Creality
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
Entry-level Ender with CR Touch auto leveling, 250 mm/s top speed and a 220 x 220 x 250 mm bed for $179.
$179Price checked October 28, 2026
Best for First 3D printerBest for PLA and PETG hobby printsBest for Students and familiesBest for Low-cost second printer
Overview
The Ender-3 V3 SE is Creality's entry-level Cartesian printer, rated up to 250 mm/s with 2,500 mm/s2 acceleration. It prints 220 x 220 x 250 mm, uses CR Touch auto leveling with a strain sensor for Z-offset, and reaches 260 C at the nozzle.
What it is
The Ender-3 V3 SE is Creality's lowest-cost Ender-3 V3 model, released in August 2023. It is a classic open-frame Cartesian printer with a moving bed, a "Sprite" direct extruder and automatic leveling. It is aimed at first-time buyers who want a printer that works with little setup and costs less than $200.
Key specs that matter
- Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm.
- Speed and acceleration: up to 250 mm/s and 2,500 mm/s2 per Creality, with a typical speed of 180 mm/s. That is slower than the KE and V3, but quicker than older Ender-3 models.
- Temperatures: nozzle up to 260 C with a brass 0.4 mm nozzle, bed up to 100 C.
- Materials: Creality says the Sprite extruder works well with PLA, PETG and flexible TPU.
- Leveling: CR Touch for auto leveling plus a strain sensor for automatic Z-offset.
- Connectivity: SD card. There is no Wi-Fi.
- Screen: 3.2 in color screen with a control knob.
- Accuracy: plus or minus 0.1 mm per Creality's comparison table.
Who it suits
The V3 SE suits beginners, students and families who mostly print PLA and PETG and want a low entry price. It is also a reasonable second printer for someone who wants a cheap machine to run simple jobs while a faster printer handles bigger work. Because it shares the Ender-3 layout, there is a large body of community guides, upgrade parts and slicer profiles built around this frame style, which helps when learning to troubleshoot. Its direct-drive extruder also makes it a better first choice for flexible TPU than older Bowden-tube Ender models.
What to know before buying
- It is still on sale. The official US store lists it at $179, down from a regular $199.
- 260 C limit. The brass nozzle tops out at 260 C, which rules out some engineering materials and abrasive filled filaments that need hardened nozzles and higher temperatures.
- No network printing. Files go over SD card, so there is no Wi-Fi job sending or app monitoring out of the box.
- No enclosure. ABS and ASA are not on Creality's suggested list for this model, and an open frame makes them hard to print well.
- Slower motion. At 2,500 mm/s2 acceleration it will not match the print times of the V3 KE, V3 or K1 series, especially on parts with lots of short moves.
- Single color only. There is no multicolor system.
- If you want Wi-Fi and a 300 C hotend in the same layout, the Ender-3 V3 KE is the closer step up; for an enclosure, look at the K1C.
Specifications
| Type | FDM |
|---|---|
| Price | $179 |
| Build volume | 220×220×250 mm |
| Max speed | 250 mm/s |
| Multicolor | No |
| Enclosed | No |
| Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Connectivity | SD card |
| Noise | Not listed |
| Release year | 2023 |
Pros and cons
Pros
- At $179 on the official US store, it is one of the lowest-cost auto-leveling printers Creality sells.
- CR Touch auto leveling plus a strain sensor for Z-offset removes most manual first-layer calibration.
- The Sprite direct extruder is listed by Creality as working well with PLA, PETG and flexible TPU.
- The 220 x 220 x 250 mm volume matches the larger Ender-3 V3 and fits most everyday prints.
- Creality lists printing accuracy of plus or minus 0.1 mm, matching the more expensive V3 KE.
- The simple Cartesian layout is easy to understand, maintain and repair for first-time owners.
Cons
- The 260 C maximum nozzle temperature limits it to common materials like PLA, PETG and TPU.
- There is no Wi-Fi, so print files must be moved by SD card.
- Rated at 250 mm/s and 2,500 mm/s2, it is noticeably slower than the KE, V3 and K1 series.
- There is no enclosure, so ABS and ASA are hard to print well without adding one.
- The 3.2 in knob screen is more basic than the touchscreens on the KE and V3.
- There is no camera or multicolor system, so monitoring and color changes are manual.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Ender-3 V3 SE need assembly?
Yes, some assembly is required. Creality describes the process as quick, and after assembly the CR Touch and strain sensor handle leveling and Z-offset.
Does the Ender-3 V3 SE have Wi-Fi?
No. Creality lists SD card for file transfer. For Wi-Fi in the same family, look at the Ender-3 V3 KE.
Can it print ABS?
Creality's suggested materials for the SE are PLA, PETG and TPU. The nozzle reaches 260 C and the bed 100 C, but without an enclosure ABS is likely to warp.
Can it print TPU and other flexible filament?
Yes. Creality says the direct-drive Sprite extruder works well with flexible TPU, which is harder to feed on Bowden-tube printers.
Does it work with third-party filament?
Yes. It takes standard 1.75 mm spools from any brand, as long as the material prints at or below 260 C.
Sources
Verdict
The Ender-3 V3 SE is a sensible pick for beginners who want automatic leveling and a full-size Ender bed at the lowest price, mainly for PLA, PETG and TPU. Buyers who want Wi-Fi, faster prints, higher-temperature materials or an enclosure should look at the Ender-3 V3 KE or K1C.
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