Anycubic Kobra S1 Max vs Prusa Research MK4S
The Anycubic Kobra S1 Max (professional) and Prusa Research MK4S (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. The Kobra S1 Max costs $70 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA-CF and PET-CF on its materials list) and 271% more build volume; the MK4S answers with an open-source design.
📐Anycubic Kobra S1 Max has 271% more build volume
⚡Anycubic Kobra S1 Max tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
🏠Only Anycubic Kobra S1 Max has an enclosure — and it adds PA-CF, PET-CF to the materials list
🎨Only Anycubic Kobra S1 Max supports multicolor printing (4 slots)
Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
Buy/Wait:Buy
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 →Prusa Research MK4S
Buy/Wait:Upgrade Kit
Late in cycle — but an upgrade kit is available. Existing owners can upgrade without buying new
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from MK4, MK3.5
Best for: Makers who value open-source hardware, community support, long-term repairability, and battle-tested reliability over raw speed or multicolor features.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra S1 Max | Prusa Research MK4S |
|---|
| Pricing |
| Starting Price | $799 | ★ $729 |
| Print Specs |
| Tier | Professional | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 350 × 350 × 350 mm | 250 × 210 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | 🔧 From MK4, MK3.5 |
| Buy Timing |
| Released | Nov 25, 2025 | Aug 13, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Upgrade Kit |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
Timing: When to Buy
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 MK4S was released on Aug 13, 2024, 821 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days; it is now 91 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
On timing alone, the Kobra S1 Max is the safer buy right now — it launched only 352 days ago, while the MK4S is 91 days past its ~730-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
Deals & Pricing
The MK4S lists at $729 and the Kobra S1 Max at $799 — $70 apart, so the Kobra S1 Max costs 10% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $19 for the Kobra S1 Max versus $63 for the MK4S — so the pricier Kobra S1 Max actually gives you more build space per dollar.
- Kobra S1 Max: On sale until Dec 5, 2026. Black Friday 2026 — best time to buy Anycubic professional printers.
- MK4S: Prusa does not take part in Black Friday or Prime Day sales, so the $729 list price is what you will pay — there is no sale to wait for.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Kobra S1 Max.
Who Should Choose Each
Choose the Anycubic Kobra S1 Max if…
- you want to print PA-CF and PET-CF — it is enclosed and lists them, while the MK4S is open-frame
- you print large parts — its 350 × 350 × 350 mm build volume holds 271% more than the MK4S's 250 × 210 × 220 mm
- you want multicolor prints — it supports 4 slots, while the MK4S is single-color
- you are buying now — it is the safer pick on timing (recently launched, vs late cycle, kit available for the MK4S)
- you want PLA-CF, PETG-CF and PVA — listed for the Kobra S1 Max but not the MK4S
- print speed matters — it is rated for 600 mm/s against 500 mm/s
Choose the Prusa Research MK4S if…
- you want our higher-rated printer — 8.9 vs 8.1 out of 10
- you want to spend less — it is $70 cheaper ($729 vs $799)
- you want an open-source printer you can modify and repair yourself — the Kobra S1 Max is not open source
- your prints fit within 250 × 210 × 220 mm — then the Kobra S1 Max's extra build volume is money you do not need to spend
- you are coming from the MK4 or MK3.5 — Prusa Research sells an upgrade kit to MK4S spec
Our Take
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra S1 Max, for an enclosed chamber (with PA-CF and PET-CF on its materials list) and 271% more build volume, plus better buy-now timing. Go for the MK4S instead if you want to spend less — it is $70 cheaper ($729 vs $799). The Kobra S1 Max is also in a sale window right now (Black Friday 2026, until Dec 5, 2026).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
Quick Winner by Buyer Type
💰
Budget pick
Prusa Research MK4S
$729 vs $799
📐
Large prints
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
350×350×350 mm
⚡
Fastest prints
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
600 vs 500 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Prusa Research MK4S
Open source
🧪
Engineering filaments
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
6 vs 4 listed
🎨
Multicolor
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
4 slots vs none
⭐
Editor score
Prusa Research MK4S
8.9 vs 8.1
🗓
Buy-now timing
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
Recently launched
The Gaps That Matter
💰PriceMK4S wins
$729 vs $799 — 9% less than the Kobra S1 Max
🏠EnclosureKobra S1 Max wins
Enclosed Kobra S1 Max vs open-frame MK4S
PA-CF and PET-CF appear only on the Kobra S1 Max's materials list.
📐Build volumeKobra S1 Max wins
350 × 350 × 350 mm vs 250 × 210 × 220 mm (42.9 L vs 11.6 L)
The MK4S tops out at 250 × 210 × 220 mm; anything larger has to be printed in pieces.
🎨MulticolorKobra S1 Max wins
4 slots vs single-color
🔓OpennessMK4S wins
Open-source MK4S vs closed Kobra S1 Max
⚡SpeedKobra S1 Max wins
600 vs 500 mm/s — 20% higher rated top speed
Materials
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PLA-CFCarbon-fibre PLA — rigid matte finish, more brittle
PETG-CFCarbon-fibre PETG — stiffer than PETG, easy to print
PET-CFCarbon-fibre PET — rigid, dimensionally stable
PVAWater-soluble support — dissolves for complex overhangs
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
—
Why buy each?
Anycubic Kobra S1 Max
350×350×350 mm large-format build volumeOne of the largest enclosed build volumes in the prosumer/professional tier — suited for large engineering parts, architectural models, and batch production.
65°C active chamber heating at scaleMaintaining 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.
Anycubic ecosystem continuityThe S1 Max extends the Kobra ecosystem into the large-format enclosed segment, enabling Anycubic users to scale up without switching brands.
Prusa Research MK4S
Upgrade kit available — no need to buy newMK4 and MK3.5 owners can upgrade to MK4S specs without purchasing a whole new printer. This is Prusa's commitment to owners and is unique in the industry at this level.
Fully open sourceFirmware, PCB schematics, hardware designs, and slicing profiles are all published under open licenses. You own the printer completely.
Best community and documentationPrusa's forum, knowledge base, and repair guides are unmatched. Parts are stocked and available for years after purchase.