The Anycubic Kobra S1 Max (professional) and Creality K1C (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. Note that the K1C has been replaced by the K2 and is no longer sold new. Both are enclosed CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Kobra S1 Max costs $300 more and gets you 254% more build volume and extra engineering materials (PA, PC and PET-CF).
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 →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality K2.
Best for: Makers who need enclosed CoreXY printing for PA-CF and ASA on a budget — and want a capable alternative to Bambu without the ecosystem lock-in.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra S1 Max | Creality K1C | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $799 | ★ $499 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 350 × 350 × 350 mm | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Nov 25, 2025 | Jan 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| 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The K1C has been replaced by the K2 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the Kobra S1 Max is the safer buy right now — it launched only 352 days ago, while the K1C has already been replaced by the K2.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The K1C lists at $499 and the Kobra S1 Max at $799 — $300 apart, so the Kobra S1 Max costs 60% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $19 for the Kobra S1 Max versus $41 for the K1C — so the pricier Kobra S1 Max actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the Kobra S1 Max. The K1C has already been replaced by the K2 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the K1C appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Kobra S1 Max against the K2.
Compare Anycubic Kobra S1 Max vs Creality K2 →
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 K1C ships with a hardened steel nozzle rated for carbon-fiber filaments — a significant cost advantage over printers that require aftermarket nozzle upgrades.
Few printers under $500 offer genuine enclosure capability. The K1C delivers ABS and ASA-capable chamber temperatures.
Matches the Bambu P2S's 600 mm/s top speed for about $50 less.