Is a Used QIDI X-Series Worth It in 2026: X-Maker, X-Pro, X-Plus 2, X-CF Pro & More

The QIDI X-series is a family of enclosed FDM printers from 2018–2021, ranging from the compact X-Smart (160×150×150 mm build) to the large-format X-CF Pro (300×250×300 mm), with hotends from 250 to 350 °C and true out-of-the-box printing. Every model is now discontinued, but they live on in the used market. This guide breaks down which ones are worth buying used in 2026 — and which to skip.

What the QIDI X-series is, and why it was discontinued

QIDI Technology is a Chinese maker from Zhejiang that built its name on affordable enclosed printers. What ties the whole X-series together is the enclosed chamber, a direct-drive extruder, and factory assembly — the printer arrives built and prints almost immediately. The higher-end models add a signature feature: two swappable print heads (a standard one and a high-temperature one) for different materials.

The line wasn't retired over quality — it was retired over speed. The old Cartesian and early CoreXY machines print at 30–150 mm/s, while QIDI's own modern CoreXY printers on Klipper firmware hit 300–600 mm/s. The X-series was replaced by the X-Max 3, X-Plus 3 and the Q-series (Q1 Pro, Q2, Plus4, Max4). For old-vs-new, see our QIDI vs Bambu Lab comparison.

• 2018: X-One 2, X-Smart, X-Pro — the first enclosed budget machines, manual bed leveling
• 2019: X-Maker, X-Plus, X-Max — enclosed chamber, and on the bigger models, two swappable heads for engineering plastics
• 2020–2021: X-Plus 2, X-Max 2 and the industrial X-CF Pro — 3rd-gen print assemblies (dual-gear on the X-Max 2 and X-CF Pro), with CoreXY on the X-CF Pro; the budget i-Mate, with a single direct drive, also arrived in this period
• 2023 onward: replaced by Klipper-based CoreXY machines — X-Max 3, X-Plus 3, X-Smart 3 and the Q-series

What to check when buying used

• Parts availability. Every model is discontinued. The PTFE tube inside the hotend bakes and degrades over time, which is a classic clog source. Genuine nozzles, PTFE and thermistors are still sold by QIDI and its dealers, plus there are plenty of cheap third-party ones. Always check completeness — the higher-end models should include the second head.
• Manual vs auto bed leveling. Auto-leveling exists only on the X-Maker, X-Plus 2 and X-CF Pro (which uses a BLTouch probe). The X-Smart, i-Mate, X-Pro and original X-Plus are leveled by hand with a sheet of paper — and you'll re-level after shipping.
• Hotend temperature and materials. Entry models (250 °C) handle PLA, PETG, TPU and, with care, ABS. The higher-end 300 °C models (X-Plus 2, X-Max 2) and the 350 °C X-CF Pro, plus the enclosure, print nylon, polycarbonate and carbon-fiber composites.
• Electronics and firmware. The boards are proprietary and the official firmware is frozen at the 'stable version' — no new features. USB printing via OctoPrint isn't available on most models.
• Slicer. The stock QIDI Print (a Cura fork) or ready-made profiles for Cura, PrusaSlicer and Simplify3D. OrcaSlicer and QIDIStudio target the newer Klipper machines and don't know the legacy X-series out of the box.
• Speed. 30–150 mm/s is slow by 2026 standards. You buy a legacy QIDI for the enclosure and materials, not for speed.
• Size and weight. The big models are heavy: the X-CF Pro is 32.5 kg and the X-Max 2 around 28 kg. You'll need a solid table and space. Even the compact X-Maker weighs 21.9 kg.

Compact enclosed machines for home and classroom: X-Maker, i-Mate, X-Smart, X-Pro

These are the entry models with a small build area. Their strength is an enclosed chamber on a budget: quieter than open printers, safer around kids, and better with ABS. All of them print PLA, PETG and TPU with no drama.

QIDI X-Maker — auto-leveling and a camera

The X-Maker (2019, ~$459 at launch) has a 170×150×160 mm build. It's the only one in this group with both auto bed leveling and a built-in 1080p camera, so you can watch prints from your phone. Quiet, safe, and ready to go. Downsides: the small build area and 21.9 kg weight for such a modest volume. Worth buying used if you want a simple enclosed printer with auto-leveling and remote monitoring — for home, school or a library.

QIDI i-Mate — the quietest, with the biggest build

The i-Mate (2021, ~$359) has a 260×200×200 mm build — the largest in this group. TMC2209 drivers keep it around 50 dB, and it ships with a spare 0.2 mm nozzle for fine detail. But the bed is leveled by hand (owners often add a BLTouch), and the 250 °C hotend effectively limits it to PLA, PETG and TPU. Worth buying used if you value quiet and a larger build for everyday printing; for reliable ABS, look at the higher-end 300 °C models.

QIDI X-Smart — a solid steel workhorse

The X-Smart (2018, ~$399) has a 160×150×150 mm build, a heavy all-steel milled frame, and a magnetic PEI plate. Simple and reliable, but the most basic: manual leveling and no filament runout sensor. Note: don't confuse it with the X-Smart 3 (2023) — that's a completely different Klipper CoreXY machine. Worth buying used only at a low price, as a cheap enclosed printer for small parts.

QIDI X-Pro — dual extruders on a budget

The X-Pro (2018, ~$499) has a 230×150×150 mm build and two independent extruders — that means two-color prints and dissolvable supports, a rarity at this price. Structurally it's a close relative of the Flashforge Creator Pro. Downsides: manual leveling, loud blower fans, and factory slicer profiles you'll want to tune. Worth buying used if you specifically need two-color printing or dissolvable supports on a budget.

For engineering materials: X-Plus 2, X-Max 2, X-CF Pro

The higher-end X-series is all about the enclosed chamber and high-temp heads. People buy them for nylon, polycarbonate and carbon-fiber composites. One key detail: the two heads here are swappable, not simultaneous — you physically change the assembly for the task, so there's no true multi-material printing like an auto-feed system. If you want to go even cheaper, the predecessors are right there too — the original X-Plus and X-Max from 2019 (the X-Max has its own known-issues writeup).

QIDI X-Plus 2 — mid-range with a 300 °C hotend

The X-Plus 2 (2020, $899 at launch, dropped to ~$499 by end of life) has a 270×200×200 mm build. It ships with two swappable 3rd-gen assemblies: a standard one to 250 °C and a high-temp one to 300 °C for nylon, polycarbonate and carbon fiber. It has auto-leveling and a double-sided magnetic PEI plate. Downsides: the head-swap hassle, noisy drivers, flaky Wi-Fi, and a sluggish touchscreen. Worth buying used as an approachable entry into engineering materials with auto-leveling; the current successor is the X-Plus 3.

QIDI X-Max 2 — a big enclosed build

The X-Max 2 (2021) has a 300×250×300 mm build. Two swappable 3rd-gen dual-gear assemblies (standard to 250 °C, high-temp to 300 °C), an industrial dual-Z axis with 12 mm rails, and a double-sided PEI plate. The chamber holds around 59 °C while printing ABS, so large parts don't lift off the bed. Downsides: slow by today's standards, dated electronics (a 5-inch screen, proprietary board), and about 28 kg. Worth buying used if you need a large enclosed build for engineering plastics at a low price. The current successor is the X-Max 3.

QIDI X-CF Pro — built for carbon fiber and nylon

The X-CF Pro (2021, ~$1099 at launch) is the only CoreXY among the seven models covered here, and QIDI spent 13 months developing it specifically for carbon-fiber composites and nylon. It has a hardened dual-gear head to 350 °C, a second standard head for PLA and ABS, 20-point BLTouch auto-leveling, and a built-in filament drying chamber. The build is 300×250×300 mm and it weighs 32.5 kg. Downsides: price, weight, and a modest 60–120 mm/s. Worth buying used if you genuinely need carbon fiber and nylon: it's one of the cheapest honest paths to those materials.

Slicer and firmware for the legacy QIDI

The stock slicer for the X-series is QIDI Print 6.5.4, a fork of UltiMaker Cura. It's incompatible with QIDI's newer high-speed Klipper printers, but it supports the whole old lineup (X-Max I/II, X-Plus I/II and others). If you don't like QIDI Print, QIDI provides ready-made profiles for Cura, PrusaSlicer, Simplify3D and ideaMaker. OrcaSlicer and QIDIStudio are for the new Klipper machines; they only know the legacy X-series if you convert the printer to Klipper yourself (in which case our OrcaSlicer guide helps). The official firmware is frozen at the 'stable version' — you can still download it from the QIDI software page, but no new features are coming.

QIDI X-series comparison table

* The X-Max 2 levels via an assisted point-by-point routine; it has no true auto-leveling probe like the X-CF Pro's BLTouch.

Common legacy-QIDI problems

Most issues with old QIDIs aren't brand-specific quirks — they're the usual FDM problems. We have a detailed guide for each:

• First layer won't stick (especially after a used unit ships) — the complete first-layer guide
• Clogs from a degraded PTFE tube — causes, cold pull and prevention
• ABS and nylon warping — how to beat warping
• Wet nylon and carbon fiber — how to dry filament properly
• Maintenance and prevention — cleaning, lubrication, inspection
• Which filament to pick — PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU
• ABS and nylon fumes and ventilation — 3D-printing safety

Is a used QIDI X-series worth it in 2026?

Short answer: yes, if the price is low, you specifically want enclosed engineering-material printing on a budget, and you're OK with manual calibration, modest speed, and sourcing parts yourself. No, if you expect speed, multicolor printing and full automation — for that, go to a modern model.

• Nylon and carbon fiber on a budget → X-CF Pro (purpose-built for CF), X-Max 2 (big build), X-Plus 2 (smaller and cheaper)
• Two colors and dissolvable supports → X-Pro, the only one in the line with true two-color printing
• A quiet, simple enclosed printer for PLA/PETG/ABS → X-Maker (auto-leveling and a camera), i-Mate (quiet, larger build), X-Smart (solid and cheap)

If you want speed, multicolor printing (QIDI Box), current firmware and support, then instead of a used unit get a modern QIDI Q1 Pro, Q2 or X-Max 3. For how QIDI stacks up against its main rival, see QIDI vs Bambu Lab.

FAQ

Sources

• QIDI — Software & Firmware (legacy models, QIDI Print)
• 3DToday — QIDI X-Plus review (two swappable heads)
• Habr / Top 3D Shop — QIDI X-CF Pro for carbon fiber and nylon
• 3D Print General — QIDI X-CF Pro review
• Top 3D Shop — QIDI i-Mate review
• GitHub — Klipper upgrade for the QIDI X-CF Pro (tintad)
• Troubleshooting Lab — common QIDI Tech issues