Entry-level FDM 3D printer under €300! (2025 Edition)

You finally want to immerse yourself in the world of 3D printing, but don't feel like spending a small fortune right away? That's understandable! The good news: in 2025, you won't have to dig deep into your pockets for a solid introduction to 3D printing. Good FDM 3D printers are now available for less than €300!

We'll introduce you to three FDM 3D printers for beginners in this article. We'll then take a look at what the devices can do and where the differences lie - and you can then decide which printer is best for you.

Creality Ender 3 V3 SE

The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE is a compact and elegant-looking FDM 3D printer that makes it particularly easy for you to get started in the world of makers. For less than €300, you get a solid overall package: simple operation, clean print quality and features that are usually found on more expensive models.

With its stable frame and double Z-axis, the Ender V3 SE ensures wobble-free prints. The Y-axis runs on two low-wear linear rails made of steel - this provides additional precision and durability. The "Sprite" direct drive extruder not only processes PLA and PETG, but also flexible filaments such as TPU, which gives you more flexibility when printing. Thanks to automatic levelling and Z-offset, the printer adjusts the print bed automatically. This saves time and stress! Also practical: easy loading and unloading of the filament at the touch of a button! With a remarkable printing speed of up to 250 mm/s, the Ender 3 V3 SE remains fast on the move - without any loss of quality. The 3.2-inch colour display with rotary knob rounds off the user experience.

►An overview of the features of the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE:

Slim, compact and elegant design,
Build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm,
Max. print speed of 250 mm/s,
Max. acceleration of 2500 mm/s²,
Direct Drive "Sprite" extruder,
CR-Touch for automatic levelling,
Automatic Z-axis compensation,
Automatic loading and unloading of filaments,
improved UI,
3.2 inch colour display with rotary knob,
Ready to go in 20 minutes,
Creality Print Slicer for an efficient workflow.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Very beginner-friendly, ¤ Can process not only PLA and PETG, but also flexible filaments such as TPU ¤ Attractive price-performance ratio.	¤ No touchscreen, rather solid printing speed compared to printers in the same price range, ¤ No WLAN or app control.

ELEGOO Neptune 4 Pro

The Neptune 4 Pro from Elegoo is an FDM 3D printer with a gantry structure that takes speed and performance to a new level - and at a surprisingly fair price. With a print speed of up to 500 mm/s, Klipper firmware and a robust design, it is a real insider tip for anyone who wants more.

The sturdy metal frame, all-metal guide rails and the self-developed dual-gear direct drive extruder ensure precise and clean prints - even with demanding materials such as TPU, ABS or nylon. The hotend reaches up to 300 °C, perfect for heat-resistant filaments. The clever 250 watt heated bed has two independently controllable heating zones that automatically adjust to the model size - saves energy and heats up at lightning speed. Thanks to the PEI-coated build platform, finished prints can be removed effortlessly.

A highlight: The powerful cooling system with six fans and intelligent control ensures optimum temperatures and relatively quiet operation. The automatic 121-point levelling, filament sensor and Smart Resume function give you additional security when printing. The Neptune 4 Pro offers a build volume of 225 x 225 x 265 mm, is LAN-capable and can be operated intuitively via a 4.3-inch touch display. The integrated LED light provides an extra show - so your prints are always in the right light!

►Features of the ELEGOO Neptune 4 Pro at a glance:

Stable gantry structure with elegant and modern elements,
Build volume of 225 x 225 x 265 mm,
Max. print speed of 500 mm/s, standard print speed of 250 mm/s thanks to high-performance computing processor,
High-speed silent main board compatible with Klipper,
All-metal guide rails with U-shaped steel wheels,
250 Watt heating bed with two independent heating zones, with intelligent mode for automatic heating of the required heating zone,
PEI magnetic build platform,
Dual gear extruder with direct drive,
High Temp Hotend for temperatures up to 300 °C,
Powerful cooling system: combination of a heat dissipation module with intelligent fan control, which ensures comprehensive heat dissipation,
Manual and 2.0 automatic levelling,
Magnetic 4.3 inch touchscreen,
LED lighting.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Pre-installed Klipper firmware for speeds of up to 500 mm/s, ¤ Flexible heating bed with two independently heatable zones, ¤ Ideal for a wide range of materials, including ABS, nylon and TPU, ¤ Intelligent cooling system.	¤ No WLAN on board, ¤ The many functions and options can be somewhat overwhelming for absolute beginners, ¤ Despite the "silent board" and smart fan, it is louder than comparable models.

Bambu Lab A1 mini

The A1 Mini from Bambu Lab brings a breath of fresh air to the entry-level class and makes it super easy for you to get started right away! The compact FDM 3D printer scores with power comparable to that of a CoreXY system - even though it is a classic bed pusher. With a printing speed of up to 500 mm/s and fully automatic calibration, this optical eye-catcher is the perfect plug-and-play printer for beginners and professionals alike.

The pre-assembled A1 Mini is ready to go in around 20 minutes. Thanks to its robust metal construction, high-quality linear rails and a sturdy frame, everything remains precise and durable - even at high speeds. The quick-swap hotend, which is designed for temperatures up to 300 °C, can be changed in no time at all, making maintenance particularly easy. A real highlight of this mini-beast: the active flow rate compensation adjusts the filament quantity in real time, ensuring even more precise prints. There is also a fully automatic calibration (Z-offset, bed levelling, vibration compensation, belt tension), so you can sit back and relax while the A1 Mini does the work for you.

The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is quiet (less than 48 dB), intuitive to operate and can be conveniently controlled via app or PC. Optionally, you can upgrade it with the AMS lite and even print in multiple colours - this costs more, of course, but is definitely worth it!

►Properties of the Bambu Lab A1 Mini at a glance:

Robust, elegant design,
CoreXY system, bed pusher,
Build volume of 180 x 180 x 180 mm,
Quick-swap all-metal hot end with 0.4 mm stainless steel quick-change nozzle,
Print temperature of up to 300 °C,
Active flow rate compensation for more accurate extrusion,
Fully automatic calibration with automatic Z-offset, automatic bed levelling, automatic vibration calibration, automatic belt tensioning and Pressure Advance,
Real-time monitoring and control via smartphone app or Bambu Studio,
Automatic loading and unloading of the filament at the touch of a button,
MakerWorld platform for dialogue with the 3D printing community.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Extremely compact design, ¤ Plug-and-play and extremely beginner-friendly, ¤ Fully automatic calibration: everything runs by itself, ¤ Up to 500 mm/s print speed, ¤ Expandable with AMS lite for multicolour/multimaterial printing.	¤ Relatively small build volume, ¤ No LAN connection or USB-C support.

Technical specifications:

Now let's take a look at the technical data and functions of the three 3D printers. So it's all about facts and figures - design taste plays no role here. This will give you a clear overview of what the devices are really capable of!

	Creality Ender 3 V3 SE	ELEGOO Neptune 4 Pro	Bambu Lab A1 Mini
Device size	349 x 364 x 490 mm	475 x 445 x 515 mm	347 x 315 x 365 mm
Net weight	7.12 kg	8.9 kg	5.5 kg
Build volume	220 x 220 x 250 mm	225 x 225 x 265 mm	180 x 180 x 180 mm
Max. printing speed	250 mm/s	500 mm/s	500 mm/s
Max. acceleration	2500 mm/s²	20000 mm/s²	10 000 mm/s²
Max. printing temperature	≤ 260 °C	300 °C	300 °C
Max. heating bed temperature	≤ 100 °C	110 °C	80 °C
Extruder	Dual Gear Sprite Direct Drive	Dual Gear Direct Drive	Dual Gear Direct Drive
Device display	3.2 inch colour display, rotary knob	4.3 inch capacitive colour display, removable	2.4 inch IPS touchscreen
Interfaces	SD card	WLAN (optional), USB	WiFi, Bambu-Bus, Micro-SD
Voltage, power	100-120 V~, 200-240 V~ 350 W	115/230 V 50/60 Hz	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz 150 W
Supported filaments	PLA, PETG, TPU (95A)	PLA, TPU, PETG, ABS, ASA, nylon	PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA