Creality's K2 Plus and K2 Plus Combo, the most anticipated large-format FDM 3D printers for the second half of 2024, have finally started pre-orders in the domestic market.
What kind of 3D printer is the K2 Plus?
K2 Plus Introduction Video
K2 Plus Combo Introduction Page
https://www.creality.com/products/creality-k2-plus-cfs-combo
The K2 Plus is a new large-format multi-color and multi-filament printer from Creality, a company that owns some of the world's largest personal FDM printer users and shares the market with Bambu Lab in the recent high-speed printer market. Among Core XY structure printers, it is one of the best in terms of specifications among existing devices.
Key specifications include multi-color printing up to 16 colors, a new nozzle system, a leveling system and Z-axis stabilization, a new motor system, a large build size of 350 x 350 x 350, and features such as an active chamber heater, which is expected to play a significant role in maintaining temperature, similar to recent models.
The multi-color filament system is one of the most significant features of Bambu Lab, which brought a major windfall to existing FDM printers. As a competitor, Creality has also released this product, garnering significant attention since the first half of the year. Following a limited quantity event in early June offering up to 50% off, the product received a great deal of interest from global users.
What is the domestic official launch pre-order price?
The price officially announced through a domestic authorized retailer is 1,983,300 KRW for the standalone K2 Plus unit and 2,288,600 KRW for the combo product, which includes the CFS.
The price revealed on the Creality official website for the combo product is 1,499 USD, so it seems that it will be released in Korea at a quite good price, similar to other products.
Based on today's exchange rate, the simple dollar conversion price is approximately 2.09 million KRW, but this price excludes VAT; including VAT, it comes to approximately 229.9 million KRW, so it appears to have been released at a price that is acceptable even if it's just a few hundred thousand KRW. (We assumed customs duties are exempt as it is a 3D printer product.)
In particular, it appears that pre-orders are being conducted with an approximately 5% discount, as purchasing the standalone unit during this pre-order applies an 83,000 KRW discount, and purchasing the combo applies a 110,000 KRW discount.
In addition, the official sellers providing Creality products in the country appear to offer similar additional benefits. They reportedly provide three 1kg Hyper PLA spools, which corresponds to a benefit of about 66,000 KRW. However, considering the purchase of a product close to 2 million KRW, it seems a bit disappointing.
In the meantime, it appears that official domestic distributors are utilizing their capabilities to prepare for 3D printer education support. Since large-format printing, such as with the K2 Plus, requires a certain level of basic knowledge of 3D printing, it seems important to receive education and technical support through authorized sellers.
Additionally, considering that this is a relatively high-priced product for Creality, which sells budget printers, and recalling how Creality previously troubled many users with early defects, I suggest you consider purchasing from a seller that provides reliable AS support and technical support.
If you are considering purchasing the K2 Plus or K2 Plus Combo through this pre-order, please apply via the pre-order form below.
Creality K2 Plus & ComboPre-orders Application Form
How Good Is the K2 Plus?
In fact, even users who successfully purchased the K2 Plus through an early 50% discount are still unable to receive the product smoothly, and concerns that there might be issues with the early units can be found on Reddit, such as looking at demonstration results of early products.
However, Creality has postponed its release schedule to improve quality and finish, and based on this, sharing materials with sellers that allow you to glimpse the quality of the K2 Plus suggests that a product showing quite a high level of results is likely to be sold.
Of course, the photos above likely only share the successful prints, but the quality is surprisingly good, so I'm looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, it seems difficult to find reviews from general users yet.. However, since pre-orders have started, I think reviews from users and reviewers will start to appear soon. Therefore, those considering pre-orders should apply first and consider the final purchase while looking at actual user reviews.
Unlike last year, where they rushed to launch products without caring at all about basic initial quality, seeing that they are adjusting the schedule and preparing the product while apologizing to early buyers rather than facing criticism about the schedule, I feel that they are definitely paying more attention to initial quality in various ways compared to last year. (Of course, if you buy a 2 million won product and the quality is bad like last year's K1 series... it would be a big problem, right? )
If possible, I will definitely try it out and leave a review. It is a product I was looking forward to so much that I even tried clicking to purchase. If I get the chance, I want to use it and run various tests.
This concludes the information on the Creality K2 Plus pre-orders that have officially started.
Thank you for reading the long post.