The BEST Ender-3 alternative that YOU CAN'T HAVE: Elegoo Neptune 2 review

Elegoo are capable of making properly decent budget 3D printers - first the Mars MSLA lineup, now the Neptune 2 filament printer. But somehow they fail to actually sell them. So what's up with that?
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Read the article to this video here:
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Buy the Ender-3 v2 on Amazon go.toms3d.org/E...
Buy the Ender-3 on Amazon go.toms3d.org/E...
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[@ucirello]

I liked the new disclosure format.

[@MadeWithLayers]

Credit goes to Gerald Undone for the blueprint!

[@sugatooth]

I second this!

[@TalpaDK]

@@MadeWithLayers Ah yes disclosure of the disclosure so very "gnu" of you

[@jameshughes3014]

I love that a company used the reprap to make a product ,their version became standard, and then new companies are taking that and making new versions. There is something to be learned about how profit and fantastic products can be made without restrictive IP here.

[@mambobro]

It's nice to find a review that doesn't gloss over genuine issues. Especially the ones that concern safety. Bought a Neptune 2 on a Black Friday sale, and I love it, and I'm happy to have the flaws pointed out, so I can address some of them.

[@henrik.norberg]

If Elegoo ever decide to make graphics cards they will fit right in :)

[@UserAbcd-wd4zo]

Yess

[@ColeHajek]

Not enough rgb lol

[@Oblithian]

I used to make graphics cards. Better than Nvida but half the price. How did you like it?

[@LeGo-ky9qs]

I'm glad my favorite local filament producer made an appearence on my favorite youtube channel

[@integza]

Thomas please tell me where you got that shirt! I WUANT DAT!

[@3Dbert]

I didn’t even know Intezga was such a connoisseur of good fashion. 🤯

[@simperdesignswede7878]

shouldn´t you have tomatoes on yours though? ;)

[@MadeWithLayers]

It's a 28 Palms shirt - not sure where you'd get them, it was a gift!

[@toothpickcreations]

absolutely.... Those T-shirts are soooooo much nice

[@coleihnen9918]

I love your videos

[@UncleJessy]

Great review! I really really really wish this printer was more readily available. It’s easily my favorite fdm printer at the moment and the one I’m using to print most of my Etsy jobs for customers. That screen position issue is easily my biggest gripe with the printer... that and I want some dedicated preheat options l.

[@VectorRoll]

My biggest gripe is that I can't use Prusa Slicer with it. I have bad luck with Cura. I wish I could find out why Prusa Slicer doesn't work for me. Other than that the Neptune 2 prints really well. At least when I print the Test Print that came with it. I also don't like the print surface. I swapped it out with a steel flex plate.

[@Petesahut]

Some on Amazon US right now. Just ordered one! 😄

[@spartanmc95]

Luckily just ordered one from your insta story 🙌

[@UncleJessy]

@@spartanmc95 woot woot. They have had a ton up the past few days

[@skyfly-2]

The bed is basically the same as the one on the Ender 3 "Classic" (not pro, V2). So it is kinda funny that this seems to be a benefit these days. I recently switched from the standard bed to glas because it has a flatter surface which makes life easier without ABL.

[@reedspcaemonkey3070]

I just ordered it, it is out of stock now. Thank you for the review it helped me decide on getting it.

[@danielkrah5129]

hm i think when you scale down a model the tolerances are tighter. So it should be normal that the screw doesn't fit.

[@Rob_TheOne]

Ordered one today. Love all your videos thank you.

[@MisterkeTube]

Why is none of these channels picking up the Voxelab Aquila? On paper and in the few videos available starring it, that would seem the new low-cost king, but getting reviews from trusted sources would really help decide...

[@catdisc5304]

I got an aquila like over a month ago and I can guarantee you, it *is* the low cost king. Pretty much a 1:1 copy of the ender 3 V2, some small differences but print quality is insanely good. Only thing I didn't like was the firmware, I flashed an adapted version of the ender 3 v2 firmware that also supports bltouch. I fricking loooove that machine!

[@DJ-tz9yg]

Bought my Neptune 2 a couple of weeks ago and am learning as a beginner, very happy with it! Decent printer.

[@MartinSchoenbacher]

Next week in Tom’s Vapoware Section: Duke Nukem Forever 😆

[@marcdraco2189]

Running on an Ender 3.

[@Zeldur]

I was waiting for the Saturn for a few months and eventually gave up waiting and bought the Anycubic Photon Mono X. Yes, it added like $200-$300 but it's actually available.

[@jamesk1619]

voxelab aquila is another ender 3 v2 alternative.. it's just as good and more importantly, it's available.

[@timmturner]

Just get the Voxelab Aquila

[@lewiscantplay8639]

I managed to pick it up in the UK. I added it to my Wishlist on Amazon for about two months and kept an eye on it. They are currently released in small quantities. As of purchase there where 15 available, all sold out by next day.

[@eddiemiller9000]

Great printer isn't it.

[@lewiscantplay8639]

@@eddiemiller9000 yeah, considering this is my first printer, I am very impressed with the print quality. I was also expecting to have more issues honestly. Other than struggling with the paper bed levelling method its worked well so far. I have since fixed this by using print bed level files. Much easier to do the levelling on the fly and in real time. I actually plan to make it an enclosure soon, and fix the minor safety concerns with the wire tin. My main goal is to set up octoprint with this so i can run it from my small workshop remotely at my computer in the house.

[@ianide2480]

Looks like I'll be buying as many of these as I have purchased a recent graphics card...

[@MrHristoB]

..and this is WHY I have built my own printer... I've got that Homers Tarantula for a birthday present from my wife and ended up printing parts for my own i3 Bear on it... Nice one Tom, honest and straightforward..

[@FrankBocker]

The catchy thumbnail is hilarious, largely because it's on one of the most factual and skeptical review-makers I follow I never liked the chorus of "Just get an Ender 3 you noob" so it's nice to have another good alternative. Now I can expand it to "Neptune 2 if you can find one, ender 3 if you can't, FLSUN Q5 if you like deltas, or something from Evnovo if you want that direct extruder"

[@Ballador]

I have a Neptune 2D (two color printer) and it has that same bed, I had the opposite from Thomas' experience in which I don't have great adhesion to the flex plate included and glue makes it so you have to battle to get it off. What I did do is, I got a magnetic flexplate from Anycubic and that has perfect adhesion. Now I have both Elegoo and Anycubic logos on my printer, and soon to have Creality as well when I replace the plastic extruders when they inevitably break and I replace them with metal ones.

[@LetsLearnThisTogether]

Thank you for this review. I've got to buy some printers for a class I'm teaching and couldn't decide between the Ender's or something else. You're awesome!

[@olafschermann1592]

There is a new Neptune 2S with a lot of upgrades out. And it is in stock!

[@simperdesignswede7878]

I Just got one of them this week and I can totally agree on Tom´s review! for the price it´s tough to beat. Got mine of of Italian Amazon although I live in Sweden, worked out very well! :)

[@dreaami3227]

I managed to snag a 2S and it’s scheduled to deliver Friday. I’m looking forward to learning how to use it!

[@spartanmc95]

Great review! Helped with my purchase decision, luckily was able to grab one, it’s gonna be my secondary printer while my ender 5 + is being fixed and for smaller stuff

[@surft]

I wipe down with isopropyl alchohol on the ender 3 v2 glass bed before I print and after that I've never had problems with bed adhesion for my PLA builds

[@eiv-gaming]

I'm gonna have to move up from my Ender 3 v1 eventually. I've modded it so much, it may as well be a new printer. Prusa is the goal but quality comes at a cost.

[@moren0d1]

The Voxelab Aquila may be a good comparison.

[@Taematoe]

in stock on amazon. just placed my order 5/24.21 8 am pst

[@admsteck]

While I understand and mostly agree with the idea of reviewing a printer as provided by the manufacturer, I think it would be beneficial to at least mention aftermarket support. Especially on cheap printers like these that may not have the best direct manufacturer support. Open source firmware, easy to source replacement and upgrade parts, and the online community around the ender 3 were important factors to me after my first printer with proprietary firmware and software stopped seeing any updates shortly after its release.

[@francescomuzi7698]

Ender 3's isn't opensource anymore, they only use Gd chips now that isn't compatible with any custom firmware

[@keithjohnson3218]

They are now available as I will be having mine delivered today.

[@patrickmaartense7772]

I have one bought a few months ago, the kids love it... it preforms better than the heavily modded cr 10 mini this is real good review showing the strengths and weaknesses of the printer since i have connected all printers to octoprint, i don't care about the screen/ the ease of use for the kids is a real bonus for me. and the price point was a great plus my 9year old did most of the assembly.

[@lemonysnicket6153]

I guess you just have to keep your eye on Amazon.. I got a neptune 2 three weeks ago, and i've snagged a Saturn at the beginning of this week when they were available on Amazon

[@Manxer]

I manage to snag one on Amazon when it first was announced. I consider myself lucky.

[@Underp4ntz_Gaming_Channel]

I bought a Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer few days ago for 113 euro's it is basically an Ender-3 V2 but with the screen horizontal... It's almost a ripoff. but they rip us off to so 50/50 i guess :D And yes the Elegoo Resin printers are pretty good quality. But I got too many Ender-3's so i wont buy this one too. OOORRR if its also around 100 euro's i get it. And yes that Voxelab is also silent and some say it has better part-cooling than the ender-3 v2 itself.

[@3dprintgreatgrimsby352]

I and a few of my group members managed to buy ours in the UK just before the Suez canal incident, from Amazon UK, but they sold out within an hour or so. When they eventually came back in stock it was the same story. It's a great little printer, that because of its pricing, will attract Creality buyers away if they can produce enough stock. My early version model has only two minor niggles, the mainboard blower fan is noisy and getting the filament through the runout detector and extruder assembly can be a pain if your filament is not straight. I don't know if it's just the earlier ones that have these minor issues but overall it's a very good machine.

[@Zachary3DPrints]

Great Review Thomas... Yeah those Elegoo machines are hard to get once they are just released by @Elegoo I'm happy that I could get the Mars 2 Pro

[@gammaprysem]

Just going to say I find the best ender 3 v2 knock off is the Voxelab Aquila due to its price and ease of set up.

[@redwraith6576]

I have an ender 3v2 and did not use the creality slicer. just use the normal cura. the settings there are really good and you will get amazing prints with it. And regarding the glass bed, I have the issue that I needed to ad glue stick to it, since my prints stick to well to it. Leave the creality slicer asside. Chep also testet the new cura profiles and he said that they nearly match his self build ones.

[@krzysztofmathews738]

Excellent and comprehensive review. Thank you.

[@britishfireworks]

I have the Neptune 2s and it’s awsome I highly recommend it

[@mortarriding3913]

I still can't get my head around how cheap they're selling these units for. I wonder if their low margins explain their inability to stock the hardware?

[@abileneaugie8961]

I"m finding the PEI magnetic bed from creality to be really great on my ender 5 plus. The same product for the ender 3 is much easier to find.

[@86abaile]

I actually saw the saturn available a couple of days ago for £450 on amazon. I figured they'd solved their supply issues and decided I'd hold off on buying it as I didn't need it right now. Boy am I kicking myself.

[@binarybrian]

Take my money already Elegoo! Meanwhile, I see new product announcements scheduled for May 13... Interesting business model.

[@AmusementLabs]

Any chance Elegoo can take the Neptune and Saturn and....PUUUUSH them together...

[@kyle29857]

I actually bought one of the only 4 on Amazon when Joe mentioned it on Twitter. The bed is almost too good for PETG, but yes, it works. The Filament sensor is prone to "sticking" so it doesn't always works. BUT, we also have an Ender 3 and Tom is right, its super comparable and $100 cheaper. If the Neptune 2 is ever available I'd buy another one.

[@thechris84567]

I managed to get my hands on a Saturn about a month ago had to get lucky in the morning one day, I have been subscribed to one of those in stock alerts and it seems they restock about once or twice a week

[@tenchuu007]

I ended up buying a Phrozen Mighty because Elegoo failed to have the Saturn in stock for months. Disappointing to hear they're still doing the same kind of thing with the Neptune.

[@theo8513]

I was lucky enough to get one of these last month. While I do love the printer its a bit disappointing that the community around it is so small due to there just not being enough of them out there. But on the bright side any issue I've had I just do a search for "Ender 3......" and my issue is always resolved. It seems 90% of the parts and fixes that are meant for/work for the Ender 3 work for the Neptune 2.

[@GeoDelGonzo]

For a second I thought it was gonna be a CR-10 Smart review lol the homing on that machine gives me anxiety. Ohh wait, that display on this Neptune 😮 that G-code preview is neat! (continues rambling, ignore me)

[@badrhari42]

In stock right now on amazon! Not sure how long it will last.

[@no-trick-pony]

The wobbly mains plug is a huge red flag for me. And it seems like it's not even standing flat on the surface? wadduheck? xD

[@kyletaylor6942]

It's on Amazon now

[@skaltura]

02:30 if you have to chisel print off from Ultrabase type bed YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG. Either lack of patience; Solution go for a cup of coffee before removing the part; Or you are using additional adhesive and/or way too clean bed with nozzle too close.

[@Plan-C]

OK I have to say it. Built an Anet A8 in2016 which is still running great on first nozzle and everything. Printed an Atom X with the A8 about 4 years ago (and documented it) which worked really well. Then it goes south. Bought a Tornado and fixed it 7 ways to Sunday for exclusively bigger prints (on a crap bed relying on Pritt Stick). Then I went Pi3Mk3S and ... great print quality but WTAF? is the saw noise doing diagonals? I have to kill it after 9pm. Silent stepsticks my f'ing bottom. Everything I have built or bought years earlier is 50% more quiet. I wish I was wrong.

[@npiper]

I just checked out the official pages for the Extruder XPETG and WOW, most grade school book reports go into more detail on their subject. Ctrl+C Ctrl+V -ing the links to your material safety sheets is not a replacement for selling me on your product.

[@gsto6408]

Available on Amazon NOW!

[@themountain59]

So...tell me now ...what is soooo much better on this printer compared to a Aquila ??

[@AnthonyOrtega-ib9jx]

We need your review for the neptune 3, or neptune 3 pro

[@rustyrudder1612]

It would be nice if they were available to order.

[@axelSixtySix]

@TOM it is normal for Elegoo to provide only the Config file for the Robin Firmware, because the other files of the system are compilled, so you can just change the parameters on the Config file anyways. On the other hand, I use the Robin firmware for more than 3 years on two printers and a CNC mill. It's a pretty stable firmware, easy to flash. In comparison Marlin or Reprap Firmware are overcomplicated. Robin is an excellent firmware for people who just want it stable and easy. All the features you want are in the Config file so why would you want more ?

[@zodd67]

11:35 Hmm I installed ferrules for my Ender 3 V2 recently, didn't know bare copper twisted would work too though I guess the screw blocks pinch the cables rather than screw in

[@MaxFromGermany]

Lucky me, I got one from Amazon. 😊 It is an awesome printer! I use a Cura Ender 3 Profile which works a little bit better than the Neptune elegoo profil.

[@OscarOliu]

Omg Thomas has turned into a younger version of my dad! Hawaiian shirts and goatees and all!

[@andraslibal]

I have an Elegoo resin printer so ... maybe I will get the Neptune instead of the Creality ... Seems to be available on ali express

[@pr0wl3r666]

Somewhat resembles the WANHAO D12 / 230 (single extruder version).

[@Nenea2a]

Hi !... Can you please, tell me the difference between the two types of printers: Ender 3 and CR? Wich is better and why? Or maybe to make a video to explain differences? Thank you

[@bzqp2]

Lost it at the screen hidden under the print bed xd

[@Frank-bc8gg]

Might partially be the chip shortage squeezing out smaller names, everyone is feeling the squeeze these days. Good vid as always

[@andy_liga]

Was thinking the same... Seems like many of the "beefier" trinamic drivers are really scarce, took me one month to get hold of some reputable 2209.

[@tijhuisjoeri]

I got my hands on one, its foing to be my frist 3d printer, realy looping forward

[@henrimcgowan5589]

Are you going to review the voxelab Aquila?

[@gammaprysem]

He really should, I recently purchased one as my 5th FDM printer and I'm in love with it.

[@ed-jf3xh]

If the only reason to get a 3d printer is for hobby and than you shouldn't get one if you really want to print usable 3d items, what is the alternative?

[@marcdraco2189]

I found the TronXY is a far better printer than the Ender 3 - provided you dump their horrific software and put a Marlin build on it. It's got a larger build volume, 32bit board, touchscreen, run-out detector, heated bed, auto-bed levelling, auto-restart (on original F/W) and it's really rather well built. I hated it at first but then I bought a couple of Enders and realised how spoiled I'd been! It's even wired better. It's not perfect, but it's a far better Ender 3 for about the same (or less) than an Ender 3.

[@swannschilling474]

Still loving my good old trusted Prusa printer, never failed me...all my designs where printed using it!! But its is insane how high the quality bar gets raised even on low cost printers these days!! 😊

[@christopherfreeman909]

What do you think about the Voxelab printer that looks like the Ender 3 v2 but it’s only $180?

[@Crypt1cmyst1c]

Everyone keeps saying you cant get it, but it's just over a month later and i see them. however, i bought an original ender 3 for the price of this thing, so...

[@DesignIncase]

I'd love to have the Neptune 2 but USPS just doesn't agree with that.

[@MoeReefs]

I will be interested in an ender 3 competing printer when someone starts making one that comes with bltouch and a v6 direct drive from the factory. Why is that so hard to do?

[@airaandrea703]

Why don't you do it then? I'd be a lot interested in it :)

[@MoeReefs]

@@airaandrea703 All of my printers are set up exactly like what I described. What I was trying to say is that I wish a manufacturer would make one like that other than Prusa.

[@risbill1]

So this makes me not feel so bad about ordering the V2. Got a great deal from 3Dprintersbay at $239.

[@tyaty]

I recently bought a lighly Neptune 2S for $100

[@PDjargon]

Did you manage to do the Saturn 2 review as I did a word search for it of your channel but have come up with nothing that mentions it in the title at least?

[@MyLeoOne]

My ender 3 came with the exact same bed as this one and it sucked. I bought an aftermarket glass plate and i prefer that

[@emanuelcalderon]

Maybe it's a gimmick? They just sell a couple to say they sold it. It seems like a garbage printer. Good job on the review.

[@DiThi]

It seems it's available in Amazon Spain. Your link redirects me there.

[@ikarian3612]

I got one from Elegoo Official Store on AliExpress (EU)

Please review the CR-5 Pro

[@runechristiansen7372]

Is 200 degrees too little for PLA?! I have always printed PLA at 200 and never had any problems. 🤷‍♂️

[@MadeWithLayers]

PLA prints fine at 200C, but you're limited in print speed and won't get the strongest parts. Of course, it depends on the exact filament used and on your specific printer - offsets of 10°C from one machine to the next aren't unusual.

[@Platttraining]

Great to hear from some who knows. After a year or so has your opinion on this Neptune changed? I have 2 MK3S+ and I bought a used MK2. I crave the Prusa reliability and support. I do not like to mod printers. I like to quickly design, print and sell. Would a Neptune now be good printer to add to my Prusa collection? Or just stay with Prusa?

[@Rafaelguitarplayer]

Don't think this quite accurate. The new tronxy XY-2 PRO has a leveling sensor and a titan extruder. Also comes with a flex plate for the bed, lcd touch screen, 32bt main board and tmc drivers. For the same amount of money.

[@moclan5661]

The Ender 3 v1 had that bed already.

[@fiferox]

Why no one use as a bed , glass with kapton on it. It pop when it cool.

[@juliusS0nn]

Regarding the tinned wire ends, looks like Elegoo reacted already. I got mine a few weeks ago and the wires were hot glued to the connectors, so they're not coming loose anytime soon :D but also you can't remove them if you wanted too ..

[@humbletypes6358]

Same! I opened mine up and there was a good amount of hot glue as well!

[@German2404]

Now that it's available, is this better than the standard ender 3?

[@MsJellyfan]

Copper wire is also soft, they float away under pressure, slower, but they do. Use ferrules, they seal the copper and are strong enough to resist for a loooong time. Greetings from a german electrician ;-)

[@3sotErik]

I've been looking regularly for 2 over months now. Have it bookmarked but I'm giving up.

[@Petesahut]

Right now on Amazon US

[@3sotErik]

@@Petesahut thanks a ton!

[@billkaroly]

Now we have the Neptune 2S at $229

[@AleeMaury]

I am buying my first 3D printer and I am trying to decide between the Ender 3 V2 and the Neptune 2s any advice or tips?