Prusa MK4S vs CORE One: Same Nextruder, Open Frame or Heated Box
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Buy the CORE One+ if you will print ABS, ASA, PC or nylon, want the smallest footprint per litre, or plan the INDX toolchanger. Buy the MK4S if you print PLA, PETG and TPU, want the lowest Prusa entry price and value an open frame for easy access. Same 290 °C Nextruder, same 120 °C bed, same firmware family, same repairability.
Where to buy
Side by side
| Spec | MK4S | CORE One+ (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Build volume | 250 × 210 × 220 mm | 250 × 220 × 270 mm |
| Frame | Open bedslinger | Enclosed CoreXY, steel exoskeleton |
| Max nozzle temperature | 290 °C | 290 °C (400 °C option) |
| Max bed temperature | 120 °C | 120 °C |
| Chamber | None; optional Enclosure to 45 °C | 55 °C active, smart ventilation |
| Multi-material | MMU3 | MMU3 or INDX (4 to 8 tools) |
| Footprint | Larger with Enclosure | About half the desk space of MK4S in an Enclosure |
| Camera | Optional | Included |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
What the CORE One changes day to day
- Materials. A 55 °C chamber is the difference between ASA that warps and ASA that does not, at full bed size.
- Tall parts. Fixed bed CoreXY means no ringing from a slung 1 kg print.
- Desk space. Prusa quotes 50 percent less than an MK4S inside an Enclosure, with 30 percent more volume.
What the MK4S keeps
- Open access to the bed and toolhead; easier to watch and to clear a clog.
- Lower entry price, especially as a kit.
- PLA overhang cooling in open air without managing a chamber.
Conversion
Prusa sells a conversion kit from MK4 and MK4S to the CORE One, reusing the Nextruder, bed and electronics. If you own an MK4S and want the box, it is cheaper than a second printer; if you are buying new, choose once. See the MK4S Enclosure page for the halfway option.
The units in the box
The listings are the MK4S kit, the CORE One+ assembled and the CORE One+ kit.
FAQ
Do MK4S sheets fit the CORE One? Both use Prusa spring-steel sheets; sizes differ, check the listing.
Is the CORE One faster? Same motion figures in practice; CoreXY stiffness helps at the top end.
LayerWalker
Print defect diagnosis, calibration procedures and parts that actually fit. Corrections welcome through the contact page.
