The Anycubic Kobra S1 and Prusa Research CORE One+ are both prosumer-tier printers, but the CORE One+ costs 2.0× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Both are enclosed CoreXY printers with a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The CORE One+ costs $500 more and gets you an open-source design and extra engineering materials (PC).
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
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from CORE One+, MK4S
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra S1 | Prusa Research CORE One+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $499 | $999 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 250 × 250 × 250 mm | 250 × 220 × 270 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ★ ✅ 8 slots |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | 🔧 From CORE One+, MK4S |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Feb 11, 2025 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~209 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| 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 CORE One+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 209 days, so it is 44% of the way through — roughly 118 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
On timing alone, the CORE One+ is the safer buy right now — it is only 44% 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 Kobra S1 lists at $499 and the CORE One+ at $999 — $500 apart, so the CORE One+ costs 100% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $32 for the Kobra S1 versus $67 for the CORE One+ — the Kobra S1 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Kobra S1.
Our pick for most buyers is the CORE One+, for an open-source design and extra engineering materials (PC), plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.3) and better buy-now timing. Go for the Kobra S1 instead if you want to spend less — it is $500 cheaper ($499 vs $999).
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 CORE One+ matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the CORE One+ can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
The CORE One+ (Gen 2) can be ordered with Prusa's INDX toolchanger in 4- or 8-tool versions, shipping from 15 October 2026. Each material gets its own nozzle, with about 12 seconds per material change and almost no purge waste. The MMU3 remains compatible as a 5-color add-on.