Anycubic Kobra 2 MaxDiscontinued
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
Anycubic Kobra 2 Max vs Prusa Core One
- The Prusa Core One wins, 8.2 vs 7 out of 10.
- Kobra 2 Max prints 5.9× the volume (420×420×500 ÷ 250×220×270 = 5.94) and costs $800 ($1,199 − $399) less.
- Same 500 mm/s top speed.
- Pick the Prusa Core One if your prints fit in 27 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Prusa Core One
- Price
- $1,199
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
The verdict
Buy the Prusa Core One.
8.2/10 vs Kobra 2 Max's 7/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. Outstanding print quality and the best support in the business. The price premium is real, though. If you don't care about the Prusa ecosystem specifically, there are better deals. If you do, it's worth every krona.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Kobra 2 MaxAnycubic · FDM
vsPrusa Core OnePrusa Research · FDM
| Kobra 2 Max | Spec | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| $399 (wins) | Price | $1,199 |
| 88.2 L (wins) | Build volume | 14.8 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 20.5 kg | Weight | 22.5 kg |
Features
| Kobra 2 Max | Feature | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 420x420x500mm build | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| No | Enclosed CoreXY with active chamber heating (55C) | Yes |
| No | Nextruder direct drive (10:1 planetary) | Yes |
| No | 360-degree cooling duct | Yes |
| No | Ethernet + WiFi + NFC | Yes |
| No | MMU3 multi-material compatible | Yes |
| No | Open-source firmware (PrusaSlicer) | Yes |
Value math
$399 ÷ 88.2 L and $1,199 ÷ 14.8 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Kobra 2 Max | Spec | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| $4.52 (wins) | $ per liter | $80.74 |
| $0.80 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $2.40 |
Scores out of 10
| Kobra 2 Max | Spec | Prusa Core One |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 6 |
| 5 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 (wins) |
| 7 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 7 | Speed | 8 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 10 (wins) |
| 7 | Overall | 8.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 420 × 420 × 500 mm
- 250 × 220 × 270 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/3DprintingFinally, Prusa takes on Bambu! The Core One is better in a box.
Prusa Core One owner, Tom's HardwareRail smoothness holds up well after months of hard use, minimal belt wear, and consistent chamber heat stability.
Prusa Core One owner, Prusa ForumIf you value open source and lifetime support, Prusa is still the gold standard. Just bring your wallet.
Prusa Core One owner, r/3Dprinting
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
Prusa Core One
- +Prusa reliability is not marketing. It's earned over years.
- +55C active chamber heating handles demanding materials
- +Fully open-source, no vendor lock-in anywhere
- −$1,199 assembled is hard to justify against the Bambu alternatives
- −Build volume is smaller than what you'd expect at this price
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 Prusa Core One?
By the numbers, the Prusa Core One scores higher (8.2/10). 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 Prusa Core One?
The Prusa Core One is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 5/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Prusa Core One worth $800 more than the Anycubic Kobra 2 Max?
The Prusa Core One scores higher overall (8.2/10 vs 7/10). The extra $800 gets you prusa reliability is not marketing. it's earned over years..
What's the main difference between Anycubic Kobra 2 Max and Prusa Core One?
Build volume (420x420x500mm vs 250x220x270mm) and print speed (500 vs 500 mm/s). The Anycubic Kobra 2 Max is best for large-prints; the Prusa Core One targets precision.