TL;DR
The Prusa MK4 is the latest flagship from the most reliable and beloved brand in the 3D printing world. It comes with the Nextruder extruder, input shaping, Load Cell-based auto-leveling, and open-source firmware. It's not as fast or flashy as Bambu Lab, but it's unrivaled in reliability, open-source philosophy, and long-term support. Overall Score: 8.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
If reliability and open-source are important to you, the Prusa MK4 is still the gold standard.
Box Contents
Prusa's packaging experience is as neat and informative as ever:
Assembled Version:
- Fully assembled Prusa MK4 printer
- Satin PEI coated steel print sheet (double-sided)
- Power adapter
- USB-C cable
- Filament sample (Prusament PLA - Prusa Orange)
- Tool kit (Allen wrench, screwdriver, spatula)
- IPA (isopropyl alcohol) cleaning wipe
- Spare parts (nozzle, screws, PTFE tube)
- Haribo jelly candies (a Prusa tradition)
- Comprehensive printed manual (color, detailed)
Kit Version (Optional):
- All parts separate — approximately 4-8 hours of assembly time
- Detailed online and printed assembly guide
Prusa's Haribo tradition continues — we love this little touch!
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Print Technology | FDM (Bed-Slinger / Cartesian) |
| Print Area | 250 x 210 x 220 mm |
| Maximum Speed | 200 mm/s (with firmware 6.0) |
| Maximum Acceleration | 4,000 mm/s² (with Input Shaping) |
| Nozzle Temperature | Up to 290°C |
| Bed Temperature | Up to 120°C |
| Layer Resolution | 0.05 - 0.30 mm |
| Nozzle Diameter | 0.4 mm (Nextruder - easy to swap) |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75 mm |
| Supported Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PC, PVA, PP |
| Extruder Type | Direct Drive (Nextruder - planetary gear) |
| Auto Leveling | Load Cell (weight sensor) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, LAN, USB |
| Display | 3.5" Color LCD |
| Enclosure | Open (Prusa Enclosure optional) |
| Dimensions | 500 x 550 x 400 mm |
| Weight | ~7 kg |
Design and Build Quality
The Prusa MK4 is an evolutionary successor to the MK3 series. There's no revolutionary design change, but there are improvements in every detail.
Frame
The iconic orange-black Prusa look is preserved. The aluminum extrusion frame is robust and vibration-resistant. The profile cutting quality and assembly precision are top-notch — the expected quality from Prusa's factory in the Czech Republic.
Nextruder
The biggest innovation of the MK4 is the Nextruder extruder. The planetary gear mechanism provides high torque in a compact size. Nozzle changes require no tools — you can remove and install it with one hand. This is incredibly practical, especially when switching between different materials.
Print Bed
Prusa's legendary satin PEI sheet is now standard. It's double-sided: one side offers a smooth glossy finish, and the other a textured matte finish. With PLA, the print detaches on its own when the bed cools down — it's like magic. The textured side is recommended for PETG.
Load Cell Leveling
The MK4's most innovative feature: it uses a weight sensor (load cell) integrated into the extruder to level the nozzle by directly touching the bed. This provides precise leveling without the need for a separate sensor and works accurately with any material and bed type.
Setup and First Print
Assembled Version Setup
- Unbox (2 min)
- Install filament holder and spool (2 min)
- Place the print sheet (1 min)
- Connect the power cable and turn it on (1 min)
- Select language and Wi-Fi on the screen (2 min)
- Automatic full calibration (XYZ calibration + first layer calibration) (~5 min)
- First print!
Total: approximately 15 minutes. Very simple and hassle-free.
Kit Version
The kit version offers a 4-8 hour assembly experience. Prusa's online guide is one of the best assembly guides in the 3D printing world — each step is accompanied by photos and enriched with community comments. Kit assembly is an educational and enjoyable experience.
First Print
Benchy with Prusament PLA: completed in 35 minutes. Yes, it's slower compared to Bambu Lab's 17 minutes. But the print quality is excellent — surface smoothness, bridges, and details are flawless. Prusa's philosophy is "quality and reliability, not speed."
Print Quality Tests
PLA Tests (Prusament PLA)
- Temperature: 215°C nozzle / 60°C bed
- Speed: 150 mm/s (with input shaping)
- Result: For PLA prints, the Prusa MK4 is arguably one of the best-performing printers on the market. Compatibility with Prusament filament is excellent. Surface quality, bridging performance, and detail level are top-notch. At 0.15mm, we achieved outputs nearly competitive with injection molding quality.
PETG Tests (Prusament PETG)
- Temperature: 240°C nozzle / 85°C bed
- Speed: 120 mm/s
- Result: Prusa's expertise is evident in PETG printing. Stringing is almost non-existent. Layer adhesion is perfect. The quality is reliable for mechanical parts. The balance between adhesion and release on the textured PEI sheet is ideal.
ABS/ASA Tests
- Temperature: 255°C nozzle / 100°C bed
- Speed: 100 mm/s
- Result: Due to the open frame, the Prusa Enclosure is definitely important for ABS printing. With the enclosure, the results are very good — minimal warping, strong layer adhesion. Without the enclosure, warping starts on parts larger than 8cm.
TPU Tests (Prusament Flex 98A)
- Temperature: 225°C nozzle / 50°C bed
- Speed: 30-50 mm/s
- Result: The Nextruder's planetary gear system feeds TPU excellently. Flexible material performance is superb — it's a night-and-day difference compared to Bowden systems. Delicate flexible parts were printed successfully.
PVA Support Material
- Temperature: 210°C nozzle
- Result: With the MMU3 (Multi Material Upgrade), PVA water-soluble support material can be used. Excellent support for complex geometries and clean removal. This feature is a significant advantage, especially in professional prototyping.
Speed and Performance
The Prusa MK4 is the slowest printer in this comparison when it comes to speed. But Prusa's approach is different i.
Speed Tests
| Test Model | MK3S+ (50mm/s) | MK4 (150mm/s) | Time Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benchy | ~55 min | ~35 min | 36% faster |
| Calibration Cube | ~25 min | ~16 min | 36% faster |
| Vase Mode (15cm) | ~90 min | ~55 min | 39% faster |
| Functional Part | ~60 min | ~38 min | 37% faster |
There's an approximate 35-40% speed increase compared to the MK3S+, but it's about 2 times slower than the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon. Prusa presents this as a conscious choice: quality and reliability before speed.
Input Shaping
Input shaping, introduced with Firmware 6.0, is a significant improvement over previous versions. It greatly reduces ghosting, especially on the Y-axis (bed movement). Print quality at 150 mm/s is as good as at 50 mm/s — which is impressive.
Quietness
The Prusa MK4 is the quietest printer on this list:
- Idle: ~22 dB
- Normal print: ~42 dB
- High speed: ~48 dB
Ideal for overnight printing. Thanks to TMC2209 stepper drivers and optimized fan profiles.
Software and Ecosystem
PrusaSlicer
The most mature and feature-rich slicer in the 3D printing world. Advantages of PrusaSlicer:
- Continuously updated open-source software
- Excellent profile optimization
- Organic support structures
- Paint-on supports and color painting
- Advanced bridging and overhang settings
- Multi-printer management
- Includes SLA printer support
Prusa Connect
Prusa's own cloud platform. Remote print initiation, monitoring, and management from a web interface. Remote viewing is also available with an optional camera.
Firmware
The open-source Buddy firmware is continuously improving with regular updates. Community contributions are accepted, and every update undergoes comprehensive testing. This open approach is one of Prusa's strongest assets.
Upgrade Path
The MK4 is also offered as an upgrade kit for MK3S+ owners (~$349). This is an approach that considers existing Prusa users. Additionally, multi-color printing with up to 5 colors is possible with the MMU3 (Multi Material Unit).
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Legendary Prusa reliability and consistency
- Fully open source (firmware, slicer, hardware)
- Easy nozzle changes with Nextruder
- Precise auto-leveling with Load Cell
- Excellent print quality
- PrusaSlicer — the industry's best slicer
- Quiet operation
- Extensive material compatibility
- Haribo! (and excellent documentation)
- Educational assembly experience with the kit version
- Upgrade path from MK3S+
- Long-term spare parts and support
❌ Cons
- Speed is low compared to competitors
- Price is high ($799 assembled)
- Print area is relatively small (250x210x220)
- Open frame (enclosure needed for ABS)
- No touchscreen (rotary knob LCD)
- Wi-Fi setup is a bit cumbersome
- Visually feels dated (orange Prusa design)
- Camera not included
- Fewer "smart" features compared to what Bambu Lab offers
Who Is It For?
Definitely Buy If:
- Reliability and consistency are your number one priority
- You support the open-source philosophy
- You are looking for a printer to use long-term (5+ years)
- Flawless print quality is more important than speed
- You want to leverage the advanced features of PrusaSlicer
- You plan to use it for educational purposes (kit version)
Consider If:
- Speed is very important to you (Bambu Lab or K1 Max are faster)
- Your budget is limited ($799 assembled price)
- You want a modern touchscreen interface and "smart" features
- You need to print large parts
- You need a seamless out-of-the-box experience
Price/Performance Evaluation
The MK4 is priced at $799 (assembled) or $599 (kit). This price is lower than the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon ($1,099 standalone) but high when compared to the Bambu Lab A1 ($399) or Neptune 4 Pro ($279) in particular.
What's included in Prusa's price?
- Manufacturing and quality control in Europe
- Funding for open-source development
- Long-term spare parts guarantee
- Excellent customer support
- Continuous firmware development
Prusa loses in short-term price/performance, but the picture changes when considering a 5-year total cost of ownership.
Conclusion and Scoring
The Prusa MK4 stays out of the speed race and runs in its own lane. And in that lane, it has not relinquished its leadership.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Print Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.5/10 |
| Speed and Performance | ⭐⭐⭐ 7/10 |
| Ease of Setup | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10 |
| Material Compatibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.5/10 |
| Software | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.5/10 |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10 |
| Price/Performance | ⭐⭐⭐ 7/10 |
| OVERALL | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.5/10 |
Final Word: The Prusa MK4 is the Toyota Land Cruiser of the 3D printing world. Not the fastest, not the cheapest, but the most reliable and longest-lasting. If you believe in open-source values and think long-term, the MK4 is still the gold standard. If speed excites you, look at Bambu Lab — but if reliability brings you peace, choose Prusa.