Product Review · 3D Printers · #8 Ranked
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE
Budget FDM · Reviewed by Katie · amazon.com live, Sept 28 2026
Why it scored a 77
220x220x250mm build volume; 250mm/s max speed; CR Touch auto-leveling. Value leads the card at 85; Warranty is the softest number at 55.
What you're getting
- 220 x 220 x 250 mm build volume
- 250 mm/s max print speed with 32-bit mainboard
- CR Touch auto bed leveling — no manual tramming
- Sprite direct-drive extruder — handles PLA, PETG, TPU
- Dual Z-axis lead screws for stability
- Auto filament loading and unloading
- PC spring steel magnetic build plate
- 3.2-inch color knob-controlled screen
ViperScore breakdown
Should you buy the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE?
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is the cheapest filament printer we rank and the modern version of the printer that built the hobby. For $186.14 you get CR Touch auto leveling, a Sprite direct-drive extruder that handles PLA, PETG and TPU, dual Z lead screws and a magnetic spring-steel plate. It ranks eighth among our ten 3D printers and suits a student, a classroom or anyone who wants a capable single-color printer with a low entry price. If you want speed or multicolor, everything above it does more.
Where it earns its score
- Value is the highest factor at 85. A direct-drive, auto-leveling printer for $186.14 is the best price per feature in the category.
- Direct drive. The Sprite extruder makes flexible TPU printable, which Bowden budget printers struggle with.
- Dual Z-axis. Two lead screws keep the gantry square, which older Enders lacked.
- Auto filament load and unload. A small quality-of-life feature that beginners appreciate.
What to know first
- Slow by 2026 standards. 250 mm/s maximum versus 500 to 600 mm/s on the CoreXY printers above it.
- Features score is 70. No camera, no Wi-Fi, no multicolor, a knob-controlled screen.
- Warranty is the weakest factor at 55. Standard one-year coverage.
- Open frame. PLA and PETG territory; ABS will warp.
Our verdict
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE scores 77, Fair Buy. Buy it if $186.14 is the budget and you want a proven, no-frills printer that handles TPU. If you can stretch to $399.00 the Creality K1C (81) is enclosed and more than twice as fast; the Sovol SV06 ACE (75) is faster but scores lower overall.
Creality K1C
Questions buyers ask
Is the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE good for beginners?
Yes. CR Touch auto bed leveling, auto filament loading and a $186.14 price make it an easy first printer, though it lacks Wi-Fi and a camera.
Can the Ender-3 V3 SE print TPU?
Yes. The Sprite direct-drive extruder handles flexible TPU along with PLA and PETG.
How fast is the Ender-3 V3 SE?
Up to 250 mm/s, which is quick for a bed-slinger at this price but well behind the 500 to 600 mm/s CoreXY printers.
Ready to check it out?
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE · ViperScore 77 · Fair Buy · $186.14
How the other 9 3d printers scored
85Bambu Lab A1 Combo (w/ AMS Lite)
85Bambu Lab X2D (Combo w/ AMS 2 Pro)
81Creality K1C
80Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
79Anycubic Kobra X Fast
79Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra
78Elegoo Mars 5 (base)
76Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo
75Sovol SV06 ACE
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