Creality Ender-3 V3 SE vs Creality K1C (2025)
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Oct 27, 2026
As of Oct 27, 2026, the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE costs $179 and the Creality K1C (2025) costs $499, so the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is $320 cheaper. Pick the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE for first time buyers on a tight budget. Pick the Creality K1C (2025) for fast single color prints in tough materials.
- Build volume
- 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 250 mm/s
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- No
The Ender-3 V3 SE is a simple, low cost first printer with auto leveling and a direct drive extruder. It is a good way to learn on PLA, PETG and TPU. Skip it if you want ABS, Wi-Fi or a camera, since its 260 °C hot end, open frame and SD card setup limit it.
Full Creality Ender-3 V3 SE review →- Build volume
- 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 600 mm/s
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- Yes
The K1C is a fast, fully enclosed printer that handles tough materials like carbon fiber blends and ABS. Its AI camera lets you watch prints from your phone and can catch failed prints. Skip it if you want multi color printing today or a quiet machine at top speed.
Full Creality K1C (2025) review →Side by side
| Creality Ender-3 V3 SE | Creality K1C (2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179 | $499 |
| 3 year cost | $179 | $499 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in 3D printers | #6 | #13 |
| 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 | 220 x 220 x 250 mm |
| Print speed | Up to 250 mm/s (180 mm/s typical), 2,500 mm/s² acceleration | Up to 600 mm/s (300 mm/s typical), 20,000 mm/s² acceleration |
| Multi color | No, single color | No, single color; Creality says the 2025 version is set to add multi color with its CFS unit later |
| Enclosure | No, open frame | Yes, fully enclosed with glass door, carbon filter and chamber fan |
| Auto leveling | Yes, CR Touch auto leveling with strain sensor auto Z offset | Yes, hands free auto leveling with auto Z offset |
| Max nozzle temp | 260 °C | 300 °C, hardened steel nozzle |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 100 °C | Yes, up to 100 °C, PEI flexible plate |
| Filament types | PLA, PETG, TPU 95A | PLA, PETG, PET, TPU, ABS, ASA, PA, PC, PLA-CF, PA-CF, PET-CF |
| Connectivity | SD card; no Wi-Fi per Tom's Hardware | Wi-Fi, USB drive, Creality Cloud app |
| Camera | None | Yes, AI camera for spaghetti detection, time lapse and remote view |
| Assembly | About 90% pre built; about 15 to 20 minutes to finish | Comes assembled; Creality claims about 3 minutes to power on |
| Weight | 7.12 kg net | 12.4 kg net |
| Noise | n/a | 45 dB or less in silent mode at 1 m (Creality claim) |
| Best for | first time buyers on a tight budget | fast single color prints in tough materials |
| Skip if | you want Wi-Fi, a camera or ABS | you want multi color prints today |
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 K1C (2025)
- Tom's Hardware: Editor's Choice. A speed Benchy took 13 min 53 s at 300 mm/s and ABS and nylon parts printed with no warping. Cons were the poor filament path and needing glue stick on the PEI plate. Source
- Tech Advisor: Called it a strong, reliable printer for beginners with impressive print quality and a useful built in camera, but noisy at high speed and frustrating for filament changes. Source
Pros and cons
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE
Pros
- Very low price
- Easy assembly in about 15 minutes
- Reliable auto bed leveling
- Direct drive extruder handles TPU
Cons
- SD card only, no Wi-Fi
- 260 °C hot end limits materials
- Open frame, no enclosure
- No filament runout sensor per How To Mechatronics
Creality K1C (2025)
Pros
- Enclosed body handles ABS, ASA and nylon
- Very fast CoreXY motion
- Built in AI camera for monitoring
- Hardened nozzle prints carbon fiber blends
Cons
- Single color only for now
- Can be noisy at high speed per Tech Advisor
- Sharp filament path makes changes awkward
- Tom's Hardware needed glue stick on the PEI plate
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE or the Creality K1C (2025)?
Pick the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE for first time buyers on a tight budget. Pick the Creality K1C (2025) for fast single color prints in tough materials.
Which is cheaper?
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE at $179, versus $499 for the Creality K1C (2025), checked Oct 27, 2026.
What is the difference between the Ender-3 V3 SE and the K1C (2025)?
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 (300 mm/s typical), 20,000 mm/s² acceleration on the K1C (2025). Multi color: No, single color on the Ender-3 V3 SE, No, single color; Creality says the 2025 version is set to add multi color with its CFS… on the K1C (2025). Enclosure: No, open frame on the Ender-3 V3 SE, Yes, fully enclosed with glass door, carbon filter and chamber fan on the K1C (2025).
Also consider
See all ranked →More comparisons
- Creality Ender-3 V3 SE vs Creality K2 Plus Combo
- Bambu Lab A1 mini vs Creality Ender-3 V3 SE
- Creality Ender-3 V3 SE vs Sovol SV06 ACE
- Bambu Lab A1 vs Creality Ender-3 V3 SE
- Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo vs Creality K1C (2025)
- Creality K1C (2025) vs Creality K2 Plus Combo
- Bambu Lab P1S vs Creality K1C (2025)
- Creality K1C (2025) vs Prusa Research Original Prusa MINI+
All 3D printers, ranked
See the ranking →Affiliate links. We may earn a commission. It never changes our score. Disclosure