The Kobra S1 (prosumer) and Kobra 3 Max (professional) are a step-up decision within Anycubic's lineup: same ecosystem, different class of machine. The Kobra 3 Max costs $100 more and gets you 464% more build volume; the Kobra S1 answers with an enclosed chamber (with ASA and PA on its materials list).
Just released — full support runway ahead
Best for: Makers who need a very large print area for props, architectural models, or batch production — and want multicolor without paying professional-tier prices.
Full details →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Makers who want an enclosed multicolor CoreXY at a prosumer price for PLA, PETG, ABS, and ASA — and prefer the Anycubic ecosystem. For reliable PA or PC printing, consider the Kobra S1 Max or Qidi Q2 which offer active chamber heating.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 Max | Anycubic Kobra S1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $599 | ★ $499 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 420 × 420 × 500 mm | 250 × 250 × 250 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 11, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~716 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra 3 Max was released on Oct 1, 2026, 42 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 716 days, so it is 6% of the way through — roughly 674 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
The Kobra S1 was released on Feb 11, 2025, 639 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Kobra 3 Max is the safer buy right now — it is only 6% of the way through its expected cycle, while the Kobra S1 has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Kobra S1 lists at $499 and the Kobra 3 Max at $599 — $100 apart, so the Kobra 3 Max costs 20% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $7 for the Kobra 3 Max versus $32 for the Kobra S1 — so the pricier Kobra 3 Max actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra S1, for an enclosed chamber (with ASA and PA on its materials list) and a lower price ($100 less), plus a higher editor score (8.3 vs 8.0). Go for the Kobra 3 Max instead if you print large parts — its 420 × 420 × 500 mm build volume holds 464% more than the Kobra S1's 250 × 250 × 250 mm.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
One of the largest build volumes available at a consumer price — ideal for life-size props, large terrain tiles, and batch production.
Few printers offer multicolor at this scale. The ACE 2 Pro enables filament switching across the full 420×420 bed area.
Delivers large-format multicolor at a fraction of professional large-format printer costs.
The Kobra S1 combines an enclosed build chamber with 600 mm/s CoreXY motion — offering improved heat retention over open-frame printers for ABS and ASA.
Brings Anycubic's value-focused approach to the enclosed CoreXY segment — competing with the Qidi Q2 and Bambu P2S, with multicolor and filament drying included at $499.
A practical cubic build volume well-suited for functional mechanical parts, enclosures, and prototypes.