# Creality Hi Combo vs Flashforge AD5X

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.

Prices checked Nov 4, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/creality-hi-combo-vs-flashforge-ad5x/

## 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 |

## 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](https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/creality-hi-combo-review)
- 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](https://all3dp.com/1/creality-hi-combo-review-a-multicolor-high-with-some-early-release-lows/)

### 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](https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/flashforge-ad5x-review)
- 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](https://www.protoolreviews.com/flashforge-ad5x-3d-printer-review/)

## 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.

Full reviews: [Creality Hi Combo](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/creality-hi-combo/index.md), [Flashforge AD5X](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/flashforge-ad5x/index.md)