Artillery Sidewinder X4 Plus vs Prusa Research XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer
Technical comparison · Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM)
Sidewinder X4 Plus and XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer are not direct competitors: very different prices (~9.9×). Sidewinder X4 Plus costs less (~€405) and is the entry-level choice; XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer offers more capability at a higher price (~€3999). Judge them by budget, not head-to-head.
| Parameter |
Sidewinder X4 Plus
Artillery
F2 · Intermediate
|
XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer
Prusa Research
F2 · Intermediate
|
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~380–430 € | 3999 € |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 51 × 49 × 68 cm | 70 × 90 × 72 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 15.5 kg | 33.7 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 300 × 300 mm | 360 × 360 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 400 mm | 360 mm |
| Power (W) | 450 W | 235 W |
| Voltage (V) | — | 230 V |
| Maximum speed | 500 mm/s | 400 mm/s |
| Declared precision | 0.1 mm | 0.2 mm |
| Category specs | ||
| Footprint X×Y (short side) (mm) | 300 mm | 360 mm |
| Build height Z (mm) | 400 mm | 360 mm |
| Kinematics | — | CoreXY |
| Max nozzle temperature (°C) | 300 °C | 290 °C |
| Max bed temperature (°C) | 100 °C | 120 °C |
| Max print speed (mm/s) | 500 mm/s | 400 mm/s |
| Enclosed chamber | — | False |
| Filament sensor | — | True |
| Auto bed leveling | Mesh | Mesh |
| Standard nozzle diameter (mm) | — | 0.4 mm |
| Multi-extruder | — | True |
| Native Klipper | — | False |
| Input shaper | True | True |
| Multicolor printing | — | True |
| Multicolor requires accessory | — | False |
| Max colors | — | 5 |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The printer runs Marlin firmware with an open G-code protocol, compatible with any slicer like Cura, PrusaSlicer, or Simplify3D. Artillery Slicer is a customized version of Cura with optimized profiles. WiFi connectivity allows file transfer via a dedicated app but doesn't support a full web interface. Input shaping and pressure advance are preconfigured and factory-tuned, reducing initial calibration. | The machine is managed through PrusaSlicer, with dedicated profiles for multi-toolhead configuration and automatic calculation of purge towers or wipe-to-infill strategies. The firmware includes Input Shaper and Pressure Advance for vibration compensation at high speeds. Network connectivity allows job submission and remote monitoring via Prusa Connect, though this is not a requirement for using the machine. |
The differences that matter
- Price: Sidewinder X4 Plus 405 € vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 3999 € — Sidewinder X4 Plus wins (+887%)
- Work area: Sidewinder X4 Plus 300×300 mm vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 360×360 mm — XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer wins (+44%)
- Max print speed: Sidewinder X4 Plus 500 mm/s vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 400 mm/s — Sidewinder X4 Plus wins (+25%)
- Build height Z: Sidewinder X4 Plus 400 mm vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 360 mm — Sidewinder X4 Plus wins (+11%)
- Max bed temperature: Sidewinder X4 Plus 100 °C vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 120 °C — XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer wins (+20%)
Which one to choose
Choose Sidewinder X4 Plus if…
you value price, max print speed and build height z.
Choose XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer if…
you value work area and max bed temperature.
MakerSpecs is an independent atlas. We don't sell products: this comparison links to both sheets, where you'll find complete data and official links.