Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- Price
- $449
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo vs QIDI X-Max 3
- Tied at 8 out of 10.
- X-Max 3 prints 2.0× the volume (325×325×315 ÷ 256³ = 1.98) for $350 ($799 − $449) more.
- X-Max 3 is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo if your prints fit in 25.6 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
QIDI X-Max 3
- Price
- $799
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Tied at 8/10. Buy the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo, $350 less.
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.
Centauri Carbon 2 ComboElegoo · FDM
vsX-Max 3QIDI · FDM
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Spec | X-Max 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $449 (wins) | Price | $799 |
| 16.8 L | Build volume | 33.3 L (wins) |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.08 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm (wins) |
| 19.35 kg | Weight | 25 kg |
Features
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Feature | X-Max 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Enclosed | Yes |
| No | Large CoreXY | Yes |
| No | Chamber heating (60C) | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
Value math
$449 ÷ 16.8 L and $799 ÷ 33.3 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Spec | X-Max 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $26.76 | $ per liter | $24.01 (wins) |
| $0.90 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $1.33 |
Scores out of 10
| Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | Spec | X-Max 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 7 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 9 (wins) |
| 8 | Speed | 9 (wins) |
| 8 | Reliability | 8 |
| 8 | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 325 × 325 × 315 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+325mm enclosed with chamber heating, nothing else touches this at $799.
X-Max 3 owner, r/3Dprinting
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
X-Max 3
- +325mm enclosed with 60C active heating is a combination you almost can't find under $1,500
- +Independent Z motors keep the bed trammed even on 24-hour prints
- +Handles PA-CF and PC natively without a fight
- −25kg: set it up once and it lives there
- −$799 with a smaller community than Bambu means you're mostly on your own troubleshooting
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 QIDI X-Max 3?
They tie at 8/10. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo suits multi-color and budget, while the QIDI X-Max 3 is aimed at large-prints and engineering.
Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo or QIDI X-Max 3?
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the QIDI X-Max 3 worth $350 more than the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo?
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo actually scores higher (8/10) despite costing $350 less. The QIDI X-Max 3 only makes sense if you specifically need large-prints.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo and QIDI X-Max 3?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 325x325x315mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is best for multi-color; the QIDI X-Max 3 targets large-prints.