What the Neptune 4 range got right
ELEGOO's Neptune 4 series arrived at the point when the accessible FDM market stopped being about tolerating limitations and started being about choosing between genuine options. Auto bed levelling, power-loss recovery, a direct drive extruder, and Klipper-based firmware — features that were mid-range upgrades a generation ago — come standard across the entire Neptune 4 lineup from the entry model upward.
Power-loss recovery is worth calling out specifically for South African users. A print that fails mid-run during a load shedding event used to mean starting over from scratch. On any Neptune 4 model, the machine resumes from the exact layer it stopped at when power returns. For long prints — anything over four or five hours — this is a genuinely meaningful feature in the South African context.
What separates the three models in the range is build volume, maximum speed, and one additional structural difference on the Max. Everything else is essentially the same machine at different scales.
Neptune 4 Pro — R6,990
The recommended starting point for anyone new to FDM printing who wants a capable, reliable machine without paying for features they won't immediately need. The auto bed levelling is consistent, the pre-installed firmware reduces setup friction considerably, and the direct drive extruder handles flexible filaments (TPU) from day one without requiring an aftermarket upgrade.
- Build volume: 225×225×265mm
- Max print speed: 250mm/s (practical daily: 150–180mm/s)
- Auto bed levelling: 121-point
- Extruder: direct drive — PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU
- Power-loss recovery: yes
Best suited to: first-time 3D printer buyers, students, hobbyists, anyone who wants to learn FDM without a large upfront commitment.
Neptune 4 Plus — R8,610
Structurally almost identical to the Pro — same firmware, same extruder, same levelling system — with one meaningful difference: a substantially larger build plate. At 320×320×385mm, the Plus handles prints that would require splitting and gluing on the Pro. For anyone who already knows their projects will regularly approach the limits of a standard build volume, skipping the Pro and buying the Plus directly is the right call.
- Build volume: 320×320×385mm (42% more than Pro)
- Max print speed: 500mm/s
- Auto bed levelling: yes
- Extruder: direct drive
- Power-loss recovery: yes
Best suited to: makers who need larger single-piece prints — cosplay props, signage elements, architectural components, larger functional parts.
Neptune 4 Max — R10,480
The Max is built for volume and large-format output. At 500×500×500mm it offers one of the largest build volumes in a desktop FDM printer at this price point. At 500mm/s max speed it's among the fastest. The addition of a dual Z-axis improves stability for tall prints — particularly important when a print runs for eight or ten hours and any wobble accumulates into visible layer inconsistency.
For anyone running the printer as a print-on-demand service, producing batches of parts, or regularly printing objects that fill a large build volume, the Max's throughput advantage over the Pro or Plus compounds significantly over time.
- Build volume: 500×500×500mm
- Max print speed: 500mm/s
- Auto bed levelling: yes
- Extruder: direct drive
- Power-loss recovery: yes
- Dual Z-axis: yes — improved stability at full print height
Best suited to: small businesses offering 3D print services, makers with consistent large-format requirements, anyone running the printer intensively for production rather than occasional personal use.
Side-by-side
| Neptune 4 Pro | Neptune 4 Plus | Neptune 4 Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | R6,990 | R8,610 | R10,480 |
| Build volume | 225×225×265mm | 320×320×385mm | 500×500×500mm |
| Max speed | 250mm/s | 500mm/s | 500mm/s |
| Dual Z-axis | No | No | Yes |
| Power-loss recovery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto bed levelling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Beginners, learning | Mid-size maker projects | Production, large prints |
Which one should you buy?
Unsure what you'll print: start with the Pro. It covers the vast majority of hobbyist and personal maker use cases. The most common regret is running into the build volume ceiling on a project you care about — but many users never do.
You know you'll regularly need large single pieces: skip the Pro and go straight to the Plus or Max. Splitting and gluing prints is workable but tedious, and the price difference between Pro and Plus is modest relative to the frustration it eliminates.
You're buying for a production or business context: the Max is the right machine. More bed, more speed, dual Z-axis stability. The cost difference versus the Plus pays back quickly in reduced print time and fewer failures on long runs.
All three models are available in-store at our Somerset West showroom. The size difference between a Pro and a Max is genuinely hard to appreciate from a spec table — come in and see them running.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to choose your Neptune 4? All three models are in stock at Toner and Ink — visit our Somerset West showroom for a live demo or order online.
Browse Neptune 4 Range → 3D Printing Services →