Prusa Research XL, Core One, and Core One L Get Free Second-Generation Upgrades

Prusa Research announced that its entire current lineup of printers is getting a free second-generation refresh. The Prusa XL, Core One, and Core One L will all ship as "plus" variants starting immediately, and anyone with an existing order gets the upgrade at no extra charge.

What the upgrades actually change

The biggest jump goes to the Prusa XL. It now has the same 360-degree cooling system that debuted on the MK4S, plus a permanently mounted eddy-current sensor for toolhead calibration that Prusa says is 20 times faster than the old pin-tapping method. High-flow nozzles ship as standard, and GT1.5 belts replace the previous belts for cleaner surface finish. An optional enclosure upgrade with chamber heating is also available.

The Core One+ (Gen 2) gets the same GT1.5 belts and an integrated nozzle wiper, the most requested community modification. Its heatbed mounting system has been redesigned to eliminate the initial heat-soaking step for materials like PLA and PETG, so prints start sooner.

The Core One L+ receives the GT1.5 belts and integrated nozzle wiper as well. Because the standard Core One L already had most of the Core One+ design improvements, its upgrade kit is notably inexpensive.

A new HT Hotend option will arrive in September for the CORE One lineup. It reaches 400C, unlocking engineering filaments such as PEKK-CF and PPS-CF that previously required a separate machine.

Upgrade path for existing owners

Prusa Research will sell individual upgrade kits through its webstore starting in September. Buyers can pick and choose which components to install. The MK4S was not included in this refresh, though Prusa says it will continue supporting the machine.

Software changes coming with the hardware

Prusa Slicer 3.0 is scheduled to release in a few weeks. A new Prusa Connect Local will also replace the aging PrusaLink, making LAN connectivity simpler.

The refresh is notable because Prusa is upgrading machines already in customers' hands rather than forcing a new purchase. That approach matters in a market where several competitors abandoned older models within a year of release.