QIDI MakeBuddy Smart5 Review: A Small but Dependable 3D Printer

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Hi, YuTR0N here.

I’ve spent over 120 hours using QIDI’s compact MakeBuddy Smart5 and printed more than 20 parts. So far, I’ve had zero print failures. My impression at this point: a small but dependable companion.

By the way, I’m told that MakeBuddy is QIDI’s sub-brand!

The Smart5 is an enclosed CoreXY printer with a 180 × 180 × 180 mm build volume, aimed mainly at PLA and PETG. Alongside automatic bed leveling and a cool plate, it offers AI photo-to-3D modeling and STEAM learning projects. It launched simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on November 10, 2026. The U.S. standard model is priced at US$349.

No assembly needed to get started

The Smart5’s main unit needs no assembly. There aren’t even any bed-retaining screws to remove, which keeps the work after unboxing to a minimum. I think it’s an approachable design for someone choosing their first printer.

The Smart5’s spool holder simply slots into place, so I’m not counting that as assembly here. The A1 mini requires its spool holder to be secured with screws during initial setup.

For the A1 mini installation steps, see Bambu Lab’s official unboxing guide.

QIDI JOY turns photos into 3D models

The Smart5’s AI feature can create a 3D model from a single photo. Turning a portrait into a stylized figure is an easy example to understand. You could make ornaments or gifts based on yourself or your family.

I tried making a model of myself

I tried it with my own photo. In AI Maker, I opened “Anime Me,” selected a photo, then chose a style and pose. Everything from generating the character artwork to previewing and editing the 3D model happens inside the app.

The generated artwork even picked up the peace-sign pose and the look of my hoodie.

It looks like the app is still being optimized, and the preview’s aspect ratio is off, but being able to make a model of myself so quickly in the app is pretty nice!

I’m planning to print it in a single color first. Multicolor printing is possible with the QIDI BOX.

Choose a model and send it to print

There’s also a library of more than 1,000 models. You can select one on a smartphone, tablet, or PC and send it to the Smart5. That gives you a way to start with ready-made files, then try creating your own models once you’re comfortable.

Models uploaded to QIDI’s library can be sent to print directly from the app. Check the print settings and material usage on the model page, then tap “Print.” From there, select the plate, printer, and filament.

The QIDI JOY app is available for both iOS and Android.

QIDI JOY on the App Store / On Google Play

Check print progress from your phone

QIDI JOY shows the live camera feed, temperatures, and print progress on the same screen. The light switch, pause, and stop controls are there too.

Guides and support are in the app too

My Page also provides links to the official wiki, support, and the Smart5 guides. It looks like video and PDF tutorials will be added later.

Fluidd is available from a PC too

You can also access Fluidd through a browser. It brings together the camera feed, temperature graphs, print progress, and console, making it useful when working from a PC.

Once the printer is connected to Wi-Fi, check its IP address on the network screen. On a PC or phone connected to the same network, enter http:// followed by that IP address in the browser. Mine is http://192.168.11.125.

Enable Full Display to see the bed mesh

On my Smart5, “Full Display” was turned off by default in QIDI’s version of Fluidd. That hides the bed mesh from the Tune screen. Here is how to turn it on.

1. Open Settings using the gear icon in the left menu.
2. Open General.
3. Turn on Enable Full Display. The change is saved automatically.
4. Return to Tune to view the bed mesh. If the display does not update, reload the browser page.

You can view system information too

The system screen shows CPU and memory usage, free storage space, and MCU information.

Learning kits for a clock and campfire lamp

The STEAM courses have you watch a video, print the required parts, and combine them with the kit components to build a project. Examples include a clock and a lamp shaped like a campfire. You don’t just print an object: you learn about mechanisms and electronics while assembling it.

The unit I received came with clock and campfire-lamp kits. The package shown in the supplied product materials includes 4 spools of filament and 2 creator kits.

Smart5 specifications

Item	MakeBuddy Smart5
Printing process and motion system	FDM / CoreXY
Nominal build volume	180 × 180 × 180 mm (see the text for the default excluded area)
Printer dimensions	322 × 344 × 410 mm (in the manufacturer’s listed order)
Net weight	10 kg
Enclosure	Enclosed, with gaps around the display
Maximum toolhead travel speed (rated)	600 mm/s
Maximum acceleration (rated)	20,000 mm/s²
Maximum nozzle temperature	300°C
Maximum bed temperature	80°C
Standard nozzle / filament diameter	0.4 mm / 1.75 mm
Standard build plate	Double-sided Cool Plate Pro
Supported filaments	PLA / PETG
Materials not recommended	ABS / ASA
Display	4-inch, 800 × 480 full-color touchscreen
Bed leveling	Automatic, with a load cell integrated into the hotend
Hotend	Tool-free replacement
Camera	Up to 1080P, low frame rate, with timelapse support
Air filtration	G3 pre-filter + H12 HEPA + activated carbon
Status indication	Bed status light
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (2.4 / 5 GHz) / USB
Wired LAN (Ethernet)	No port
PC control	Fluidd access
Multicolor printing	QIDI BOX support
Accessories listed in the supplied materials	4 filament spools and 2 creator kits
Purge waste	Rear outlet

The 180 × 180 × 180 mm build volume is a useful size for small items, models, and storage parts. The nozzle supports up to 300°C and the bed up to 80°C.

An 11 × 22mm area at the front-right of the bed is excluded by default. To use the full 180 mm square, follow the official procedure to remove the cutter bracket and change the slicer settings.

Here it is beside me to give you a sense of its size.

There are also recesses near the bottom of the body to grip when carrying it.

Purge waste exits through an opening at the rear. There is no wired LAN port; the network connection is Wi-Fi.

Keep the filament dry

The compact body means some bends in the filament path are fairly tight. Filament that hasn’t been dried properly could snap along the way, so I think keeping it dry matters here.

A 1kg spool looks as though it would fit inside, so an option to dry filament on the bed, as on some other models, could be useful. I’d like to see that added in the future.

How the required space compares with the A1 mini

Both the A1 mini and Smart5 have a nominal 180mm-cube build volume. The A1 mini’s bed moves back and forth, while the Smart5’s moves up and down inside the body. When choosing a spot on a desk or shelf, that difference matters alongside the printer’s external dimensions.

The A1 mini needs about 390mm along the Y-axis for bed movement. Don’t judge whether it will fit on a shelf from the body’s 315mm depth alone; accounting for the bed’s travel makes it easier to choose a spot. The Smart5’s bed moves vertically inside the body, so it doesn’t extend out at the front or back. I still leave room for the side-mounted spool, waste and cables at the rear, and opening the front door.

The enclosed body also helps keep dust off the plate while the printer isn’t in use. Closing the door and top cover makes it easier to keep the plate clean and reduce first-layer adhesion problems caused by dirt.

The front door isn’t glass, and it feels light to open and close. In daily use, I appreciate not having to be as careful about breakage as I would with a glass door.

The Smart5 comes with the QIDI Cool Plate Pro, a low-temperature build plate for PLA. The A1 mini’s standard Textured PEI plate also supports PLA, but I like being able to use a cool plate with the Smart5 right out of the box.

Specifications: A1 mini official product page, Smart5 official manual.

Automatic leveling and the toolhead design

Bed leveling is automatic, taking care of that adjustment before a print.

Bed leveling and other options were enabled by default on the print screen. Not having to find and turn on those settings when getting started is a useful touch for a beginner-focused printer.

The toolhead cable has a support to keep it from drooping. It’s nice to see attention to small details like this on a compact printer.

The Z-axis area is tidy too, with a layout that looks less likely to trap bits of filament.

There are also manual adjustment knobs underneath the bed.

For thin, flat parts, check the first layer and adjust

I think automatic leveling is enough for most prints. With thin, flat parts, though, I found it worth checking the printed surface and adjusting.

The red box shows the result before adjustment, and the green box shows it afterward. On the same part, you can see how the rippled surface becomes smoother after adjustment.

This photo shows an adjustment made during printing, but I do not recommend adjusting it while a print is running.

Here, too, the sheet lifted at the front is the result before adjustment. The one lying on the plate is the result afterward.

Check your print with the chamber camera

The printer has an “AI camera” inside, letting you check a print even when you’re away. The Fluidd screenshot earlier in this article shows the actual camera view.

Tool-free hotend replacement

The hotend is an integrated assembly from the nozzle to the heatsink. It can be removed without a screwdriver.

If I had one request, I’d like the toolhead cover to open a little more smoothly. Pogo pins or a similar connection for the front-cover fan could also eliminate plugging and unplugging its cable, making it easier for beginners to handle.

Three-stage filtration in a small body

A filter unit fits into the top of the chamber. I appreciate that it’s included even in a printer this size.

The system combines a G3 prefilter, H12 HEPA filter, and activated carbon to reduce particles and odors. The chamber also uses flame-retardant materials.

The manufacturer’s stated capture rate for dust and fine particles is 99.5%.

A folding 4-inch screen and status light

The 4-inch full-color touchscreen arrives folded flat into the top of the printer. Raise it when you want to use it.

Before printing, the screen lets you check the model preview, plate and nozzle, and timelapse settings.

There is a small gap around the screen, but it doesn’t bother me much for mainly printing PLA.

I’ve added my ABS-GF25 print results below. I still plan to design a part to close the gap around the screen. I’ll share it once it’s ready. Tape is another option, but I want to try it myself first.

The light at the front of the bed indicates states such as sleep, ready, and printing. Quiet operation is another feature of this home-focused model.

What I’ve printed

Here are some examples of my prints.

Printing USSA’s VAULT in size S

I also printed USSA’s VAULT in size S without any problems.

For this print, I used Panchroma Matte PLA (formerly PolyTerra PLA), supplied by Sunstella.

Printing Voron DownDraft parts in QIDI ABS-GF25

I printed parts for Voron DownDraft on the Smart5 with QIDI ABS-GF25. For this print, I applied 3D printing glue to the Cool Plate Pro.

Automatic leveling, a camera, filtration, a cool plate, and a status light: features familiar from recent larger printers are all here in this compact body. Even the cable support is included. It feels as though the important details have been covered.

QIDI has plenty of machines aimed at engineering filaments, but this one focuses on easy everyday use with PLA and PETG. So far, it’s been a dependable companion for small items and storage parts.

If you’re interested in engineering filaments or a larger printer, you can also read my hands-on reviews of the Q2 Combo and Plus5.

The Smart5 is available for US$349

The Smart5 launched simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on November 10, 2026, at 11 p.m. JST. The standard model is US$349 at the official U.S. store.

Product information is based on QIDI’s supplied materials, the official manual, the launch announcement, and QIDI’s press release on PR TIMES. Manufacturer images are from materials supplied by QIDI.