So you’re in the market for a budget-friendly 3D printer and you come across the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro. Both are great choices for beginners and have a lot in common, but is it worth shelling-out a little more money for the “Pro” version? We think that it is worth it at the printers’ current prices. Read on to find out why, or click here to jump to the verdict.
What is the Creality Ender Series?
Creality is a 3D printer manufacturer widely known for their budget-friendly FDM 3D Printers. (As of writing, the top three best selling 3D printers on Amazon are all Creality printers.)
They first launched the Ender Series of 3D printers in 2017 with the original Ender 3D Printer, and followed it up with the Ender 2 in 2018. Both the Ender and Ender 2 printers were cantilever printers, meaning that they had only one beam on the y axis.
In 2019, Creality released the first non-cantilever printer in the Ender series, the Ender 3 printer, and received high praise by 3D printing hobbyists.
Creality Ender 3
The Ender 3 was released in 2019 before the Ender 3 Pro, and received high reviews from many for its high quality at such an affordable price point. At less than $189 as of writing, there aren’t many other printers that garner the same kind of rave reviews and active community for under $200.
Assembly and Setup
The Ender 3 comes partially assembled, so it will still require some setup before you can begin printing.
Once assembled, you’ll also have to manually calibrate the printer (fortunately it has bed-leveling knobs to make this a bit easier).
With that being said, as soon as you calibrate the print height, the Ender 3 is able to begin producing high-quality prints without having to tweak the settings too much.
Features
- Power-Recovery Mode for Resuming Prints if Printer Temporarily Loses Power
- Online Printing or Offline Printing via SD Card Port
- LCD Screen
- Heated Build Plate
Supported Filaments
Creality lists PLA, ABS, TPU, and a few other filaments on their website as filaments that the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro can print.
In reality though, you should be able to print most FDM filaments as long as they have a extruding temperature that the Ender 3 can reach (less than 255°C).
Printing Methods
The Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro support printing over USB (directly from your computer) and printing files from an SD Card.
Both versions of the Ender 3 come with an SD card and USB adapter so you’ll be able to get your files from your computer to the printer without needing any additional connectors.
Ender 3 Specifications
| Build Size | 220mm * 220mm * 250mm (X, Y, Z) |
| Nozzle Diameter | 0.4mm (Can be changed to 0.2mm, 0.3mm, etc.) |
| Nozzle Max Temperature | 255°C |
| Hotbed Max Temperature | 110°C |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75mm |
| Print Speed | 180mm/s |
| Max Layer Resolution | 0.1mm |
| Print Precision | ± 0.1mm |
| Printer Weight | 8kg |
Creality Ender 3 Pro
The Ender 3 Pro is almost identical to its predecessor, the Ender 3. In fact, most of the main specifications, including the build size, are the same:
| Build Size | 220mm * 220mm * 250mm (X, Y, Z) |
| Nozzle Diameter | 0.4mm (Can be changed to 0.2mm, 0.3mm, etc.) |
| Nozzle Max Temperature | 255°C |
| Hotbed Max Temperature | 110°C |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75mm |
| Print Speed | 180mm/s |
| Max Layer Resolution | 0.1mm |
| Print Precision | ± 0.1mm |
| Printer Weight | 6.9kg |
There are some notable changes to the Pro version though, mainly improving on some of the deficiencies found in the Ender 3. We’ll break down the improvements below.
Ender 3 Pro Improvements
Better Stability
Stability is key for 3D printing, and more is always welcome.
The Ender 3 Pro uses a 40 × 40 extrusion of aluminum for its Y-Axis Base as opposed to a plastic extrusion used by the Ender 3.
This means that the Ender 3 Pro is more stable than the Ender 3 and will also be more durable over time.
Better Power Supply
The power supply unit on the Ender 3 Pro is better for a few reasons:
- It’s Quieter
- It’s Thinner
- It Heats the Nozzle Faster
Creality also says on their website that it “prints more safely and stably”, which is important considering that some users reported having issues with faulty PSUs on the original Ender 3.
Better Printing Bed
Both printers have a heated printing bed, and both have textured print surface for better adhesion.
The Ender 3 Pro improves on the print surface by making it magnetically attached for more easily removing prints after they’ve finished.
Verdict
Go with the Ender 3 Pro
For only around $47 more at the time of writing, you’ll be able to get:
- Improved Stability
- Magnetic Removable Print Bed
- Quieter Power Supply Unit (PSU)
When it was first released, the Ender 3 Pro cost $100 more than the Ender 3, making it hard to justify the larger price for just a handful of features.
At the time of writing however, The Ender 3 Pro can be purchased on Amazon for only $236, whereas the Ender 3 is costing $189.
For just $47 more then, you’ll be able to get improved stability, which will make it easier as a beginner to get high-quality prints right from the start.
You’ll also be getting a quieter printer, which will help if you have your printer setup in a room that you’re going to be in or around often.
If you’re on a tight budget though, the Ender 3 is still an excellent choice, and you’ll be able to upgrade it down the road with DIY accessories and upgrades sold directly by Creality.