Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo vs Elegoo Neptune 4
- The Elegoo Neptune 4 wins, 8.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- Centauri Carbon 2 Combo prints 1.3× the volume (256³ ÷ 225×225×265 = 1.25) for more money.
- Same 500 mm/s top speed.
- Pick the Neptune 4 if your prints fit in 26.5 cm.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Neptune 4
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Neptune 4.
8.2/10 vs Centauri Carbon 2 Combo's 8/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. Very close race with the Ender 3 V3 KE. The KE has WiFi, this has a slightly larger bed. Pick based on brand preference or which one is in stock. Neither is wrong.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Centauri Carbon 2 ComboElegoo · FDM
vsNeptune 4Elegoo · FDM
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Spec | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 13.4 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.08 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm (wins) |
| 19.35 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Feature | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Enclosed CoreXY | No |
| Yes | 4-color Canvas multi-color system | No |
| Yes | 350C hardened steel nozzle | No |
| Yes | RFID filament detection | No |
| Yes | Auto filament loading & tangle detection | No |
| Yes | 5-inch touchscreen | No |
| No | Klipper firmware | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | Direct drive | Yes |
| No | PEI build plate | Yes |
| No | High-speed mode | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Spec | Neptune 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 10 (wins) |
| 7 | Beginner Friendliness | 8 (wins) |
| 8 | Print Quality | 8 |
| 8 | Speed | 8 |
| 8 (wins) | Reliability | 7 |
| 8 | Overall | 8.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 225 × 225 × 265 mm
What owners say
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+Klipper for [this price] with a direct drive? Elegoo is giving Creality a real run for their money.
Neptune 4 owner, r/3DprintingSolid budget machine. Does what it says at a price that's hard to beat.
Neptune 4 owner, Maker's Muse (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
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
Neptune 4
- +Klipper at this price means real input shaping and pressure advance, not just fast travel speeds
- +Direct drive handles TPU without a fight
- +500mm/s capable on stock profiles
- −No WiFi on the base model: Elegoo charges extra for connectivity the KE includes free
- −Elegoo's community is smaller than Creality's, which matters when you hit unusual problems
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 Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo better than the Elegoo Neptune 4?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Neptune 4 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, Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo or Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Elegoo Neptune 4 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 Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Elegoo Neptune 4 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 Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo and Elegoo Neptune 4?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 225x225x265mm) and print speed (500 vs 500 mm/s). The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is best for multi-color; the Elegoo Neptune 4 targets budget.