Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
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.
Full details →Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Beginners who prioritize open-source hardware, community support, and long-term reliability over speed — and don't mind a slower, more deliberate printing experience.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 | Prusa Research Mini+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 200 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU | PLA, PETG, ASA, TPU |
| Released | Oct 15, 2024 | Apr 25, 2021 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Wait |
| Deals advice | Caution | Buy |
| Next model | Kobra 3 Pro or Kobra 4 (Expected late 2026) | Prusa Mini 2 (Expected 2026) |
The Kobra 3 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color filament switching setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.
Anycubic's ACE Pro handles filament feeding, drying, and switching in a single unit — a thoughtful integration for multicolor.
Full automatic bed leveling and offset calibration reduce setup friction.
The Mini+ has been on the market since 2021 and has proven its durability with thousands of community print-hours logged.
Prusa stocks replacement parts for all Mini+ components. Community guides cover every repair scenario.
The lowest-cost way to enter the Prusa ecosystem with a fully supported printer.