All of the Prusa printers will provide a hassle-free experience for beginners while being workhorses for hobbyists and professionals.
The Prusa Mini is a solid entry-level printer that is perfect for those who want to minimize the amount of tinkering. This printer is good for farms, kids, and schools.
The Prusa MK3S+ is the OG printer that is still fantastic for engineering materials and reliability.
The Prusa XL introduces a variety of new features but it also carries a hefty price tag of $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the configuration. The Prusa XL pre-orders began on November 18, 2021 with a refundable deposit of $200. They are expected to start shipping March of 2023.
Prusa Mini
$429/459
Assembly: Kit or Fully
Extruder: Bowden
Auto-Leveling: Yes
Max Nozzle Temp: 280°C
Max Bed Temp: 100°C
Print Volume: 180mm (L) 180mm (W) 180mm (H)
Prusa MK3S+
$649/899
Assembly: Kit or Fully
Extruder: Direct Drive
Auto-Leveling: Yes
Max Nozzle Temp: 300°C
Max Bed Temp: 120°C
Print Volume: 210mm (L) 250mm (W) 210mm (H)
Prusa Mini vs MK3S vs XL
Prusa XL
$1,999+ ($200 Pre-Order)
Assembly: Partial or Fully
Extruder: Direct Drive
Auto-Leveling: Yes
Max Nozzle Temp: TBA
Max Bed Temp: TBA
Print Volume: 360mm (L) 360mm (W) 360mm (H)
Photo credits: (c) Prusa Research - prusa3d.com
Prusa Mini, MK3S+, and XL
- The Prusa Mini, MK3S, and XL all have automatic bed leveling - the Mini and MK3S uses a Pinda, while the XL uses the nozzle and a strain gauge.
- Each has their own magnetic PEI steel sheet.
- All three printers have a filament runout sensor - on the Mini it is an optional feature.
- The printers have a power outage print recovery.
- The printers can be connected locally and networked. Prusa Mini has a USB A, micro USB, and Ethernet port - the Prusa MK3S has a USB B and SD card - the Prusa XL will have an ethernet port and probably a slot for a SD card.
Prusa Mini
- What filaments can it print at 280°C? PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC (low temps), and even flexibles like TPU.
- The Mini comes with a build volume cube of 180x180x180 mm.
- The Mini does not have dual Z-axis beams or motors, and the use of a bowden setup will make printing flexibles slightly trickier + lower reliability/quality around retractions.
- The Prusa Mini is the printer for you if: you are new to 3D printing, on a budget, want to avoid tinkering, are wanting to start a print farm, or are an institution that wishes to implement FDM printers in the classroom or lab.
Prusa Mini Specifications
- Release Year: 2019
- Assembly: Kit or Assembled
- Build Volume: 180 x 180 x 180 mm
- Extruder: Bowden
- PTFE-Lined: No
- Max Nozzle Temp: 280°C
- Max Bed Temp: 100°C
- Bed Material: PEI Spring Steel Sheet
- Auto-Leveling: Yes - Induction
- Z-Axis: Single
- Connections: SD, USB, and Ethernet
Prusa MK3S+
- What filaments can it print? Anything under 300°C including nylons, flexibles, polycarbonate, and carbon fiber blends.
- The MK3S sports more build volume, 210x250x210 mm.
- The MK3S kit comes with a permanent 5% discount on filament, whereas the assembled variant has a 10% discount on filament and future printers.
- The Prusa MK3S is the printer for you if: you have an expanded budget, are wanting to use engineering filaments, or are a business or institution desiring to implement a single FDM printer as a workhorse for prototyping etc.
Prusa MK3S+ Specifications
- Release Year: 2020
- Assembly: Kit or Assembled
- Build Volume: 250 x 210 x 210 mm
- Extruder: Direct
- PTFE-Lined: No
- Max Nozzle Temp: 300°C
- Max Bed Temp: 120°C
- Bed Material: PEI Spring Steel Sheet
- Auto-Leveling: Yes - Induction
- Z-Axis: Dual
- Connections: SD & USB Type B
Prusa XL
- What filaments can the Prusa XL print? The temperature will likely be at or above 300°C, so anything that a MK3S can print including nylons, flexibles, polycarbonate, and carbon fiber blends.
- The Prusa XL sports a super-sized build volume of 360x360x360mm.
- First layer calibration (auto-leveling) is completed with the nozzle itself and an embedded strain gauge in the heatsink. No more manual calibrations or leveling!
- Segmented heatbed modules reduce warping and power consumption.
- The Prusa XL can be equipped with up to 5 independent extruders that automatically swap and calibrate during printing.
- The Prusa XL can come with a built-in draft shield or enclosure for printing higher-end materials.
- The Prusa XL is the printer for you if: you have an expanded budget, need a reliable larger printer, want to use multiple materials, are wanting to use engineering filaments, or are a business or institution desiring to implement a single FDM printer as a workhorse for prototyping etc.
Prusa XL Specifications
- Release Year: 2023
- Assembly: Partial or Assembled
- Build Volume: 360 x 360 x 360 mm
- Extruder: Direct
- PTFE-Lined: No
- Max Nozzle Temp: TBD
- Max Bed Temp: TBD
- Bed Material: PEI Spring Steel Sheet
- Auto-Leveling: Yes - Strain Gauge
- Z-Axis: Dual
- Connections: TBD
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