The Anycubic Kobra 4 and Creality Ender 3 V3 KE are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $100 apart. Note that the Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with automatic calibration. The Kobra 4 costs $100 more and gets you 51% more build volume and 4-slot multicolor.
Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
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 →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want fast Klipper-based printing without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 4 | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $379 | ★ $279 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | May 18, 2026 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~368 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra 4 was released on May 18, 2026, 178 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 368 days, so it is 48% of the way through — roughly 190 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the Kobra 4 is the safer buy right now — it is only 48% of the way through its expected cycle, while the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V3 KE lists at $279 and the Kobra 4 at $379 — $100 apart, so the Kobra 4 costs 36% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $22 for the Kobra 4 versus $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE — so the pricier Kobra 4 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the Kobra 4. The Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Ender 3 V3 KE appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Kobra 4 against the Ender 3 V4.
Compare Anycubic Kobra 4 vs Creality Ender 3 V4 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
A cube-format build volume slightly larger than the Kobra 3 V2's 255×255×260 mm bed — practical for most everyday prints.
The Combo includes one ACE 2 Pro for 4-color printing. A second unit and an 8-color filament hub expand it to 8 colors.
LeviQ 3.0 probes 49 points and applies compensation automatically, with no manual adjustment required.
The KE keeps the Ender 3's familiar bed-slinger layout but runs Klipper-based firmware, reaching 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K2 and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.