The Anycubic Kobra S1 and Flashforge AD5X are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $100 apart. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Kobra S1 costs $100 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA and PA on its materials list) and 47% more build volume; the AD5X answers with extra engineering materials (PA-CF) and support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra S1 | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $499 | ★ $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 250 × 250 × 250 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Feb 11, 2025 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | — | — |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Caution |
| 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 AD5X was released on Jun 15, 2025, 515 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
Neither is a clear buy-now on timing, so watch for announcements before committing. Both have been out for over a year with no release history to predict a successor from.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The AD5X 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 $37 for the AD5X — 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 ASA and PA on its materials list) and 47% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.3 vs 8.0). Go for the AD5X 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 AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.