QIDI Plus 5 vs Plus 4: Spec-by-Spec Comparison and Upgrade Guide

The QIDI Plus 5 is the Plus 4's successor: 18% more build volume (320×320×300 mm versus 305×305×280 mm), a 550 W third-generation chamber heater, loadcell leveling in the hotend, an H12 HEPA filter stage and an AI camera, for $749. The 370°C hotend, 120°C bed, 65°C chamber ceiling and 600 mm/s top speed are unchanged.

That last sentence matters more than the marketing suggests. The Plus 5 does not print a single material the Plus 4 cannot. What it changes is how big the part can be, how fast the chamber gets there, how the first layer is measured and what comes out of the exhaust. This comparison goes through each difference using QIDI's published specifications, then tells you who should buy which.

QIDI Plus 5 vs Plus 4: Spec-by-Spec Comparison

All figures below come from QIDI's technical specification pages for each machine. Prices are main-store prices in USD as of September 2026.

QIDI has discontinued the Plus 4 and lists the Plus 5 as its direct successor; some regional QIDI stores may still have remaining stock. The Plus 5, launched on August 5, 2026, is QIDI's current Plus-series printer.

What the Plus 5 Upgrades Mean in Practice

18% More Build Volume in the Same Footprint

Going from 305×305×280 mm to 320×320×300 mm lifts capacity from 26.0 to 30.7 liters. In plain terms, you gain 15 mm on X and Y and 20 mm on Z. That does not sound like much until you are the person whose 310 mm helmet shell, drone arm or enclosure panel had to be split and glued on the Plus 4. On the Plus 5 it prints in one piece.

The more interesting number is the outside of the machine. The Plus 5 body measures 500×488×558 mm against 505×487×550 mm for the Plus 4 — 5 mm narrower, 1 mm deeper and 8 mm taller. Whatever bench or shelf held a Plus 4 holds a Plus 5. One practical note from QIDI's specification sheet: a 9×13 mm area in the lower-left corner of the plate is non-printable by default because of the filament cutter, and removing the cutter frees the full plate.

Third-Generation Chamber Heating: Faster, Not Hotter

An actively heated chamber is an enclosure with its own heater that raises and holds the air temperature around the print, independent of the bed. The Plus 4 already had one — a second-generation 400 W unit that reached about 60°C in roughly five minutes in our QIDI Plus 4 review. The Plus 5 fits a third-generation 550 W heater, and QIDI rates it at 38% higher heating efficiency.

Both stop at 65°C. That ceiling decides which materials hold dimensional accuracy, so the Plus 5's material list is the Plus 4's material list: ABS, ASA, PC, PA and carbon- or glass-fiber composites, with PPS-CF named in QIDI's Plus 5 FAQ. The upgrade buys you less waiting before a long ABS or nylon job, and more heater power available to hold the set temperature. For the physics behind why the chamber matters, see our explainer on the temperature-controlled chamber, and for nylon specifically, how chamber heating prevents nylon cracking.

QIDI's own guidance on chamber temperature is worth quoting: set it roughly 10°C below the filament's softening temperature, and for PLA, do not go above 45°C even with the optional QIDI Polar Cooler fitted. Hotter is not better for every material.

The 120°C Bed: Same Temperature, Different Heater

On paper nothing changed — both beds top out at 120°C. The construction did. The Plus 4 uses a 6 mm aluminum substrate, which the independent tester cited in our Plus 4 review credited for one of the best full-plate first layers he had measured. The Plus 5 uses an aluminum plate with a full-surface silicone heater, dense heating wires and insulation cotton, rated at 500 W. QIDI's claim is more even heat across all 320×320 mm. QIDI also notes the bed runs at maximum power for about 3–5 minutes during warm-up to reach temperature quickly, so give it that window before judging a first layer.

Loadcell Leveling in the Hotend

The Plus 4 probes with an inductive sensor and sets Z-offset by touching the nozzle to the bed through a piezoelectric sensor in the head, then runs a 9×9 mesh. The Plus 5 integrates a load cell into the hotend: the nozzle itself is the probe, and the sensor reads the force when it touches the plate. It is the same approach QIDI uses on the Q2C, Q2 and Max4, which means one leveling system across the whole current lineup.

The practical benefit is that the measured surface and the printing surface are the same point, so there is no offset between a separate probe and the nozzle to calibrate. Both machines still build a height mesh the way Klipper's bed mesh describes. If you want the background, our guide to automatic bed leveling covers the sensor types.

3-in-1 Air Filter: G3 + H12 HEPA + Activated Carbon

The Plus 4 circulates chamber air through activated carbon, which targets odor. The Plus 5 puts a G3 pre-filter and an H12 HEPA stage in front of the carbon, so particles are addressed as well as smell. QIDI states the cartridge captures 99.5% of dust and particles. It is the same filter stack already used on the Q2 and Max4.

A filter reduces what leaves the enclosure; it does not replace ventilation in the room. If ABS and ASA are your daily materials, read our notes on 3D printer fumes and safety either way.

Motion, Camera and Connectivity

Both machines run CoreXY on 9 mm 1.5GT belts — wider than the 6 mm belts common in this class — with dual independent Z lead screw motors, so bed tilt compensation is carried over rather than new. The Plus 5 changes the X axis from 10 mm hardened hollow steel shafts to a high-hardness linear guide rail, and QIDI pairs it with a lighter toolhead. Top speed and acceleration stay at 600 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s².

The camera moves from a low-framerate stream to up to 1080P with AI detection; QIDI's Plus 5 wiki lists spaghetti detection among its features. Wi-Fi adds 5 GHz, and the printer works with the QIDI Maker app for phone-to-printer jobs.

Two things go the other way. The touchscreen shrinks from 5 inches to 4 inches at the same 800×480 resolution. And the Plus 4's standalone tangle sensor is gone: on the Plus 5, tangle detection requires a QIDI Box. If you print single-spool jobs overnight, that is a real loss.

What Did Not Change

It is easy to read an upgrade list and assume everything moved. These did not:

• 370°C hotend with a bimetal nozzle, 0.4 mm standard, 0.2 / 0.6 / 0.8 mm optional
• Direct-drive extruder with hardened steel gears
• 65°C chamber ceiling and 120°C bed ceiling
• 600 mm/s top speed and 20,000 mm/s² acceleration
• 9 mm 1.5GT belts and dual independent Z lead screws
• 32 GB eMMC storage, Ethernet and USB
• Klipper-based firmware and QIDI Studio, with Orca and PrusaSlicer supported
• Supported materials: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PC and carbon- or glass-fiber reinforced polymers

For engineering filament, that means the same shopping list works on both machines — for example PAHT-CF at $62.99 or PPS-CF at $104.99 for 750 g. Before your first PPS-CF spool, read the PPS-CF printing guide.

Price and Value: Plus 5 vs Plus 4

For $50 more than the Plus 4's last main-store price, the Plus 5 adds 4.7 liters of capacity, the HEPA stage, AI detection and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and it is cheaper per liter of build volume. For a new purchase, the arithmetic is not close.

Who Should Upgrade From a Plus 4, and Who Should Not

Upgrade if:

• You regularly split parts that are 305–320 mm on X or Y, or 280–300 mm tall. That is the one problem only a bigger machine solves.
• The printer shares a room with people and you print ABS or ASA most days. The H12 HEPA stage is the other change that affects daily use.
• You want one leveling system and one filter stack across a mixed QIDI fleet that already includes a Q2 or Max4.

Do not upgrade if:

• Your Plus 4 prints fit comfortably inside 305×305×280 mm. Your material list, temperatures and speed are identical on the Plus 5.
• You depend on tangle detection for single-spool overnight jobs and do not own a QIDI Box.
• You prefer the larger 5-inch touchscreen for on-machine use.

Buying your first Plus-size machine? Buy the Plus 5. It is the Plus-series model QIDI currently sells, and the Plus 4's only published advantages are the larger screen, the standalone tangle sensor and 2 kg less weight.

Where the Plus 5 Sits in the QIDI Lineup

The Plus 5 is not the only chamber-heated option. If your parts fit inside 270 mm, the QIDI Q2 gives you the same 370°C hotend, a 65°C heated chamber and the same 3-in-1 filter for $499. If you need 390×390×340 mm or 800 mm/s, the Max4 is $1,049. For every current model side by side, including the Q2 vs Q2C chamber question, see our QIDI 3D printer comparison, or browse the 3D printer collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the QIDI Plus 5 specs?

320×320×300 mm build volume, 370°C bimetal hotend, 120°C bed, third-generation independent chamber heating up to 65°C, 600 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s², CoreXY on 9 mm 1.5GT belts with an X-axis linear rail, dual independent Z lead screws, loadcell leveling, AI camera, 3-in-1 filter, 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi, 4-inch screen, 500×488×558 mm and 29 kg. It sells for $749, or $899 as a Combo.

Is the QIDI Plus 5 better than the Plus 4?

On nearly every published specification, yes: 18% more build volume, a 550 W chamber heater instead of 400 W, loadcell leveling, H12 HEPA filtration, AI detection and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. The Plus 4 keeps a larger 5-inch screen and a built-in tangle sensor. Hotend, chamber ceiling, bed temperature and speed are the same.

Is the Plus 5 worth upgrading to from a Plus 4?

Only if you need the extra build volume or particle filtration. Both machines print the same materials at the same temperatures and speeds, so a Plus 4 that fits your parts is not obsolete.

Does the Plus 5 replace the Plus 4?

The Plus 5 is the successor to the Plus 4 and QIDI's current Plus-series printer. QIDI has discontinued the Plus 4 and lists the Plus 5 as its direct successor; some regional QIDI stores may still have remaining stock.

Can I use my Plus 4 QIDI Box on the Plus 5?

Yes, with an adapter part. QIDI's Plus 5 FAQ says a Box from a Plus 4 or Q2 needs the QIDI Box hub and signal cable for the Plus 5, while a Box from a Max4 works directly. With up to four Boxes, the Plus 5 handles up to 16 colors. Our QIDI Box guide covers setup.

Can the QIDI Plus 5 print TPU?

Yes. QIDI recommends TPU of 95A hardness and notes that print quality may suffer below 85A.

Does the Plus 5 print faster than the Plus 4?

Not by specification. Both are rated at 600 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s². Time savings come from faster chamber warm-up and from printing large parts in one piece instead of several.