Creality Hi Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 7.6/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Creality Hi Combo vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo wins, 8 vs 7.6 out of 10.
- Hi Combo prints 1.2× the volume (260×260×300 ÷ 256³ = 1.21) and costs less.
- Same 500 mm/s top speed.
- Pick the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo if your prints fit in 25.6 cm.
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
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo.
8/10 vs Hi Combo's 7.6/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. 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.
Hi ComboCreality · FDM
vsCentauri Carbon 2 ComboElegoo · FDM
| Hi Combo | Spec | Centauri Carbon 2 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 20.3 L (wins) | Build volume | 16.8 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.1 mm | Finest layer | 0.08 mm (wins) |
| 13.31 kg | Weight | 19.35 kg |
Features
| Hi Combo | Feature | Centauri Carbon 2 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | CoreXY motion system | No |
| Yes | Up to 16-color printing (4x CFS) | No |
| Yes | Die-cast aluminum unibody | No |
| Yes | Tri-metal quick-swap nozzle | No |
| Yes | Auto calibration | No |
| Yes | Direct drive extruder | 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
| Hi Combo | Spec | Centauri Carbon 2 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Value | 9 (wins) |
| 7 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 8 |
| 8 | Speed | 8 |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7.6 | Overall | 8 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 260 × 260 × 300 mm
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
What owners say
The safer choice with better build quality and more established support than newer competitors.
Hi Combo owner, 3DTechValleyCatching up with color. Creality's multi-color game is improving but the CFS still needs refinement.
Hi Combo owner, Tom's HardwareFor the price, you get a solid CoreXY that handles single-color beautifully. Multi-color is a bonus, not a guarantee.
Hi Combo owner, 3DWithUsBest 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
Hi Combo
- +16 colors with 4 CFS modules if you go all-in
- +All-metal CoreXY body that feels solid for the price
- +300mm Z-axis beats most competitors at this price
- −CFS feed reliability is inconsistent on color changes
- −No adaptive purge, fixed volumes waste filament
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 Creality Hi Combo better than the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo scores higher (8/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Creality Hi Combo may be the smarter buy if you need multi-color.
Which is better for beginners, Creality Hi Combo or Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
Both score 7/10 for beginners. Go with the Creality Hi Combo, the cheaper of the two.
Is the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo worth paying more for over the Creality Hi Combo?
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo scores higher overall (8/10 vs 7.6/10). The extra money gets you first enclosed multi-color corexy under $500.
What's the main difference between Creality Hi Combo and Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
Build volume (260x260x300mm vs 256x256x256mm) and print speed (500 vs 500 mm/s). The Creality Hi Combo is best for multi-color; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo targets multi-color.