Creality Ender 3 vs Creality Ender 3 V3
Two popular machines side by side on volume, enclosure, speed, material range and price — and which one to buy for your case.
| Spec | Creality Ender 3 | Creality Ender 3 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Build volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Volume | 12100 L | 12100 L |
| Enclosure | No | No |
| Extruder | Bowden | Direct drive |
| Hardened nozzle | No | No |
| Bed levelling | manual | auto |
| Usable speed | ~60 mm/s | ~250 mm/s |
| Release year | 2018 | 2024 |
| Approx. price | $180 | $200 |
| Materials it prints well | 6 | 7 |
Quick verdict
- Bigger prints: A tie.
- Faster: Creality Ender 3 V3
- Cheaper: Creality Ender 3
- Wider material range: Creality Ender 3 V3 (6 vs 7 materials without modification)
The Creality Ender 3 in short
The machine that defined budget printing. Open frame, Bowden extruder, manual bed leveling. Great value, but PETG and above need slow speeds and often a glass or PEI upgrade.
The Creality Ender 3 V3 in short
A modern Ender 3 with direct drive, auto leveling, and Klipper-class speed. Much better out of the box than the original.