The Anycubic Kobra 4 and Creality Ender 3 V4 are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $20 apart. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Ender 3 V4 costs $20 more, without a hardware advantage on the specs we track; the Kobra 4 answers with 55% more build volume and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
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 →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want optional multicolor printing in the trusted Ender 3 form factor at an accessible price — and are comfortable with a hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 4 | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $379 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 220 × 220 × 235 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 18, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~368 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| 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 V4 was released on Jan 15, 2026, 301 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 854 days, so it is 35% of the way through — roughly 553 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Kobra 4 has roughly 190 days of runway on past cadence and the Ender 3 V4 has roughly 553 days of runway on past cadence. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Kobra 4 lists at $379 and the Ender 3 V4 at $399 — $20 apart, so the Ender 3 V4 costs 5% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $22 for the Kobra 4 versus $35 for the Ender 3 V4 — the Kobra 4 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra 4, for 55% more build volume and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
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 V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.
The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units — one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.
The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.