🖨 3D Printer Radar

Anycubic Kobra 3vsQidi Tech Q1 Pro

💰Anycubic Kobra 3 is $150 cheaper (43% less)
🏠Only Qidi Tech Q1 Pro has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments
🎨Only Anycubic Kobra 3 supports multicolor printing (4 slots)
Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Anycubic Kobra 3
Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

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 →
Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
Buy/Wait:Superseded

This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Q2.

Best for: Budget-conscious makers who need active chamber heating for ABS, ASA, and PA printing. Look for clearance deals — the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.

Full details →
Anycubic Kobra 3Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
Pricing
Starting Price$349$499
Print Specs
TierProsumerEntry
MotionBedSlingerCoreXY
Build Volume255 × 255 × 260 mm245 × 245 × 240 mm
Max Speed600 mm/s600 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots❌ No
Enclosure
Auto Calibration
Open Source
Upgrade Kit
Buy Timing
ReleasedMay 15, 2025Mar 20, 2024
Cycle length~212 days~518 days
Cycle adviceWaitSuperseded
Deals adviceBuyClearance
Next model

Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Anycubic Kobra 3
$349 starting
📐
Large prints
Anycubic Kobra 3
255×255×260 mm
Fastest prints
Tie
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie

Bottom Line

💰Anycubic Kobra 3 saves you $150 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint
🏠Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is the only choice if you print ABS, ASA, PA, or PC — those materials require an enclosure
🎨Anycubic Kobra 3 is the pick if multicolor printing is important to you

Materials

Anycubic Kobra 3 only
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
Qidi Tech Q1 Pro only
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print

Why buy each?

Anycubic Kobra 3

34% more build volume over original

The V2 expands to 255×255×260 mm — 34% more printable volume than the original Kobra 3 — for larger parts and more batch production.

AI monitoring camera included

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.

4-color ACE Pro at budget pricing

The Kobra 3 V2 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro

Active 60°C chamber heating

The Q1 Pro's heated chamber was groundbreaking at its price point. ABS, ASA, and PA prints come out without warping that plagues open-frame printers.

600 mm/s CoreXY speed

Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.