The Anycubic Kobra 4 (entry) and Flashforge AD5X (prosumer) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. Both are open-frame printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The AD5X costs $20 more and gets you extra engineering materials (ABS and PA-CF) and support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF; the Kobra 4 answers with 65% more build volume.
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 — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 4 | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $379 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | May 18, 2026 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~368 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| 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 AD5X was released on Jun 15, 2025, 515 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
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 AD5X has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Kobra 4 lists at $379 and the AD5X at $399 — $20 apart, so the AD5X costs 5% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $22 for the Kobra 4 versus $37 for the AD5X — the Kobra 4 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra 4, for 65% more build volume and a lower price ($20 less), plus better buy-now timing. Go for the AD5X instead if you need ABS and PA-CF — they are on its materials list but not the Kobra 4'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 AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.