Anycubic Kobra 3Discontinued
- Price
- $299
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Last recorded price. Replaced by the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo at $499.
Anycubic Kobra 3 vs Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo wins, 9.2 vs 8.2 out of 10.
- Near-same build volume (256³ vs 250×250×260 mm, 1.03×).
- The Kobra 3 is faster (600 ÷ 500 = 1.2×) and costs $100 ($399 − $299) less. Easy pick.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 3/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs Kobra 3's 8.2/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. One printer. This one. The A1 Combo does multi-color, does speed, does software polish, all at a price that embarrasses the competition. The open frame is the only real compromise and most people won't care.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Kobra 3Anycubic · FDM
vsA1 ComboBambu Lab · FDM
| Kobra 3 | Spec | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| $299 (wins) | Price | $399 |
| 16.3 L | Build volume | 16.8 L (wins) |
| 600 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9 kg | Weight | 9.65 kg |
Features
| Kobra 3 | Feature | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | CoreXY | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | Yes |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| No | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | Yes |
| No | Vibration compensation | Yes |
Value math
$299 ÷ 16.3 L and $399 ÷ 16.8 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Kobra 3 | Spec | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| $18.40 (wins) | $ per liter | $23.78 |
| $0.50 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $0.80 |
Scores out of 10
| Kobra 3 | Spec | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 8 | Beginner Friendliness | 10 (wins) |
| 8 | Print Quality | 9 (wins) |
| 9 | Speed | 9 |
| 7 | Reliability | 9 (wins) |
| 8.2 | Overall | 9.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 250 × 260 mm
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
What owners say
600mm/s CoreXY for $299 is wild. Anycubic has really stepped up their game.
Kobra 3 owner, r/3DprintingSolid standalone machine. Add the ACE Pro later if you want multi-color.
Kobra 3 owner, Teaching Tech (YouTube)The A1 Combo is the printer I recommend to literally everyone who asks.
A1 Combo owner, r/3DprintingMulti-color out of the box at this price is insane. Changed how I think about printing.
A1 Combo owner, Make Anything (YouTube)Bambu did it again, this is the new gold standard for consumer 3D printing.
A1 Combo owner, All3DP
Pros & Cons
Kobra 3
- +CoreXY at 600mm/s for $299 is Bambu A1 territory
- +WiFi and camera come standard without paying extra
- +Add the ACE Pro multi-color system later if you want it
- −Anycubic's slicer software is behind Bambu Studio in polish and usability
- −No multi-color out of the box: the A1 Combo at $399 already includes it
A1 Combo
- +AMS Lite ships in the box, not as a $75 upsell
- +Bambu Studio slices and sends in under a minute
- +500mm/s speed that actually holds up at 0.2mm layers
- −Open frame means ABS is borderline without an enclosure
- −AMS Lite tops out at 4 colors; want more, buy a different system
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 3 better than the Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Anycubic Kobra 3 may be the smarter buy if you need speed.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Kobra 3 or Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 8/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Bambu Lab A1 Combo worth $100 more than the Anycubic Kobra 3?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher overall (9.2/10 vs 8.2/10). The extra $100 gets you ams lite ships in the box, not as a $75 upsell.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Kobra 3 and Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
Build volume (250x250x260mm vs 256x256x256mm) and print speed (600 vs 500 mm/s). The Anycubic Kobra 3 is best for speed; the Bambu Lab A1 Combo targets beginners.