This plug-and-play 3D printer Is $299 and arrives before Christmas

This model passed our “idiot test” because it’s designed to work right out of the box.
 By 
Tabitha Britt
 on 
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The ELEGOO Centauri Carbon 3D Printer against a pink and purple background.
The Centauri Carbon is fully enclosed and ready to print right out of the box. Credit: Mashable Photo Composite | ELEGOO

SAVE 21%: As of Dec. 19, you can get the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer for $299.99, down from $379.99, at Amazon.


If you've been interested in giving 3D printing a go, but haven't moved forward due to budget restraints or skill level, we found a 3D printer that's both easy to use and affordable.

Right now, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer is on sale for $299.99, down from $379.99, at Amazon. That’s a 21% discount on what our freelance reviewer, Adam Doud, says is "truly beginner-friendly." It also arrives before Christmas, so you can have it unboxed and printing in about 20 minutes.

This machine is designed to be "plug-and-play." Unlike older printers that require a lot of tinkering, it arrives fully assembled and has a full auto-calibration cycle that levels itself.

"I'm sure there are more advanced models for hardcore 3D printing hobbyists," writes Doud. "But when I consider that my entire journey from unboxing the printer to printing 24/7 happened over less than a week, I'm impressed both with Elegoo for making an idiot-friendly 3D printer that even I could understand, and with myself for finally embracing a new category of tech that I had previously thought beyond my abilities."

It also has flagship-level features that usually cost twice as much, like a fully enclosed design that keeps noise down and helps maintain the right internal temperature for higher-quality prints. It’s also super fast (up to 500 mm/s print speeds) and comes with a built-in camera so you can monitor your progress in the mobile app while you're in another room.

Topics 3D Printing

Mashable Image
Tabitha Britt
Freelance Writer

Tabitha Britt is an award-winning freelance journalist, editor, and SEO/AEO strategist. Aside from reviewing dating apps and sex toys for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master's degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School for Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online publications, including National Geographic, Glamour, Better Homes & Gardens, and Everyday Health.

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