Creality Hi Review: 16 Colours, Gentler Motion
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The Creality Hi is the value multi-colour machine: 260 x 260 x 300 mm, 300 degC nozzle, 100 degC bed, 300 mm/s typical with a 500 mm/s ceiling and 12,000 mm/s2, only 9.2 kg, and it pairs with up to four CFS units for sixteen colours. The acceleration figure is the giveaway that this is a gentler machine than Creality’s K2 line, and the tall 300 mm Z is its quiet advantage.
This assessment is from Creality’s published specification rather than a workshop test. The Hi is easy to misread, because the headline pitch is sixteen colours while the more interesting numbers are the modest acceleration and the unusual build volume.
Where to buy
Specification
| Spec | Creality Hi |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 260 x 260 x 300 mm |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 degC |
| Max heatbed temp | 100 degC |
| Speed | 300 mm/s typical, 500 mm/s max |
| Acceleration | Up to 12,000 mm/s2 |
| Extruder | Direct drive; tri-metal quick-swap nozzle 0.4 mm, 0.6 and 0.8 compatible |
| Plate | Two-sided epoxy flexible build plate, full-auto levelling |
| Layer height | 0.1-0.35 mm |
| Filaments | Hyper-PLA, PLA, PETG, ABS, PLA-CF |
| Multi-colour | Up to 4 CFS units, 16 filaments |
| Display / storage | 3.2 inch colour touchscreen, 8 GB eMMC |
| Size / weight | 650 x 460 x 560 mm; 9.2 kg printer, 13.6 kg combo |
| Power | 1150 W at 220 V, 390 W at 110 V |
The two numbers that define it
12,000 mm/s2 of acceleration, against 20,000 on the K1 family and 30,000 on the K2 Plus. That is not a flaw, it is a positioning choice: gentler motion, lighter machine, lower price. Creality quotes 300 mm/s as the typical speed and 500 mm/s as the maximum, which is a more honest pair of figures than a single headline number.
And 300 mm of Z on a 260 mm bed. Most machines in this bracket are cubes; the Hi is deliberately taller than it is wide, which suits figurines, vases and tall functional parts. If your models keep hitting a 250 mm ceiling, that extra 50 mm is worth more than another 40 mm of width.
CFS, and what the combo really includes
The Creality Filament System reads RFID filament, detects run-out and tangles, relays automatically between spools and includes 20 W of drying. Each unit is 379 x 314 x 276 mm, 4.56 kg, holds four spools, and needs DC 24 V. Four units chain for sixteen colours.
Read the footnote carefully though: the Hi Combo includes one CFS unit. Sixteen colours means buying three more, and Creality notes that two or more units need a separate power source. Budget and shelf-plan accordingly.
Materials, and the ABS caveat
Creality lists Hyper-PLA, PLA, PETG, ABS and PLA-CF. The 100 degC bed and 300 degC nozzle support that, and the tri-metal quick-swap nozzle means PLA-CF does not require a first upgrade purchase. But note there is no heated chamber specification here, so treat ABS as possible rather than comfortable; for reliable ABS and ASA you want a machine that heats its chamber, such as the K2 Plus at 60 degC.
For a like-for-like on the range, see our Hi Combo page and K2 Plus overview.
Who should buy it
Buy the Hi if multi-colour PLA and PETG printing is the goal, the 300 mm height suits your models, and you would rather have four automated spools than the last 100 mm/s of speed. Buy a K1C if abrasive filament and an enclosure matter more than colour. Buy the K2 Plus if you want size, a 350 degC nozzle and a heated chamber.
One practical note: at 9.2 kg for the printer this is a light machine, easy to move and easy to put on a shelf, which is a genuine convenience the spec table understates.
Frequently asked questions
How many colours can the Hi print? Sixteen, with four CFS units. The combo includes one.
Is it as fast as a K1C? No. 500 mm/s and 12,000 mm/s2 against 600 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s2.
Can it print ABS? ABS is on Creality’s list, but there is no heated chamber, so expect it to be less reliable than on a chamber-heated machine.
What is unusual about the build volume? It is 260 x 260 x 300 mm, taller than the typical cube in this class.
LayerWalker
Print defect diagnosis, calibration procedures and parts that actually fit. Corrections welcome through the contact page.
