Update, 2026. This printer is no longer on sale, and the shop links below died along with Gearbest. I have left the review up because the build notes and the general lessons still apply, but do not go hunting for one of these.
What I recommend now for FDM 3D printing: Anycubic. Here is my Kobra S1 Combo review, and my tools page has the rest of what I actually use.
As usual with the Creality line of 3d printers, the CR-10 Mini is a kit in that you have to put some screws into the frame, but it is not a complete “set your weekend aside” kit.
Really you should be up and running in minutes.
A few screws to make the uprights sturdy, some cables that are all labeled, with the nifty aviation cables into the control box, then level and you are away!
This guy, like the other CR-10 printers, has an LCD control, heated bed, and aluminum extrusion construction.
There are only two differences that sets it apart from my beloved regular CR-10 and big-boy CR-10 S5 printers … rather than 300mm x 300mm plate, it has a 300mm x 220mm x 300mm large build area, and because of the reduced print area, it is also available to buy at a lower price.
Is that build area a problem? Heck no, it is still larger than hugely popular printers such as the Ultimaker 3 and the Prusa Mk3.
Here you can see mine running with the standard i3-sized Mamorobot build surface. Look at all that extra space for activities!
What does it print like? Basically like a smaller CR-10, as you would expect. Very well!
Wait, there were no problems??
Printing from the SD card slot worked perfectly. It’s just like the other CR-10 printers in my collection. One weird thing that I have never heard anyone else report in any of the forums or groups, however. When I plugged in USB it heated on its own. I’ve got a replacement main board sent to me to swap it out, I expect it is one of those weird random things.
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