Creality Ender-3 V3 SE vs Creality K1 Max
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE costs $199 and the Creality K1 Max costs $549, so the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is $350 cheaper. The Creality K1 Max has a published review score and ranks #16 in our 3D printers ranking; the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is not scored yet. Pick the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE for first time buyers on a tight budget. Pick the Creality K1 Max for large single color prints on a budget. The Creality K1 Max wins 3 of 5 points we can measure (1 tied).
Who wins, point by point
The Creality K1 Max wins 3 of 5 points we can measure (1 tied). Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| Ender-3 V3 SE | K1 Max | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $199 | $549 | Ender-3 V3 SE |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months | Tie |
| Build volume | 220 x 220 x 250 mm | 300 x 300 x 300 mm | K1 Max |
| Top print speed | 250 mm/s | 600 mm/s | K1 Max |
| Max nozzle temp | 260°C | 300°C | K1 Max |
- You want to spend less (saves $350)
- Best for first time buyers on a tight budget
- You care most about build volume (300 x 300 x 300 mm vs 220 x 220 x 250 mm)
- You care most about top print speed (600 mm/s vs 250 mm/s)
- You care most about max nozzle temp (300°C vs 260°C)
- Best for large single color prints on a budget
- Build volume
- 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 250 mm/s
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- No
Low cost starter printer with auto leveling for PLA and PETG
Full Creality Ender-3 V3 SE review, pros and cons →- Build volume
- 300 x 300 x 300 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 600 mm/s
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- Yes
Big 300 mm enclosed speed printer with LiDAR and AI camera
Full Creality K1 Max review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Creality Ender-3 V3 SE | Creality K1 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $549 |
| 3 year cost | $199 | $549 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 7.6/10 |
| Rank in 3D printers | #29 | #16 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | Up to 12 months (Creality store) | Up to 12 months (Creality store) |
| Build volume | 220 x 220 x 250 mm | 300 x 300 x 300 mm (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) |
| Print speed | Up to 250 mm/s (180 mm/s typical), 2,500 mm/s² acceleration | Up to 600 mm/s (Creality); Tom's Hardware printed a Benchy in 17 min 38 s at 300 mm/s |
| Multi color | No, single color | No, single filament |
| Enclosure | No, open frame | Yes, fully enclosed with a flat glass lid and carbon filter (Tom's Hardware) |
| Auto leveling | Yes, CR Touch auto leveling with strain sensor auto Z offset | Yes, automatic with LiDAR plus automatic input shaping (Tom's Hardware) |
| Max nozzle temp | 260 °C | 300 C (TechRadar) |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 100 °C | Yes, up to 100 C (TechRadar), smooth PEI steel flex plate |
| Filament types | PLA, PETG, TPU 95A | PLA, PETG, PET, TPU, ABS, ASA, PA, PC and carbon fiber variants (TechRadar) |
| Connectivity | SD card; no Wi-Fi per Tom's Hardware | Wi-Fi, LAN, USB flash drive; Creality Cloud (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) |
| Camera | None | Yes, AI camera for monitoring and timelapse (Tom's Hardware) |
| Assembly | About 90% pre built; about 15 to 20 minutes to finish | Ships ready to print with no assembly (Creality) |
| Weight | 7.12 kg net | 18 kg net; 435 x 462 x 526 mm (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) |
| Noise | n/a | Not measured; Tom's Hardware called it not a quiet machine and not for a bedroom |
| Best for | first time buyers on a tight budget | large single color prints on a budget |
| Skip if | you want Wi-Fi, a camera or ABS | you want multi color or a quiet printer |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE
- Tom's Hardware: A Benchy took 41 minutes with no ringing or layer shifts. PETG and TPU printed cleanly. The reviewer found the PC coated plate too sticky and hard to clean. Source
- How To Mechatronics: Benchy times dropped from 1 h 10 min at 60 mm/s to 37 min at 250 mm/s, with quality holding well at 120 mm/s. Noted slow heating and no runout sensor. Source
Creality K1 Max
- Tom's Hardware: Editor's Choice. Printed a Benchy in 17 min 38 s versus about 55 min on an Ender 3 S1. ABS dog dish stand took 9 h 41 min, PETG spool holder 3 h 12 min, TPU dragon 7 h 55 min. Cons were a poor filament path, clumsy Klipper setup and a plate that needs glue. Source
- TechRadar (26.5/30): Recommended. Scored 26.5 out of 30 on its print test with 0.1 mm average dimensional error. Praised AI features and material range, but disliked having to remove the PTFE tube to load filament and the single filament limit. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE or the Creality K1 Max?
The Creality K1 Max has a published review score and ranks #16 in our 3D printers ranking; the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is not scored yet. Pick the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE for first time buyers on a tight budget. Pick the Creality K1 Max for large single color prints on a budget.
Which is cheaper?
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE at $199, versus $549 for the Creality K1 Max, checked Nov 4, 2026.
What is the difference between the Ender-3 V3 SE and the K1 Max?
Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm on the Ender-3 V3 SE, 300 x 300 x 300 mm (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) on the K1 Max. Print speed: Up to 250 mm/s (180 mm/s typical), 2,500 mm/s² acceleration on the Ender-3 V3 SE, Up to 600 mm/s (Creality); Tom's Hardware printed a Benchy in 17 min 38 s at 300 mm/s on the K1 Max. Multi color: No, single color on the Ender-3 V3 SE, No, single filament on the K1 Max.
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