Creality Hi Combo vs Flashforge AD5X
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Creality Hi Combo costs $449 and the Flashforge AD5X costs $349, so the Flashforge AD5X is $100 cheaper. Pick the Creality Hi Combo for cheap multi color PLA printing. Pick the Flashforge AD5X for cheap 4 color printing in a small space. The Creality Hi Combo wins 2 of 4 points we can measure (1 tied).
Who wins, point by point
The Creality Hi Combo wins 2 of 4 points we can measure (1 tied). Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| Hi Combo | AD5X | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $449 | $349 | AD5X |
| Build volume | 260 x 260 x 300 mm | 220 x 220 x 220 mm | Hi Combo |
| Top print speed | 500 mm/s | 300 mm/s | Hi Combo |
| Max nozzle temp | 300°C | 300°C | Tie |
- You care most about build volume (260 x 260 x 300 mm vs 220 x 220 x 220 mm)
- You care most about top print speed (500 mm/s vs 300 mm/s)
- Best for cheap multi color PLA printing
- You want to spend less (saves $100)
- Best for cheap 4 color printing in a small space
- Build volume
- 260 x 260 x 300 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 500 mm/s
- Multicolor
- Yes
- Enclosure
- No
Budget multi color bed slinger with a 4 spool CFS and RFID
Full Creality Hi Combo review, pros and cons →- Build volume
- 220 x 220 x 220 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 300 mm/s print
- Multicolor
- Yes
- Enclosure
- No
Compact open frame 4 color printer at a low price
Full Flashforge AD5X review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Creality Hi Combo | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449 | $349 |
| 3 year cost | $449 | $349 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in 3D printers | #41 | #34 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | 1 year limited; 3 months on extruder parts |
| Build volume | 260 x 260 x 300 mm (Tom's Hardware) | 220 x 220 x 220 mm |
| Print speed | Up to 500 mm/s (Creality); All3DP says about 300 mm/s is typical | Up to 300 mm/s print, 600 mm/s travel, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration |
| Multi color | Yes, 4 colors with the included CFS, up to 16 with four chained units (Creality); single nozzle, so it purges on each swap | Yes, 4 colors with the built in IFS |
| Enclosure | No, open bed slinger; All3DP notes a covered design that hides moving parts | No, open frame; DIY enclosure kit sold separately |
| Auto leveling | Yes, automatic Z leveling with an optional pre print recheck (Tom's Hardware) | Yes, one click auto leveling |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 C (Tom's Hardware, All3DP) | 300 °C |
| Heated bed | Yes, 1,000 W bed that heats in about a minute (All3DP); bed max temperature not stated | Yes, up to 110 °C, PEI steel sheet |
| Filament types | PLA and PETG; Tom's Hardware found it cannot print TPU even with the CFS bypassed | PLA, PETG, TPU 95A, TPU 64D to 75D, PLA-CF, PETG-CF |
| Connectivity | USB, LAN, Creality Cloud and app; RFID readers on printer and CFS (Tom's Hardware) | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB |
| Camera | Yes; All3DP notes it is on and streams to Creality Print by default | None (Tom's Hardware notes no camera) |
| Noise | Quiet in standard mode, louder in ultra fast mode, and the metal purge wiper is loud (Tom's Hardware) | About 58 dB without the enclosure (ProToolReviews) |
| Assembly | Partial setup; All3DP found CFS and filament buffer setup unclear | Three steps: screen, filament holder and multi color module |
| Weight | 11.58 kg; 409 x 392 x 477 mm without CFS (Tom's Hardware); over 700 mm wide with the CFS beside it (All3DP) | 11.4 kg (Tom's Hardware) |
| Best for | cheap multi color PLA printing | cheap 4 color printing in a small space |
| Skip if | you need TPU or low purge waste | you want a camera or enclosed printing |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Creality Hi Combo
- Tom's Hardware: Benchy in 32 min 33 s at standard settings with no ringing. A 4 color PETG fairy door used 32.32 g of filament and wasted 23.25 g in purge. A 2 color PLA fidget took 9 h 20 min with 0.64 g waste. Could not print TPU. Source
- All3DP: Called it a by the books single nozzle multicolor printer worth the price, with early adopter caveats. A multicolor test took just over 10 hours and about 260 g of filament, where a Prusa MK4 with MMU3 used under half the filament. Saw clogs, firmware bugs and limited third party filament support. Source
Flashforge AD5X
- Tom's Hardware: Excellent print quality across PLA, PETG, TPU and ASA, but the Orca based slicer crashed about every third print. A 33 frog plate wasted 11 g over 23 color swaps. Source
- ProToolReviews: Called it a well rounded multicolor printer with sharp prints and reliable runs. Noted about 58 dB noise unless enclosed and suggested the optional enclosure. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Creality Hi Combo or the Flashforge AD5X?
Pick the Creality Hi Combo for cheap multi color PLA printing. Pick the Flashforge AD5X for cheap 4 color printing in a small space.
Which is cheaper?
The Flashforge AD5X at $349, versus $449 for the Creality Hi Combo, checked Nov 4, 2026.
What is the difference between the Hi Combo and the AD5X?
Build volume: 260 x 260 x 300 mm (Tom's Hardware) on the Hi Combo, 220 x 220 x 220 mm on the AD5X. Print speed: Up to 500 mm/s (Creality); All3DP says about 300 mm/s is typical on the Hi Combo, Up to 300 mm/s print, 600 mm/s travel, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration on the AD5X. Multi color: Yes, 4 colors with the included CFS, up to 16 with four chained units (Creality); single… on the Hi Combo, Yes, 4 colors with the built in IFS on the AD5X.
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