The Anycubic Kobra S1 Max (professional) and Creality Ender 3 V4 (entry) 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. The Kobra S1 Max costs $400 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PET-CF on its materials list) and 277% more build volume.
First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Professional makers and small studios who need large-format enclosed printing for engineering filaments at a competitive price — and want Anycubic's ecosystem over Creality or Qidi alternatives.
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 S1 Max | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $799 | ★ $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 350 × 350 × 350 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 | Nov 25, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra S1 Max was released on Nov 25, 2025, 352 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
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 S1 Max launched 352 days ago 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 Ender 3 V4 lists at $399 and the Kobra S1 Max at $799 — $400 apart, so the Kobra S1 Max costs 100% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $19 for the Kobra S1 Max versus $35 for the Ender 3 V4 — so the pricier Kobra S1 Max actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra S1 Max, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PET-CF on its materials list) and 277% more build volume. Go for the Ender 3 V4 instead if you want to spend less — it is $400 cheaper ($399 vs $799).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
One of the largest enclosed build volumes in the prosumer/professional tier — suited for large engineering parts, architectural models, and batch production.
Maintaining 65°C across a 350×350 mm chamber is a meaningful technical achievement — ensuring consistent results for ABS, ASA, and PA across the full build plate.
The S1 Max extends the Kobra ecosystem into the large-format enclosed segment, enabling Anycubic users to scale up without switching brands.
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.