The Anycubic Kobra S1 (prosumer) and Bambu Lab A1 (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 costs $200 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA and PA on its materials list) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Makers who want an enclosed multicolor CoreXY at a prosumer price for PLA, PETG, ABS, and ASA — and prefer the Anycubic ecosystem. For reliable PA or PC printing, consider the Kobra S1 Max or Qidi Q2 which offer active chamber heating.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Makers who want large prints and multicolor capability without an enclosure — ideal for PLA, PETG, and flexible materials.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra S1 | Bambu Lab A1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $499 | ★ $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 250 × 250 × 250 mm | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Feb 11, 2025 | Oct 19, 2023 |
| Cycle length | — | ~365 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra S1 was released on Feb 11, 2025, 639 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
The A1 was released on Oct 19, 2023, 1,120 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 365 days; it is now 755 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
On timing alone, the Kobra S1 is the safer buy right now — it has no release history pointing to a successor yet, while the A1 is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The A1 lists at $299 and the Kobra S1 at $499 — $200 apart, so the Kobra S1 costs 67% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $32 for the Kobra S1 versus $18 for the A1 — the A1 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
With both in sale windows, this is a good moment to buy either — compare the live sale prices before you decide.
Our pick for most buyers is the A1, for a lower price ($200 less), plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.3). Go for the Kobra S1 instead if you want to print ASA and PA — it is enclosed and lists them, while the A1 is open-frame. One caveat: the A1 is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced, so check the launch calendar before you buy.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The Kobra S1 combines an enclosed build chamber with 600 mm/s CoreXY motion — offering improved heat retention over open-frame printers for ABS and ASA.
Brings Anycubic's value-focused approach to the enclosed CoreXY segment — competing with the Qidi Q2 and Bambu P2S, with multicolor and filament drying included at $499.
A practical cubic build volume well-suited for functional mechanical parts, enclosures, and prototypes.
The A1 Combo includes the AMS Lite for 4-color filament switching — the same system used on the A1 Mini and A2L.
Roughly 2.9 times the volume of the A1 Mini — great for terrain, cosplay props, and functional parts. The A2L is the step up if you need a larger bed-slinger.
Works with Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy app, and the full Bambu filament ecosystem including multi-material profiles.