ender 3s. This is mostly because of its sturdy construction, which includes twin Z axes and linear rods on the Y axis, rather than its quick firmware.
Clearly, in order to create this machine, Creality had to make certain compromises. It only has one Z stepper motor; a belt synchronizes the second Z axis. The bed lacks Wi-Fi and has a less expensive PC surface.