Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this in-depth Flashforge AD5X review, I put this $399 CoreXY multi-material 3D printer to the test. With support for PLA, PETG, and TPU—including multi-color and multi-material prints—the AD5X looks like a budget Bambu killer on paper. But does the hardware live up to the hype? And what about the locked-down Flashforge-Orca slicer, firmware limitations, and excessive filament waste? I cover print quality, performance, reliability, and all the software restrictions you need to know. If you're considering the AD5X or looking for the best affordable multi-material 3D printer in 2025, watch this first.
Products Highlighted (Amazon Affiliate Links):
Flashforge ADX5 - amzn.to/4o6ZoI5
Flashforge Basic PLA - amzn.to/44TZJXh
Elegoo Rapid PLA+ - amzn.to/4l4XIfI
Elegoo Rapid PETG - amzn.to/474LVKI
Timecodes:
00:00 - Opener
00:21 - "Late to the Party Pal!"
01:02 - Unboxing & Setup
03:12 - Software & Firmware
05:51 - Preping First Print
07:45 - Print Quality
08:48 - What a "Waste"
10:38 - Communication Problem!?
11:42 - More Print Projects
13:49 - Multi-color TPU Printing?
15:13 - Mixed-Material Printing
16:04 - Minimal to Zero Waste Multi-Material Printing
17:22 - Ease of Use!
18:47 - A Hardware Win
19:22 - A Software Fail
Find me on Social Media
Patreon: patreon.com/elevatedsystems
X: https://x.com/elevatedsystem1
My Studio Equipment (Paid Links)
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K Pro - amzn.to/3tA6ScP
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 - amzn.to/2VjqKSR
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ300 - amzn.to/2WJnxw6
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens - amzn.to/3quDgM0
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens -amzn.to/3uv13Of
Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 - amzn.to/3A9f9Vi
Magnus REX VT-5000 2-Stage Tripod - amzn.to/3GxsGJH
Neewer 72.4-Inch Camera Tripod - amzn.to/3fsRuqU
SMALLRIG Parabolic Softbox - amzn.to/3Hyvbxt
SmallRig RC 120D COB Light - amzn.to/3S9Grp4
Kshioe Softbox Lighting Kit - amzn.to/3A5vZEq
Neewer Camera Slider Motorized - amzn.to/3ltX54e
Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Mic - amzn.to/3fziRPv
SAMSON Q2U Dynamic Microphone - amzn.to/3ikExBe
Sennheiser XS Wireless Lavalier System - amzn.to/3ilSIpA
PreSonus Eris E3.5 Studio Monitor - amzn.to/3CcVx4d
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 USB DAC - amzn.to/3ZmyOOO
Gator Frameworks Deluxe Boom Stand - amzn.to/3fs7Os3
Glide Gear TMP100 Teleprompter - amzn.to/3CdgIDy
GLEAM Microphone Stand - amzn.to/3A4dth5
Davinci Resolve 17 & Speed Editor - amzn.to/3fsECRG
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA - amzn.to/3CCH5nV
Apple 2022 Mac Studio - amzn.to/3GXW6mS
LG 40WP95C-W 40” 5K2K Display - amzn.to/3ZtiiN6
INNOCN 15.6" OLED Portable Monitor. - amzn.to/3jEOqgu
BenQ ScreenBar Halo - amzn.to/3XpUZ52
Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound
epidemicsound.com
In this in-depth Flashforge AD5X review, I put this $399 CoreXY multi-material 3D printer to the test. With support for PLA, PETG, and TPU—including multi-color and multi-material prints—the AD5X looks like a budget Bambu killer on paper. But does the hardware live up to the hype? And what about the locked-down Flashforge-Orca slicer, firmware limitations, and excessive filament waste? I cover print quality, performance, reliability, and all the software restrictions you need to know. If you're considering the AD5X or looking for the best affordable multi-material 3D printer in 2025, watch this first.
Products Highlighted (Amazon Affiliate Links):
Flashforge ADX5 - amzn.to/4o6ZoI5
Flashforge Basic PLA - amzn.to/44TZJXh
Elegoo Rapid PLA+ - amzn.to/4l4XIfI
Elegoo Rapid PETG - amzn.to/474LVKI
Timecodes:
00:00 - Opener
00:21 - "Late to the Party Pal!"
01:02 - Unboxing & Setup
03:12 - Software & Firmware
05:51 - Preping First Print
07:45 - Print Quality
08:48 - What a "Waste"
10:38 - Communication Problem!?
11:42 - More Print Projects
13:49 - Multi-color TPU Printing?
15:13 - Mixed-Material Printing
16:04 - Minimal to Zero Waste Multi-Material Printing
17:22 - Ease of Use!
18:47 - A Hardware Win
19:22 - A Software Fail
Find me on Social Media
Patreon: patreon.com/elevatedsystems
X: https://x.com/elevatedsystem1
My Studio Equipment (Paid Links)
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K Pro - amzn.to/3tA6ScP
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 - amzn.to/2VjqKSR
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ300 - amzn.to/2WJnxw6
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens - amzn.to/3quDgM0
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens -amzn.to/3uv13Of
Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 - amzn.to/3A9f9Vi
Magnus REX VT-5000 2-Stage Tripod - amzn.to/3GxsGJH
Neewer 72.4-Inch Camera Tripod - amzn.to/3fsRuqU
SMALLRIG Parabolic Softbox - amzn.to/3Hyvbxt
SmallRig RC 120D COB Light - amzn.to/3S9Grp4
Kshioe Softbox Lighting Kit - amzn.to/3A5vZEq
Neewer Camera Slider Motorized - amzn.to/3ltX54e
Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Mic - amzn.to/3fziRPv
SAMSON Q2U Dynamic Microphone - amzn.to/3ikExBe
Sennheiser XS Wireless Lavalier System - amzn.to/3ilSIpA
PreSonus Eris E3.5 Studio Monitor - amzn.to/3CcVx4d
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 USB DAC - amzn.to/3ZmyOOO
Gator Frameworks Deluxe Boom Stand - amzn.to/3fs7Os3
Glide Gear TMP100 Teleprompter - amzn.to/3CdgIDy
GLEAM Microphone Stand - amzn.to/3A4dth5
Davinci Resolve 17 & Speed Editor - amzn.to/3fsECRG
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA - amzn.to/3CCH5nV
Apple 2022 Mac Studio - amzn.to/3GXW6mS
LG 40WP95C-W 40” 5K2K Display - amzn.to/3ZtiiN6
INNOCN 15.6" OLED Portable Monitor. - amzn.to/3jEOqgu
BenQ ScreenBar Halo - amzn.to/3XpUZ52
Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound
epidemicsound.com
