The Anycubic Kobra 4 and Elegoo Centauri 2 are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $80 apart. Both are open-frame printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Kobra 4 costs $80 more and gets you a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget buyers who mainly print PLA, PETG and TPU and want fast CoreXY multicolor for as little as possible, without paying for an enclosure they won't use.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 4 | Elegoo Centauri 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $379 | ★ $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 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 18, 2026 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~368 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 Centauri 2 was released on Jun 24, 2026, 141 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
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 Centauri 2 launched 141 days ago. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the Kobra 4 at $379 — $80 apart, so the Kobra 4 costs 27% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $22 for the Kobra 4 versus $18 for the Centauri 2 — the Centauri 2 is the better value per litre as well.
Our pick for most buyers is the Centauri 2, for a lower price ($80 less) and support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF. Go for the Kobra 4 instead if print speed matters — it is rated for 600 mm/s against 500 mm/s.
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 Centauri 2 Combo includes the 4-color CANVAS system with RFID filament detection, auto refill and tangle detection. It is one of the cheapest CoreXY multicolor packages from a major brand.
It uses the same 256×256×256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50–100 less.
The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.