Rainbow filament or PEI plate: which upgrade actually improves your prints?

Display

Product A wins on visual impact, because it is the actual material your print is made from. The Creality Hyper Rainbow PLA gives you a long-gradient rainbow effect, so finished models can look far more eye-catching straight off the printer. If you’re printing display pieces, gifts, cosplay props, or anything where colour transitions matter, this filament is the star of the show. Product B does not affect appearance in the same way; the UniTak3D PEI plate is invisible in the final result except for the surface finish it leaves on the first layer. So for “display” in the sense of visual appeal, Product A is the clear winner.

Performance

Product B wins here, because a good PEI build plate improves the day-to-day performance of the printer more than novelty filament does. The UniTak3D double-sided plate gives you a smooth side and a textured side, which means more flexibility depending on the finish you want and the material you’re using. PEI is a proven upgrade for reliable bed adhesion and easier print removal once the bed cools, which reduces failed first layers and wasted filament. Product A’s headline feature is “high speed 600mm/s” and ±0.03 mm dimensional accuracy, which is impressive on paper, but that matters only if your printer is already tuned for high-speed PLA and your model suits that material. In practical terms, the plate is the better performance upgrade for most users because it improves consistency across many prints, not just one spool.

Build quality and design

Product B wins on build quality and design, because it is a functional hardware upgrade with a straightforward, proven layout. A flexible spring steel PEI plate is one of the most useful accessories you can add to an Ender-style machine: it bends to pop prints off, it has two usable surfaces, and it is sized for a wide range of Creality beds at 235 x 235 mm. The dual-surface design is especially handy if you want a smooth bottom on one job and a textured bottom on another. Product A is well-positioned as a premium filament with a tight diameter tolerance of ±0.03 mm, but filament quality is harder to judge from specs alone, and the design is really about colour effect rather than engineering. For robust, practical build quality, the PEI plate takes it.

Battery life

Neither product has battery life, so this category does not apply. If we translate the idea into day-to-day efficiency, Product B again has the edge because it can save time and material by reducing adhesion problems and print failures. Product A can be excellent for a successful print, but it doesn’t inherently improve printer uptime or reliability in the same way a better bed surface does.

Price and value for money

Product B wins on value, mostly because it is cheaper at £17.99 versus £22.09 for Product A, saving you £4.10. That price gap is not huge, but the PEI plate is the better value if your goal is to improve your printer’s baseline performance. A good build plate tends to affect every print you make, so the return on investment is broad and immediate. Product A is still good value if you specifically want a premium rainbow filament and care about the final look of the model, but the value is narrower: you are paying for aesthetics and material properties rather than a universal upgrade. If you only have budget for one item, the plate is the more sensible buy for most owners.

Game library/features

Product A wins on “features” if you think of the printable result as the feature set. The long-gradient rainbow effect is the standout, and the filament is marketed for high-speed printing, which suggests it is aimed at modern, fast machines like the Ender 3 V3 Plus. It also offers dimensional accuracy of ±0.03 mm, which is a solid spec for consistent extrusion. Product B’s feature set is more utilitarian: smooth and textured sides, flexible spring steel, and broad compatibility across many Creality machines including Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2/V2 Neo, K1 and K1C. For sheer feature count and versatility in printer compatibility, Product B edges ahead; for standout creative output, Product A has the more exciting feature.

Overall user experience

Product B wins overall for most buyers because it improves the whole printing experience, not just a single spool’s output. A PEI plate makes first layers less stressful, removal easier, and bed surface options more flexible, which is exactly the kind of upgrade that makes an Ender feel less fiddly. Product A is the more fun purchase if you want beautiful rainbow prints and already have your printer tuned well, but it is still just one filament choice among many. If you are looking for the smartest single buy, the UniTak3D build plate is the more practical and broadly useful upgrade. If you are looking for the more exciting material for showcase prints, the Creality Hyper Rainbow PLA is the one that will make people say “wow.” Overall summary: choose Product B for reliability, adhesion and everyday usefulness; choose Product A for colour, presentation and premium-looking prints.