Anycubic Kobra 3Discontinued
- Speed
- 600 mm/s
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Discontinued. Replaced by the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo.
Anycubic Kobra 3 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- Buy the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo.
- The Anycubic Kobra 3 scores higher, 8.2 vs 8 out of 10, but it is discontinued.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Buy the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo.
The Kobra 3 scores higher but is discontinued. Best sub-$500 multi-color printer in 2026. Quirks exist but none are deal-breakers. Enclosed CoreXY plus 4-color at this number has no real competition.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Kobra 3Anycubic · FDM
vsCentauri Carbon 2 ComboElegoo · FDM
| Kobra 3 | Spec | Centauri Carbon 2 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 16.3 L | Build volume | 16.8 L (wins) |
| 600 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.08 mm |
| 9 kg | Weight | 19.35 kg |
Features
| Kobra 3 | Feature | Centauri Carbon 2 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | CoreXY | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| No | Enclosed CoreXY | Yes |
| No | 4-color Canvas multi-color system | Yes |
| No | 350C hardened steel nozzle | Yes |
| No | RFID filament detection | Yes |
| No | Auto filament loading & tangle detection | Yes |
| No | 5-inch touchscreen | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Kobra 3 | Spec | Centauri Carbon 2 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 8 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 7 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 8 |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 8.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 250 × 260 mm
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
What owners say
600mm/s CoreXY for [this price] 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)Best sub-$500 multicolor 3D printer in 2026. The value proposition is insane.
Centauri Carbon 2 Combo owner, 3D Printed DecorUltra accessible multicolor printing. CANVAS completed 31 out of 34 jobs on first attempt.
Centauri Carbon 2 Combo owner, VoxelMattersI'm an idiot, and even I was able to make a cool Fallout action figure with this printer.
Centauri Carbon 2 Combo owner, GamesRadar+
Pros & Cons
Kobra 3
- +CoreXY at 600mm/s at this price 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 already includes it
Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- +First enclosed multi-color CoreXY under $500
- +91% first-attempt success rate on multi-color jobs
- +RFID reads filament type automatically, no manual input
- −Spool holders are finicky
- −Loading routine doesn't get hot enough for high-temp filaments
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 Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
By the numbers, the Anycubic Kobra 3 scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo may be the smarter buy if you need multi-color.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Kobra 3 or Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
The Anycubic Kobra 3 is more beginner-friendly (8/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo worth paying more for over the Anycubic Kobra 3?
The Anycubic Kobra 3 actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing less. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo only makes sense if you specifically need multi-color.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Kobra 3 and Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
Build volume (250x250x260mm vs 256x256x256mm) and print speed (600 vs 500 mm/s). The Anycubic Kobra 3 is best for speed; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo targets multi-color.