Anycubic Kobra S1 Max Combo – up to 16-color 3D printing
FlashForge Adventurer 5X (AD5X)
Beautiful prints when it behaves, but not as quiet or beginner-friendly as the ads suggest.
Enclosed FDM Best for: Experienced users, enclosed setup
Referral link coming soon
Overall ★★★☆☆ Approx. 3/5
Print Quality ★★★★☆
Ease of Use ★★☆☆☆
Noise Level ★★☆☆☆
Reliability ★★★☆☆

Quick take: Capable of excellent prints, but more temperamental and louder than the marketing suggests — better for experienced users.

The FlashForge AD5X is marketed as an easy, quiet, enclosed printer for anyone. After real use, the story is more complicated. It can produce excellent results, but there are tradeoffs that you don’t always hear in polished reviews.

What It Does Well

  • Print quality is genuinely excellent. When a print completes successfully, the surface finish and consistency are impressive.
  • The enclosure helps. Enclosed printing improves temperature stability and makes ABS and PETG more manageable.
  • Safer form factor. The enclosed design is nicer around curious hands or pets.

The Real Issues

  • It’s not quiet. Fan noise, enclosure resonance, and movement noise all add up. It’s not a silent machine.
  • Frequent jams with certain filaments. Clear filament and some budget spools can jam more often than they should.
  • Extra filament waste. Between purges, jams, and failed feeds, the waste is noticeable compared to some other printers.
  • Not truly beginner-friendly. If you don’t have at least some 3D printing knowledge, troubleshooting can get frustrating fast.
  • The hotend is picky. It feels more sensitive to filament quality and setup than many open-frame machines.

Who It’s For

The AD5X makes sense if you:

  • Already have some experience with 3D printing.
  • Want an enclosed printer for ABS or PETG.
  • Value an enclosed form factor for safety or environment reasons.

Who Should Avoid It

  • Absolute beginners who are new to 3D printing.
  • Anyone who expects a silent machine.
  • People relying heavily on clear or low-quality filament.
  • Anyone wanting a true “plug and print” experience.

Final Thoughts

The FlashForge AD5X is capable of fantastic print quality, but it demands more patience and know-how than the marketing implies. If you’re willing to work with its quirks, it can be a strong enclosed option — just don’t expect a drama-free beginner experience.