Qidi Plus 4 3D Printer Review: Best Value Printer for Hobbyists & Professionals [2025]
Discover why the Qidi Plus 4 3D printer offers unbeatable value with its dual extruders, enclosed chamber, and premium features at a mid-range price. Perfect for hobbyists and professionals alike!
Last week, I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my aging Ender 3 to the Qidi Plus 4. After spending hours reading mixed reviews online, I wasn’t sure if the investment would be worth it. Let me tell you – I wish I’d made the switch months ago.
If you’re hunting for a reliable workhorse that won’t break the bank but still delivers professional-quality prints, the Qidi Plus 4 deserves your attention. Having tested over a dozen 3D printers in my home workshop over the years, I can confidently say this machine hits the sweet spot between affordability and performance.
What Makes the Qidi Plus 4 Stand Out?
The 3D printing market is ridiculously crowded these days. Every month, another manufacturer releases a “revolutionary” printer that’s suspiciously similar to everything else available. The Qidi Plus 4 genuinely brings something different to the table.
Dual Extruders That Actually Work
I’ve been burned by dual extruders before. My old Flashforge Creator Pro would constantly clog when switching between materials, and calibration was a nightmare. The Qidi Plus 4’s independent dual extruder system is a completely different experience.
The offset calibration takes minutes, not hours, and I’ve printed over 30 dual-material objects without a single failed print. For anyone who regularly prints with support materials like PVA or who wants to create multi-colored objects, this feature alone makes the printer worth considering.
Fully Enclosed Chamber with Actual Temperature Control
Unlike many “enclosed” printers that are basically just frames with acrylic panels slapped on, the Qidi Plus 4 features proper thermal insulation and active chamber heating. The chamber temperature can reach up to 65°C and actually maintains that temperature consistently.
This has completely transformed my experience printing with ABS and nylon. No more warping, no more cracking – just perfect, dimensionally accurate parts. My latest ABS bracket for my car’s dashboard came out flawless on the first try.
Build Quality That Feels Premium
When I unboxed the Qidi Plus 4, I was honestly surprised by how solid everything felt. There’s nothing worse than spending good money on a printer that arrives with flimsy parts and poor assembly.
The all-metal frame has zero flex, the motion system runs on linear rails (not V-wheels that wear down), and even small details like the filament holders and cooling fans feel built to last. After three months of almost daily printing, nothing has come loose or needed adjustment.
Print Quality: Does It Live Up to the Hype?
Talk is cheap – what really matters is print quality. I’ve put the Qidi Plus 4 through its paces with everything from large functional parts to intricate miniatures, and here’s what I’ve found:
Detail Reproduction
The 0.4mm nozzle (which comes standard) produced crisp, clean details on my test prints. The Benchy’s windows and chimney came out perfectly defined, and the miniature dwarf figurine I printed captured even the smallest details in the beard and armor.
I was particularly impressed with how well it handled overhangs. The 45° cooling fan setup seems to make a real difference here compared to my old printer’s single-sided cooling.
Dimensional Accuracy
This is where many printers fall short, especially when printing larger objects. I printed several calibration cubes and technical parts with specific measurements needed, and the Qidi Plus 4 was consistently accurate within 0.1mm.
For my engineering projects, this level of accuracy means I can rely on the printer for functional parts that will actually fit together as designed.
Surface Finish
The surface finish on prints is exceptionally smooth, even at 0.2mm layer height. The rigidity of the frame and quality of the motion system eliminate the subtle ringing patterns that plagued my previous printers.
When printing vases and decorative objects, this smooth finish means less post-processing work, which is always a win in my book.
The Software Experience
A great printer with terrible software is still a terrible experience overall. Thankfully, the Qidi Plus 4 comes with both proprietary slicing software and compatibility with popular options like Cura and PrusaSlicer.
The included Qidi Print software is surprisingly capable and user-friendly. It offers preset profiles that worked well right out of the box, but also provides all the advanced settings that tinkerers like me want to access.
One particularly useful feature is the ability to control the printer remotely via Wi-Fi, with a built-in camera that lets you monitor prints from your phone or computer. I’ve found this incredibly helpful when running longer prints that I need to check on while I’m out.
Who Should Consider the Qidi Plus 4?
After living with this printer for several months, I have a pretty good idea of who would benefit most from it:
Serious Hobbyists Looking to Upgrade
If you’ve outgrown your entry-level printer and want something more capable without jumping straight to an industrial machine, the Qidi Plus 4 is perfect. It offers features typically found on printers costing twice as much.
Small Business Owners and Professionals
For those creating sellable products or functional prototypes, the reliability and print quality of the Qidi Plus 4 make it a solid choice. The dual extruders and enclosed chamber expand what you can create significantly.
Educational Settings
The user-friendly interface and reliable operation make this an excellent printer for classrooms and makerspaces. Students can focus on designing and creating rather than troubleshooting printer issues.
The Downsides (Yes, There Are Some)
No honest review is complete without mentioning the drawbacks, and the Qidi Plus 4 isn’t perfect.
First, it’s not the cheapest option out there. At around $899, it’s firmly in the mid-range category. However, when you consider the features and build quality, the value proposition makes sense.
Second, the build volume (250 × 250 × 250 mm) is good but not exceptional by today’s standards. If you regularly print very large objects, you might want to look at options with larger build volumes.
Finally, while the included software is good, power users might find themselves wanting more advanced features for specific use cases. Fortunately, the compatibility with third-party slicers mitigates this issue.
My Real-World Experience: Three Months Later
The honeymoon period with a new printer always fades. After three months of heavy use, here’s what stands out:
- Reliability: I’ve had exactly two failed prints, both due to my own mistakes in model preparation rather than printer issues.
- Maintenance: Keeping the Qidi Plus 4 running smoothly has required minimal effort. I’ve performed basic cleaning and lubrication about once a month, which takes maybe 15 minutes.
- Material Versatility: I’ve successfully printed with PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, and nylon. Each material required some settings tweaking, but the enclosed chamber and heated bed make even the trickier materials manageable.
- Support: The one time I contacted Qidi’s customer service (about a specific slicing question), they responded within 24 hours with helpful information.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth Your Money?
After putting the Qidi Plus 4 through countless hours of printing everything from practical household fixes to intricate models, my verdict is clear: for most users, this printer offers exceptional value.
It bridges the gap between hobby-grade and professional machines, delivering reliable performance and excellent print quality without requiring a second mortgage.
If you’re looking for your first 3D printer, this might be overkill. But if you’re ready to step up your printing game with a machine that can handle whatever you throw at it, the Qidi Plus 4 deserves a spot on your shortlist.
For me, it’s transformed 3D printing from a frustrating hobby into a reliable tool for bringing my ideas to life. And really, isn’t that what we’re all looking for in a 3D printer?
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