The Anycubic Kobra S1 (prosumer) 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 costs $100 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA and PA on its materials list) and 37% more build volume.
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 →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 | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $499 | ★ $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 250 × 250 × 250 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 | Feb 11, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Buy |
| 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 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.
On timing alone, the Ender 3 V4 is the safer buy right now — it is only 35% of the way through its expected cycle, while the Kobra S1 has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V4 lists at $399 and the Kobra S1 at $499 — $100 apart, so the Kobra S1 costs 25% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $32 for the Kobra S1 versus $35 for the Ender 3 V4 — so the pricier Kobra S1 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra S1, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA and PA on its materials list) and 37% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.3 vs 8.2). Go for the Ender 3 V4 instead if you want to spend less — it is $100 cheaper ($399 vs $499).
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 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.