Creality Ender 3 PRO vs Creality Ender 3 - Is it worth $100?

Chuck compares the new Creality Ender 3 Pro to the Existing Creality Ender 3 to see if the $100 difference is worth the price. He covers the differences and talks about what you get or could get for $100. Then he compares print quality. See if you agree with this weeks Filament Friday!

Creality Ender 3/CR-10 Parts:
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Creality Ender 3:
Creality Ender 3 Pro:

Geeetech A10:
CR10 Mini
CR-10:
CR-10S

Geeetech A20:

A10M

A20M

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Intro animation by Pablo Licari based on Filament Friday Logo by Brian Carter.

[FilamentFriday]

Creality has lowered the price of the Pro after this video was produced. It’s now $229.00 so the difference is only $50.

[bevynwooten]

Only been involved in 3D printing for about four months and trawling the internet to learn.  Takes a while before you figure out who talks sense on youtube and who just talks (and talks, and talks).  As always, another informative, well produced and straight tot he point video review from CHEP.  Thanks very much.

[mcorrade]

I love my pro model and got mine is 2020 for under 200$. I don't have any issues with the magnetic bed. Of course since this was made in 2018, had I looked to buy a printer in 2018, I would have NOT paid 100$ extra but, as it stands today, its worth 200$ in humble opinion. This is the best 3D printer channel around. I've learned more here and the info is really good stuff that newbies like me need to know. Thanks CHEP!

[VivekGuptaIn]

Thanks Man..! I am new to 3d printing, your videos are really helping me to learn in this domain. I am going for Ender 3 and thinking of upgrading it as I go in future.

[chrismorrison]

Chep, at 1:23 where you show the underside of the Pro, you can see where they include an idler bearing on the Y-axis that keeps the belt from snagging on the aluminum extrusion. That's not included on the standard version and that feature alone is worth some $$. There are some versions of an idler for the Ender 3 available on Thingiverse though, not sure if you've looked in that.

[c.patricksadowski]

How does the Ender 3 V2, stack up to Ender Pro? Which one?

[markjones]

I just bought the Ender 3 Pro a few days ago and I haven't stopped printing on it since. The quality and detail for my first 3D printer is amazing. I couldn't be happier. FreeCAD and Cura on Linux Mint works great. Wish I would have bought one a long time ago with all the cool household items you can make and use its incredibly fun. In time I think the printer and PLA will pay for themselves.

[Fanzindel]

Got my pro new for $200 ‘best offer’ on eBay and it’s the latest version with the rainbow-colored ribbon cable. Glad I got it. The magnet bed can go above 85°C, if it gets too weak I’ll just put some binder clips on it. But for most prints you’d stay below that anyway.

[robb]

Just picked up an Ender 3 Pro at Micro Center for $99 with an online coupon they have. Glad I found this channel to learn how to tweak it now!

[quentinroa]

Fast forward to 2022, microcenter is running $100 off ender 3 pros pretty often, the current one is for new customers and ends June 26th.

[fortislander]

I just picked up the pro, and just getting started. I was all over looking and the priced for the regular was 239 (not sure if they raised it for christmas or what) but the pro was 279, and I got the glass bed with it, so I figured 40 more and I get the pro and glass it was ok. Now to get started with projects!

[sysghost]

Thanks. Decided to go with the latest iteration of the standard Ender 3. For the money saved I'llupgrade it with a 32-bit controller, enabling lots of features in the process.
Even with this upgrade included in the price, it's still cheaper than the Pro.
Some of the problems the first Ender 3 had has been mitigated in the latest iterations of it as of 2020, making the Pro even less desirable.
About the PSU on the Ender 3. It's not a well-known brand, but I see no issues with it. Tested it under load with my oscilloscope and there's barely any ripple on it. As good as many known brands.
It also holds up full load without overheating for long periods of time. But only time will tell if this will hold up after some period of usage. Sooo...

[robotmad]

I have the normal Ender 3, mine is supplied with a removable base cover, its not magnetic though but held in place on the aluminum base with 4 foldback clips which so far has worked fine. Watching your video I'm happy to have spent money wisely and not opted to purchased the pro version. Great printer so far !

[TheSocialGamer]

It's really hard finding honest and not bias to any product regardless if given for review. I'm going with the Ender 3 base unit as it's my first 3D Printer. As a bonus, I'll get to learn how to upgrade the unit as I would need to have that experience anyways sometime down the line. Upgrading the power supply would be an easy fix and I also saw the tube upgrade video seems like something very doable. You have my respect and am a new fan of your very great information that is easy to understand. Many thanks and wish you continued growth and success!

[retro]

Just did buy a Pro from Creality for $219.99 with free shipping. Just setting it up, haven't printed anything, yet. My first 3D printer, I'm pretty excited! Great vid, Chuck.

[tombuck]

These both seem like awesome printers, especially considering the price points. Of course your upgrades take them to a new level.

[EinsamPibroch]

Seeing this Video 2 years later, the Ender 3 Classic is now about $180-$200, depending on discount, while the Ender 3 Pro is now at a reduced price of $240, the two prices meeting in the middle.

Since it's my first-ever Printer, I definitely shelled out the extra money for Pro, to have the best possible features without Modifying it.
Only time will tell if it's worth it for me.

[DPrintingNerd]

THIS is the Ender 3, THSI is the Ender 3 Pro, and THIS is my kitchen.

[prashkd]

I purchased Ender 3 standard in 2019 and it came with magnetic bed. I agree with your assessment, Pro version is still not worth $100 extra.

[stolz]

You can find the Ender 3 Pro for much less than the $100 difference that you mentioned. I got mine for 236.55 with free shipping and it came in 6 days. I found this on eBay from a vendor named "creality-3d-direct" located in Hebron KY and they state that they are the actual manufacturer of Creality 3D printers. They also provided a free 30 day return and stated that they would pay for the return shipping. This vendor has almost perfect feedback from eBay on a great number of sales. The current price on eBay is now $249 but sometimes this vendor puts a 5% off in their listings. (You could also try to send them a best offer for 5% less and they might accept.) I really wanted to avoid the hassles of dealing with Banggood or Gearbest in case there was a problem because they make you jump through too many hoops before they will help you and then you have long shipping delays if they have to send you a replacement part. I feel much more secure buying through eBay because they really do protect and favor the buyers in any disputes. This vendor also sells the regular Ender 3 for a little more than GB and BG and I would much prefer to pay a few dollars more and get it shipped from a vendor located in the US and who offers a free 30 day return.
I agree with you that it's probably not worth $100 more, but I do feel that it is well worth an extra 50 or 60. The reliability and safety of the Mean Well power supply is well worth it. I also like the wider aluminum extrusion for the Y axis and it definitely comes with the wheels in a square arrangement (as opposed to the original ender 3 which the wheels were offset in a rhombus shape and hard to adjust). The new wider Y axis is easy to adjust and very stable. I do plan to upgrade the PTFE couplers as you suggested in a previous video.
Thank you for all of your wonderful content which is all very helpful.