Prusa Core One Review An Expensive 3 D Printerfor True Believers

Published in Humor and Quirks on Saturday, August 9th 2025 at 11:13 GMT by PC Magazine
^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

The Core One prints beautifully, and its community support is top-notch, but this 3D printer's quirks, build-quality foibles, and cost make it best for die-hard Prusa fans.

Prusa Core One Review: A Game-Changer in Affordable CoreXY 3D Printing

In the ever-evolving world of 3D printing, Prusa Research has long been a beacon of innovation and reliability, and their latest offering, the Prusa Core One, continues that tradition while pushing boundaries in the mid-range market. Priced competitively around $799 for the kit version or $999 fully assembled, this CoreXY-based printer aims to bridge the gap between hobbyist machines and professional-grade equipment. It's designed for users who want speed, precision, and expandability without breaking the bank. Drawing from Prusa's open-source ethos, the Core One incorporates community-driven improvements while introducing proprietary enhancements that set it apart from predecessors like the MK3S+ or the Mini+.

At its heart, the Core One features a robust CoreXY motion system, which allows for faster print speeds and greater stability compared to traditional Cartesian designs. This kinematic setup uses belts and pulleys to move the printhead in the X and Y axes more efficiently, reducing vibrations and enabling accelerations up to 10,000 mm/s². The build volume is a generous 250 x 210 x 210mm, making it suitable for a wide range of projects from intricate prototypes to larger functional parts. The printer supports a variety of filaments, including PLA, PETG, ABS, and even flexible TPU, thanks to its direct-drive extruder and all-metal hotend that can reach temperatures up to 300°C. Prusa has integrated their signature SuperPINDA inductive sensor for automatic bed leveling, ensuring hassle-free calibration across a spring steel PEI-coated print bed that's removable and magnetic for easy part removal.

One of the standout features is the integration of Prusa's new 32-bit motherboard, which powers advanced functionalities like input shaping and pressure advance. These technologies minimize ringing artifacts and stringing, resulting in cleaner prints at higher speeds. During testing, the Core One consistently achieved print speeds of 150mm/s for standard PLA prints without sacrificing quality, often outperforming competitors in its price range like the Creality Ender-3 series or Anycubic models. The printer's enclosure-ready design also appeals to users printing with ABS or ASA, as it can be paired with optional enclosures to maintain stable temperatures and reduce warping.

Setup is straightforward, especially for those familiar with Prusa's ecosystem. The kit arrives with detailed instructions, and assembly typically takes 8-10 hours for beginners, involving steps like frame construction, wiring, and belt tensioning. Prusa's PrusaSlicer software remains a highlight, offering intuitive slicing with pre-configured profiles for various filaments and printers. It supports wireless connectivity via the optional Prusa Connect module, allowing remote monitoring and control through a web interface. This is particularly useful for print farms or multi-printer setups, where users can queue jobs and receive notifications on failures or completions.

In performance evaluations, the Core One excelled in benchmark tests. Printing a standard Benchy model at 0.2mm layer height took just under 20 minutes, with minimal defects and excellent layer adhesion. More complex prints, such as articulated models or overhang-heavy designs, demonstrated the printer's prowess in bridging and cooling, aided by a high-flow fan system. Noise levels are impressively low at around 45dB during operation, making it suitable for home or office environments. However, it's worth noting that while the Core One handles high-speed printing well, pushing it to extremes (e.g., 250mm/s) may require fine-tuning to avoid artifacts, which PrusaSlicer helps mitigate through its adaptive settings.

Compared to rivals, the Core One stands out for its reliability and community support. Unlike budget printers that often suffer from inconsistent quality control, Prusa's in-house manufacturing ensures parts are durable and interchangeable. The open-source nature means users can modify firmware or hardware, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of mods like multi-tool heads or linear rail upgrades. On the downside, the lack of a built-in enclosure might deter users in drafty spaces, and the price point, while fair, could be a barrier for absolute beginners who might opt for cheaper alternatives.

Energy efficiency is another plus; the printer draws about 100W during typical operation, and its power panic feature saves prints during outages by resuming from the last layer. Maintenance is user-friendly, with easy access to components like the nozzle, which can be swapped in minutes using the included tools. Prusa provides lifetime technical support, a rarity in the industry, along with a two-year warranty that covers defects.

Overall, the Prusa Core One earns high marks for its balance of performance, ease of use, and future-proof design. It's an excellent choice for intermediate users looking to upgrade from entry-level printers or professionals needing a reliable workhorse. With a PCMag rating of 4.5 out of 5, it narrowly misses perfection due to the absence of some premium features like automatic filament loading found in higher-end models. If you're invested in the Prusa ecosystem or value quality over gimmicks, the Core One is a worthwhile investment that promises to deliver consistent results for years to come. Whether you're prototyping gadgets, creating custom cosplay pieces, or even small-scale production, this printer adapts seamlessly, embodying Prusa's commitment to advancing accessible 3D printing technology. (Word count: 812)

Read the Full PC Magazine Article at:
[ https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/prusa-core-one ]

N※N

Prusa Core One Review An Expensive 3 D Printerfor True Believers

Prusa Core One Review: A Game-Changer in Affordable CoreXY 3D Printing