populargabe23111 posted Nov 24, 2025 01:31 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
populargabe23111 posted Nov 24, 2025 01:31 PM
Refurb w/ 1-YR Warranty: Creality Ender 3 V3 SE 3D Printer $95.20 + free s/h
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The V3 SE can do nice prints but it has a few strikes against it. A minor thing is the cooling fan could be better. You may see surface differences depend on if the side of the print is facing the air outlets. This is ultimately a rather small issue and most may never notice.
As for the V3 SE itself, it's a good printer but I have trouble recommending it when other better options are so close in price. At this price two years back we would be singing about how great this deal is. I would say this is a great $100 printer if it was this or others at MSRP. But, there are so many other better printers for only a bit more.
From the same Creality refurb store you have:
*V3 KE for less than $10 more. It's got a linear rail on the X axis (better long term wear vs the V wheels of the SE), prints a fair bit faster (perhaps 30% reduction in print times?), can be networked, has input shaping (but lacks an accelerometer for better tuning - can be added), comes with a PEI build plate vs the PC of the SE. It also runs Klipper vs Marlin which offers more control and can use a USB stick vs SD card for loading files... assuming you don't run over the network. The KE also supports hotter temperatures which can allow for more material types. However, being an open printer it's not the best choice for those materials. Anyway, the KE for less than $10 more would totally kill the SE for me.
*The V3 (no suffix) at $127, is even better as it's yet faster and largely the same advantages of the KE but adds an accelerometer for better input shaping (resulting in faster speeds).
The next step up is the "Hi" for $135. It's got a Bambu sized build volume (a bit more than 250x250) and fast print speeds (likely similar to the V3 (no suffix). It also supports adding a multi-material unit for color printing.
For just a bit more than that you have the K1SE ($148). It's a Core XY printer and one of the fastest consumer 3D printers. It's build volume is the same as the SE (220x220) but the footprint is likely smaller. While early K1 family printers had some issues, those appear to have been addressed in the later models that you are likely to get here.
If more aggressive filaments (hotter print temps) are in your future then we have the K1 for $167. It's the SE + enclosure and additional cooling fan.
There is also the Flashforge 5M form AliExpress for $167. I think several people have had trouble getting the purchase to go through but if they deliver, the 5M is a great printer for that price and you would be talking about a new printer, not used. My 5M is great. Core XY, not enclosed but a DIY enclosure kit could be done for under $30 (if you deal hunt).
So I went from a $95 printer to ~$170. That's not a insignificant price jump, especially if you are on a tight budget. If this were tight budget me and you are willing to risk the refurb, I would probably got for the Hi. If the budget is super tight, go for the KE. I feel like the PEI build plate alone (an upgrade I felt was all but mandatory) was $15 thus the full price difference.
I made a video of setup and first print here:
https://youtu.be/-h5UwDoz8h4
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