Creality Ender 5 Pro
Researched by Ric Ruben · Build volume 220 x 220 x 300mm · FDM
Reliable, quiet FDM printing at a low price point, with a few build-quality compromises worth knowing before you buy.
Full Review
The Ender line of products by Creality has been the face of consumer-level FDM 3D printers for a while now. Thousands of aspiring home-based creators have all read up on or purchased a Creality Ender machine.
Since the release of the Ender 5 3D printer, Creality has released an upgraded version: the Ender 5 Pro. This upgraded version has an impressive cubic frame and a 220 x 220 x 300mm build volume. Similar to the Ender 5, the 260°C nozzle temperature makes it compatible with a wide range of materials.
The print quality of this machine is also a huge plus, as it can create objects with a 100-micron print resolution. The Ender 5 Pro comes with instructions that make it generally easy to assemble — the DIY kit has pre-assembled axes, and for the Z-axis you just attach it to the base and wire up the printer properly.
The extra cost of the Pro over the base Ender 5 is only around $30 — and that buys quieter printing, a sturdier extruder frame, and a Bowden tube that won't jam.
A special feature of this 3D printer is the Y-axis motor, designed to drive both sides of the gantry for smoother movement during a print job, reducing vibration so the final object has a smoother finish.
Specs
Reduced Noise Printing
With the Pro, there is a new silent mainboard with TMC2208 drivers, meant for much quieter printing and more accurate performance overall. For those new to 3D printing this may seem minor, but a quiet printing process on a job that can take half a day makes a huge difference. The mainboard runs Marlin 1.1.8 with a bootloader installed, and thermal runaway protection guards against abnormally high temperatures.
Metal Extruder Frame
A new feature on the Ender 5 Pro is the metal extruder frame. It provides more stability and stronger pressure while pushing filament out of the nozzle, adding to the machine's ability to print accurately — worth watching for anyone after a high-quality, smooth printing experience.
New and Improved Filament Tubing
The Pro also includes an upgraded Capricorn Bowden tube. Because of the tubing's inner diameter, filament slides through smoothly without getting stuck or trapped midway — an upgrade worth basing your decision on if jammed filament has been a pain point before.
Top Feature: Magnetic Print Bed
An important part of FDM printing is how easily your final printed object detaches from the build plate. The Ender 5 Pro's flexible magnetic print bed makes it extra easy to remove objects that have strongly melted onto the print bed. The magnetic bed is self-adhesive, so it can be placed back onto the build plate after light maintenance.
Like many other desktop 3D printers, this one also has a resume-print function, so a power outage won't cost you the print. Other notable features: a 45-degree angled display screen attached to the side of the frame, and a Meanwell 350W / 24V power supply that heats the print bed fast. Bed leveling is still manual, but the large nut bolts beneath the print bed make it easier than most.
Is It Worth Upgrading to the Ender 5 Pro?
On Get3DPrinter, we usually advise readers to weigh their printing needs against the upgrade cost. Here, the comparison is between the base Ender 5 and the Pro version. As the price difference is only around $30, we think the extra cost is outweighed by the upgrades: more printing safety, a silent printing process, and increased flexibility with whatever filaments you choose for your projects.
We recommend almost anyone put up the extra cash for the Pro. If you're a creator working with flexible filament, this machine is a strong fit. If you only want the original Ender 5, it's worth checking Creality's official stores, regional warehouses, or other online retailers for discounted pricing.
Related: read our full guide to FDM (Material Extrusion) 3D printing.
Affiliate disclosure: if you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not own or test the printers on this site. See How We Research.
The Creality Ender 5 Pro has been discontinued. The closest current Creality equivalent is the Ender-3 V4 Combo, which replaced the Ender-3 V3 KE this page used to recommend. Want an enclosed printer that also prints in four colors? Read our Creality K2 Combo review.
For less money: the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is $199, with a direct drive extruder and a 250 mm/s top speed.
Check the Ender-3 V4 Combo at Creality →