The Anycubic Kobra 3 (prosumer) and Bambu Lab X1C (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 both have been replaced — the Kobra 3 by the Kobra 4 and the X1C by the X2D — and neither is sold new. The X1C costs $850 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list); the Kobra 3 answers with a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
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 It has been replaced by the Anycubic Kobra 4.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 →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab X2D.
Best for: Professional makers seeking the X1C should now consider the X2D (its direct successor) or P2S (prosumer enclosed). Clearance X1C units offer the LiDAR and AI monitoring features at a reduced price.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 | Bambu Lab X1C | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $349 | $1,199 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 255 × 255 × 260 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | May 15, 2025 | Jul 25, 2022 |
| Cycle length | ~212 days | ~365 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Clearance |
| 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The Kobra 3 has been replaced by the Kobra 4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
The X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
Neither printer is sold new any more: the Kobra 3 has already been replaced by the Kobra 4 and the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Kobra 3 lists at $349 and the X1C at $1,199 — $850 apart, so the X1C costs 244% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $21 for the Kobra 3 versus $71 for the X1C — the Kobra 3 is the better value per litre as well.
Neither is sold new any more, so we would not buy either at full price: the Kobra 3 has already been replaced by the Kobra 4 and the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D. The fair comparison today is between their replacements.
Compare Anycubic Kobra 4 vs Bambu Lab X2D →
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 X1C's LiDAR sensor maps bed surface deviation and adjusts in real time — the most reliable first-layer consistency in its class.
The built-in camera with spaghetti detection pauses prints automatically when failures are detected — critical for unattended production runs.
The X1C uses a die-cast metal frame and carbon-fiber-reinforced structure for rigidity at high speeds.