Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo
- Price
- $459
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo vs Anycubic Photon Mono 2
- The Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo takes the crown with 8/10 vs 7/10.
- It pulls ahead in Beginner Friendliness, Speed.
- That said, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 saves you $290.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2Discontinued
- Price
- $169
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
The verdict
Buy the Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo.
8/10 vs Photon Mono 2's 7/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. At €459 early bird, this is the most aggressive 16-color enclosed CoreXY on the market. If you already know you want multi-color and don't want Bambu's walled garden, the early bird window (April 24 to May 31) makes this a near-automatic recommendation. For casual multi-color users, the 8-color Kobra S1 Combo remains the better value — 16 colors is overkill unless you print flags, pixel art, or multi-material models regularly.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro ComboAnycubic · FDM
vsPhoton Mono 2Anycubic · RESIN
| Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo | Spec | Photon Mono 2 |
|---|---|---|
| $459 | Price | $169 (wins) |
| 15.6 L (wins) | Build volume | 2.1 L |
| 600 mm/s | Top speed | 80 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.02 mm (wins) |
| 13 kg | Weight | 5.5 kg |
Features
| Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo | Feature | Photon Mono 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | ACE 2 Pro multi-color system (up to 16 colors) | No |
| Yes | Fully-enclosed CoreXY architecture | No |
| Yes | Upgraded hotend (all-filament compatible) | No |
| Yes | Quiet print mode (~44dB) | No |
| Yes | 600mm/s ultra-fast printing | No |
| Yes | 250x250x250mm build volume | No |
| No | 6K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | USB | Yes |
| No | Anycubic Photon Workshop slicer | Yes |
Value math
$459 ÷ 15.6 L and $169 ÷ 2.1 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo | Spec | Photon Mono 2 |
|---|---|---|
| $29.38 (wins) | $ per liter | $80.48 |
Scores out of 10
| Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo | Spec | Photon Mono 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 7 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 5 |
| 7 | Reliability | 7 |
| 8 (wins) | Overall | 7 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 250 × 250 mm
- 143 × 89 × 165 mm
What owners say
16 colors on an enclosed CoreXY for under €500 was not on my 2026 bingo card. Anycubic is swinging hard at Bambu's multi-color dominance.
Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo owner, Press announcement — awaiting independent reviewsFor $169, it's a perfectly capable resin printer. Great way to see if resin is for you.
Photon Mono 2 owner, r/resinprintingAnycubic's tried-and-tested formula. Not flashy, but it works.
Photon Mono 2 owner, r/PrintedMinis
Pros & Cons
Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo
- +16-color capable (4 colors standard; 16 colors requires 4x ACE 2 Pro units purchased separately). Doubles the 8-color S1 Combo and quadruples the Bambu A1 Combo (4)
- +Fully enclosed CoreXY handles ABS, ASA, and engineering filaments without warping
- +44dB quiet mode is unusually low for a 600mm/s CoreXY — apartment-friendly
- −Brand new product — early adopter risk on firmware and ACE 2 Pro reliability
- −Anycubic slicer still trails Bambu Studio on automation and profile polish
Photon Mono 2
- +6K resolution still delivers usable miniature detail for most tabletop purposes
- +Compact and portable: stores on a shelf when not in use
- +Photon Workshop slicer is decent for an entry-level tool
- −No tilt release means FEP replacements add up quickly
- −No WiFi: USB-only workflow
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.
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo better than the Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
By the numbers, the Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo scores higher (8/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 may be the smarter buy if you need budget.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo or Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
The Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo worth $290 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
The Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo scores higher overall (8/10 vs 7/10). The extra $290 gets you 16-color capable (4 colors standard; 16 colors requires 4x ace 2 pro units purchased separately). doubles the 8-color s1 combo and quadruples the bambu a1 combo (4).
What's the main difference between Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo and Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
Technology: the Anycubic Kobra S1 ACE 2 Pro Combo is FDM (filament) and the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is RESIN (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.