The Anycubic Kobra 3 (prosumer) and Bambu Lab H2S (professional) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. Note that the Kobra 3 has been replaced by the Kobra 4 and is no longer sold new. The H2S costs $900 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS on its materials list) and 119% more build volume.
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Anycubic Kobra 4.
Best for: Budget makers who want 4-color multicolor printing without committing to the Bambu or Prusa ecosystem — and are comfortable with a less mature software experience. Look for clearance deals — the Kobra 4 is the current model.
Full details →Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
Best for: Professional makers and studios who need Bambu's largest enclosed build volume for high-throughput production, engineering materials, and optional AMS multicolor — without the complexity of dual-nozzle printing.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 | Bambu Lab H2S | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $349 | $1,249 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 255 × 255 × 260 mm | ★ 340 × 320 × 340 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | ★ 1000 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | May 15, 2025 | Aug 26, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~212 days | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Caution |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra 3 has been replaced by the Kobra 4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
The H2S was released on Aug 26, 2025, 443 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days, so it is 61% of the way through — roughly 287 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
On timing alone, the H2S is the safer buy right now — it is mid-cycle (61% through), while the Kobra 3 has already been replaced by the Kobra 4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Kobra 3 lists at $349 and the H2S at $1,249 — $900 apart, so the H2S costs 258% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $21 for the Kobra 3 versus $34 for the H2S — the Kobra 3 is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the H2S. The Kobra 3 has already been replaced by the Kobra 4 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Kobra 3 appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the H2S against the Kobra 4.
Compare Anycubic Kobra 4 vs Bambu Lab H2S →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The V2 expands to 255×255×260 mm — 34% more printable volume than the original Kobra 3 — for larger parts and more batch production.
The V2 includes a 720p camera for real-time print monitoring and AI spaghetti detection, adding reliability features previously absent from the Kobra 3 line.
The Kobra 3 V2 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.
The H2S offers more than twice the print volume of the X2D. At 1000 mm/s it is also among Bambu's fastest printers, making it the top choice for high-throughput professional production.
The enclosed chamber with active heating handles the full engineering filament spectrum — ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC, and PPS — with consistent results across the full build plate.
The H2S supports up to 12 AMS units (4 AMS 2 Pro + 8 AMS HT), enabling 24-filament printing for large-format multicolor production.