Prusa CORE One+ Explained: New Features, Free Upgrade Path, and the INDX Multi-Material System

CORE One Gets a Quiet but Meaningful Upgrade

Prusa has a habit of improving its printers long after launch — often without fanfare, and often in ways that matter most to people who already own one. The CORE One+ is exactly that kind of upgrade. Announced in January 2026, it takes the original CORE One (launched in 2024) and adds a handful of hardware and firmware refinements that make day-to-day printing noticeably smoother.

The best part? If you own a CORE One, the upgrade is free if you print the parts yourself, or low-cost via Prusa's official upgrade kit. You do not need to buy a whole new machine.

What Is Actually New in the CORE One+?

The CORE One+ carries over all the firmware improvements Prusa shipped since the original launch — including better VFA (vertical face artefact) suppression and tuned motion profiles. On top of that, three hardware changes come across from the larger CORE One L:

1. Automatic Top Vent Operation

This is genuinely useful. The Nextruder now opens or closes the top vent automatically depending on what filament you are printing. Low-temp materials like PLA and PETG get an open vent for cooling; high-temp materials like ABS and PC-CF get a closed vent to maintain chamber temperature. Previously you had to remember to do this manually before each print — a small but easy thing to forget, especially when switching filaments. Now it just handles itself.

2. Easy Flex Loading

Flexible filaments have always been awkward to load through PTFE tubes — they kink, bunch, and generally misbehave. The CORE One+ adds a redesigned filament insertion point with a manual switch that makes loading flexibles significantly less of a fight. If you print TPU or other flexibles with any regularity, this change alone is worth the upgrade.

3. Redesigned Spoolholder

The new bayonet-style spoolholder is modular — you can swap the body for a wider version that takes 2 kg Prusament spools, and it doubles as a drybox mount. Small thing, but anyone who runs moisture-sensitive materials like nylons, TPU, or PA-CF will appreciate not having to bodge a solution.

How to Upgrade Your Existing CORE One

Prusa has made the upgrade straightforward in two ways:

• Print it yourself: All parts are free on Printables. You reuse the magnets and screws from your existing machine. The only thing you need to source is a rubber O-ring (25x3.5 mm). The community has already remixed 3D-printable O-ring alternatives too.
• Buy the upgrade kit: Prusa's e-shop sells an official kit with all the printed parts ready to install. Follow the official upgrade manual, and stick on the included '+' sticker when done.

Existing CORE One owners continue to receive full firmware support regardless of whether they upgrade — Prusa has confirmed the original machine stays supported and INDX-compatible.

The Bigger Picture: INDX Multi-Material System

The CORE One+ is designed from the ground up to work with Bondtech INDX, an 8-material multi-tool upgrade developed in partnership between Prusa Research and Bondtech. Announced at Formnext 2025, INDX is one of the most technically interesting multi-material systems to emerge in years.

Unlike filament switchers (which pull material back and forth through a shared hotend and produce a lot of purge waste), INDX uses a true toolchanging architecture. Each of the eight materials gets its own dedicated toolhead with a self-adjusting dual-extrusion feeder that adapts to different material hardnesses automatically — no manual tuning per material combination.

The key differentiator versus the Prusa XL: INDX uses a passive toolchange system, where toolheads sit on a rack and are picked up by the gantry. The XL uses an active system where each toolhead has its own motor. Passive is cheaper and faster for head-swaps; active is more capable for very demanding setups. For most users, INDX will be the right call.

INDX was listed as available Q1 2026 — so it is either already shipping or very close as you read this.

CORE One+ vs Prusa XL: Which Multi-Material Path Is Right for You?

Prusa addressed this question directly in their February 2026 XL blog post. Here is the short version:

• CORE One+ with INDX: Compact footprint, passive toolchanging, up to 8 materials, lower entry cost. Best for most makers who want serious multi-material capability without a large-format machine.
• Prusa XL: Larger 360x360x360 mm build volume, active toolchanging, now with a $200 price reduction for 2026. Best for users who need the extra space or higher throughput.

Both machines support the upcoming silicone toolhead (Q1 2026) and pick-and-place toolhead (late 2026), so the ecosystem is shared — size and toolchange architecture are the differentiators.

Should You Buy the CORE One+ Now?

If you are looking for a premium enclosed CoreXY printer with genuine multi-material capability, the CORE One+ is one of the most compelling options available in 2026. The INDX upgrade pathway means you are buying into a growing platform, not a dead-end machine. And the free upgrade path for existing owners is classic Prusa — treating buyers as long-term customers rather than upgrade fodder.

Buy the Prusa CORE One+ from Prusa →

Quick Specs

• Build volume: 250x220x270 mm
• Motion system: CoreXY, enclosed chamber
• Frame: All-steel exoskeleton
• Multi-material: Bondtech INDX compatible (up to 8 materials, Q1 2026)
• New in +: Auto top vent, easy flex loading, modular bayonet spoolholder
• Upgrade path: Free DIY via Printables or official kit from Prusa e-shop