Anycubic Kobra 2 MaxDiscontinued
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
Anycubic Kobra 2 Max vs Bambu Lab A1
- The Bambu Lab A1 wins, 9.2 vs 7 out of 10.
- Kobra 2 Max prints 5.3× the volume (420×420×500 ÷ 256³ = 5.26) for $100 ($399 − $299) more.
- Same 500 mm/s top speed.
- Pick the A1 if your prints fit in 25.6 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Bambu Lab A1
- Price
- $299
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
The verdict
Buy the A1.
9.2/10 vs Kobra 2 Max's 7/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. If you know you don't care about multi-color, this is the cleanest $299 in 3D printing. The A1 Combo is $100 more and includes multi-color; most people should just spend the extra $100.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Kobra 2 MaxAnycubic · FDM
vsA1Bambu Lab · FDM
| Kobra 2 Max | Spec | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| $399 | Price | $299 (wins) |
| 88.2 L (wins) | Build volume | 16.8 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 20.5 kg | Weight | 9.05 kg |
Features
| Kobra 2 Max | Feature | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 420x420x500mm build | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Direct drive | Yes |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
| No | Vibration compensation | Yes |
| No | Full-size A1 bed | Yes |
Value math
$399 ÷ 88.2 L and $299 ÷ 16.8 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Kobra 2 Max | Spec | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| $4.52 (wins) | $ per liter | $17.82 |
| $0.80 | $ per mm/s | $0.60 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Kobra 2 Max | Spec | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 5 | Beginner Friendliness | 10 (wins) |
| 7 | Print Quality | 9 (wins) |
| 7 | Speed | 9 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 9 (wins) |
| 7 | Overall | 9.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 420 × 420 × 500 mm
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
What owners say
420mm bed for $399. Anycubic has cracked the large-format budget code.
Kobra 2 Max owner, r/cosplayPrinted a full set of armor gauntlets in one run. These huge-bed printers change what's possible.
Kobra 2 Max owner, r/3DprintingThe A1 without AMS is the best single-color printer you can buy at this price. Bar none.
A1 owner, r/3DprintingSame great hardware as the Combo, just without the color changer. Perfect for most people.
A1 owner, Make Anything (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Kobra 2 Max
- +420x420x500mm for $399 is the largest bed you'll find at this budget
- +Direct drive at this scale handles flexible filament when needed
- +WiFi means you're not walking over with a USB stick for every job
- −Open frame on a 420mm heated bed means serious adhesion prep is mandatory
- −Full bed heating at this size takes 10+ minutes to reach temp
A1
- +Full 256mm build volume, same as the Combo but $100 cheaper
- +Bambu's reliability, slicer, and support at $299
- +500mm/s speed that's calibrated and ready without tweaking
- −Open frame: ABS warping is a real problem without modification
- −No multi-color in the box: the Combo is $100 more and includes it
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
- ELEGOO PLA filament, 1kgThe easy filament to start on. Prints at low temperatures and warps less.
- ELEGOO PETG filament, 1kgTougher and more heat tolerant than PLA, for parts that get handled or sit in the sun.
- SUNLU filament dryer S1 PlusWet filament causes stringing and rough surfaces. A dryer fixes that before you blame the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Kobra 2 Max better than the Bambu Lab A1?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Anycubic Kobra 2 Max may be the smarter buy if you need large-prints.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Kobra 2 Max or Bambu Lab A1?
The Bambu Lab A1 is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 5/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Anycubic Kobra 2 Max worth $100 more than the Bambu Lab A1?
The Bambu Lab A1 actually scores higher (9.2/10) despite costing $100 less. The Anycubic Kobra 2 Max only makes sense if you specifically need large-prints.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Kobra 2 Max and Bambu Lab A1?
Build volume (420x420x500mm vs 256x256x256mm) and print speed (500 vs 500 mm/s). The Anycubic Kobra 2 Max is best for large-prints; the Bambu Lab A1 targets beginners.