When buying your first 3d printer, there is a lot to consider. There is no doubt that the Ender 3 is one of the best starter 3d printers on the market for the price. But would an Ender 5 be worth it for just a little bit more? Read all about the Ender 3 (V3 SE) vs Ender 5 (S1) and figure out which 3d printer is the best for you.
The truth is, there is no black or white answer as to which Creality 3D Ender printer you should get. I have talked to many people who have both the 3 and 5; some favor their Ender 5, while others favor their Ender 3. They are both good printers, with some differences. Creality, the makers of these printers, are now on the 3rd version (V3) of the Ender 3 and the S1 version of the Ender 5.
The goal of this article isn’t to try and sell you on which printer to get but to clearly show you their differences. Once you have a clear understanding of what you’d be getting with the Ender 3 V3 vs Ender 5 S1, then you should be able to easily make a decision.
The Ender 5 has a larger build capacity, faster print times, newer tech, better print quality, and faster setup. The Ender 3 is significantly cheaper, and what most beginners start with. If you are trying to be conscientious with your money, rest assured you can still make really great prints with the Ender 3.
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Ender 3 V3 – What You Get
I’m going to get real with you- most articles will try to convince you to get the Ender 5. For two reasons: (1) higher profit potential, usually through affiliate marketing, and (2) it’s just easier to recommend something that has “better” specs.
The Ender 3 V3 is a great printer for beginners, starting with its price point. It is the cheapest printer on the market that has the specs that it does. Rest assured, if you are strapped for cash, the Ender 3 V3 is a great option.
To be completely honest with you, I started with an Ender 3 V2. It’s a great printer, and I was even able to make a decent little side hustle selling a few 3d printed items with the said printer. Granted, I have made A LOT of upgrades to my Ender 3 V2, but I would have also made most of those upgrades to an Ender 5 also. Now that the V3 is out, that printer would be my go-to if I needed a budget friendly start printer again.
Here’s what you can look forward to with your Ender 3 V3:
- Large build volume of 220mm x 220mm x 250mm.
- Up to 250 mm/s print speed (fast)
- High-quality prints
- Heated build plate
- Sprite Direct Drive extruder
- Auto Leveling
- Removable PC build plate
- Power recovery mode
- Ability to print with a wide variety of filaments, including flexible filament.
- Open source, and very upgradeable printer.
Another extremely desirable aspect of this printer is that it is so popular. Most people have dealt with whatever problem you run into, and you will be able to find help to any problems or questions you might have within the 3d printing community.
Cons of the Ender 3 V3:
- It can be difficult to get prints to stick to the bed (I would upgrade to a textured PEI magnetic build plate).
- Takes some “tinkering” before mastering
Ender 5 S1 – What You Get
With the Ender 5 S1, you get everything you would have with the Ender 3 V3, plus a few upgrades and improvements.
Here’s what you can look forward to with your Ender 5:
- Larger build volume of 220mm x 220mm x 280mm.
- Higher-quality prints
- Heated build plate
- Removable build plate
- Sprite Direct Drive extruder
- Power recovery mode
- Ability to print with a wide variety of filaments, including flexible filament.
- Open source, and very upgradeable printer.
- Solid box frame, leading to more stability
- Dedicated stepper motors for the x and y-axis, leading to less wobble while printing
Although not as popular as the Ender 3 V3, the Ender 5 S1 is still a very widely used printer with some similar attributes to the Ender 3. Many people have dealt with whatever problem you run into, and you will be able to find help to any problems or questions you might have within the 3d printing community.
Cons of the Ender 5:
- It can be difficult to get prints to stick to the bed (I would upgrade to a glass bed or a textured PEI magnetic build plate).
- Takes some “tinkering” before mastering
Ender 3 V3 vs Ender 5 S1: The Differences
There are a few key differences that may make one Creality printer more desirable than the other:
Price: Ender 3 V3 vs Ender 5 S1
The Ender 5 S1 is typically about $150-$200 more than the Ender 3 V3. The Ender 3 typically goes for around $220. The difference in price makes the Ender 3 great for first-time 3d printing enthusiasts who are just starting out.
Build Capacity
The Ender 5 S1 has more build volume than the Ender 3. Upon closer inspection, you will find that both printers have the same size build plate of 220 mm by 220 mm. The difference lies in the z-axis, with the Ender 5 having 30 mm more build space in height. If you know you are going to be printing large items, then the Ender 5 might just be for you. If you are into cosplay, the Ender 5 Max might be an even better choice which I discuss more later.
Assembly of Ender 3 V3 vs Ender 5 S1
Both machines require some assembly, but the Ender 5 S1 has a faster and easier assembly. The Ender 5 has fewer parts to assemble and an updated user manual to help aid in the process.
The Ender 3 has significantly more parts, and the user manual is lacking in the needed instruction. (Tip: if you get an Ender 3, watch a Youtube tutorial instead).
When all is said and done, the Ender 5 takes an average of 30-60 minutes to assemble; and the Ender 3 takes an average of 2-3 hours to assemble.
Print Speed Ender 3 vs Ender 5
Both the Ender 5 and Ender 3 can print at a max speed of ~ 250 mm/s. Although, you usually won’t want to print anywhere close to that speed if you are trying to achieve high-quality prints. The difference in print speed lies in the Ender 5’s ability to achieve high-quality prints within a slightly faster range of speeds due to its enhanced stability. The Ender 3 V3 can achieve high-quality prints in the 40-80 mm/s range. The Ender 5 S1 can achieve high-quality prints in the 50-100 mm/s range.
Print Quality (motors/bed stability)
Ender 5’s box frame leads to more stability and consistent quality prints. Even though the Ender 5’s boxed frame increases the machine’s total size, it results in a very stable printer that produces less wobble while printing.
On the Ender 5 S1, both the x and y-axis have a dedicated stepper motor. The Ender 3 moves along the x-axis, while the Ender 5 moves along the x and y-axis. Not only that, the y-axis controls both sides of the gantry at the same time. All this contributes to an even more stable printer with less wobble during operation.
Both the Ender 3 V3 and Ender 5 S1 now come with an upgraded silent mainboard (V4.2.2) and TMC2208 drivers, allowing for quieter and more precise printing performance.
Upgrades Ender 3 V3 vs Ender 5 S1
The Ender 3 V3 and the Ender 5 S1 have many of the same upgrades: metal extruder, removable build plate, upgraded mainboard, and branded Meanwell power supply to quickly and efficiently heat up the bed.
Ender 3 Pro vs Ender 5 Pro Comparison Table
| Ender 3 V3 | Ender 5 S1 | |
| Machine Size | 420 x 366 x 490 mm | 425 x 460 x 570 mm |
| Build volume | 220 x 220 x 250 mm | 220 x 220 x 280 mm |
| Weight | 7.12 kg | 12.1 kg |
| Filament diameter | 1.75 mm | 1.75 mm |
| Extruder Type | Direct Drive – Sprite | Direct Drive – Sprite |
| Nozzle diameter | 0.4 mm (optional 0.2-1.0mm) | 0.4 mm (optional 0.2-1.0mm) |
| Layer thickness | 0.1 – 0.3 mm | 0.1 – 0.4 mm |
| Print precision | 0.1mm (+/-) | 0.1mm (+/-) |
| Printing speed | max ~ 250 mm/s, normal = 40-80 mm/s | max ~ 250 mm/s, normal = 50-100 mm/s |
| Stability | 2 Axis | 3 Axis |
| Connections | Micro SD, USB-C | Micro SD, USB-C, (optional Wifi/Cloud upgrade) |
| Continue after power failure | Yes | Yes |
| File formats | STL, OBJ, AMF | STL, OBJ, AMF |
| Time to set up | 1-3 hours | 1-4 hours |
Difference Between Ender 5 S1 and Ender 5 Max
The Ender 5 Max is even bigger and better than the Ender 5 S1. The Ender 5 Max has a build volume of 400 x 400 x 400mm. Given the increase in build volume, the machine itself is also larger with dimensions and an astonishing max print speed of 700 mm/s and a normal speed of 100-200 mm/s.
The Ender 5 Max also comes with multiple expert level features, notably the forementioned build size. The auto-leveling sensor kit now comes stock with many Enders. An unlevel bed causes problems with that first print layer and bed adhesion. While this sensor is extremely handy, it can be very difficult to install, especially for beginners. Having a printer come preinstalled with the auto-leveling sensor is very convenient and will save you a lot of time and frustration if you don’t feel like tinkering yourself.
You also get a filament end sensor that lets you know when your filament runs out, breaks, or gets tangled on the spool. The Ender 5 Max also comes with a touch screen, rather than the standard dial knob with screen. With the Ender 5 Max, you also get a removable tempered glass plate.
Where to Buy Creality 3D printer
There are different vendors you can buy from; however, we recommend purchasing through Amazon. Amazon in general has a good return policy and customer service. If you have a problem with a product either the vendor or Amazon reps will make sure that your issue is solved.
Although you will likely find that 3d printers cost a little bit less on the official Creality website, I have heard from others that the customer service is lacking. That, along with returns being a hassle compared to Amazon makes the choice clear in my opinion. Plus, if you did need to make a return it would take about a month to get your money back. All that is not to knock Creality, considering they have great printers, but I think even they know that their customer service could use some improvement.
Looking for ideas on what to do with your new 3d printer?
- Learn how to make your own 3d printed action figures.
- Learn how to make your own lithophane.
- Learn how to create your own custom 3d models.
Conclusion
Both the Ender 3 and the Ender 5 are great 3d printers. The Ender 5 S1 has some distinct advantages, including build capacity, advanced print times, better print quality, and faster setup. The Ender 3 V3 affordable price tag makes it highly desirable and the most popular among beginners. Regardless of which printer you choose, you can’t go wrong.