The Anycubic Kobra S1 Max (professional) and Qidi Tech Q1 Pro (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. Note that the Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new. Both are enclosed CoreXY printers with a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Kobra S1 Max costs $300 more and gets you 198% more build volume and 4-slot multicolor.
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 It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Q2.
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who need active chamber heating for ABS, ASA, and PA printing. Look for clearance deals — the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra S1 Max | Qidi Tech Q1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $799 | ★ $499 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 350 × 350 × 350 mm | 245 × 245 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Nov 25, 2025 | Mar 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~518 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| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |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The Q1 Pro has been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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timing alone, the Kobra S1 Max is the safer buy right now — it launched only 352 days ago, while the Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Q1 Pro 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 $35 for the Q1 Pro — so the pricier Kobra S1 Max actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the Kobra S1 Max. The Q1 Pro has already been replaced by the Q2 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Q1 Pro appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Kobra S1 Max against the Q2.
Compare Anycubic Kobra S1 Max vs Qidi Tech Q2 →
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 Q1 Pro's heated chamber was groundbreaking at its price point. ABS, ASA, and PA prints come out without warping that plagues open-frame printers.
Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.