The Anycubic Kobra X and Bambu Lab A1 are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $100 apart. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Kobra X costs $100 more and gets you a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want multicolor printing at the lowest possible entry price and don't need a large build volume or premium features.
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 X | Bambu Lab A1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $399 | ★ $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 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 | Mar 1, 2026 | Oct 19, 2023 |
| Cycle length | — | ~365 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Wait |
| Deals advice | Caution | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra X was released on Mar 1, 2026, 256 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 X is the safer buy right now — it launched only 256 days ago, 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 X at $399 — $100 apart, so the Kobra X costs 33% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $23 for the Kobra X versus $18 for the A1 — the A1 is the better value per litre as well.
If you are buying before Dec 1, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the A1.
Our pick for most buyers is the A1, for a lower price ($100 less), plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.0). Go for the Kobra X instead if you are buying now — it is the safer pick on timing (recently launched, vs overdue for refresh for the A1). One caveat: the A1 is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced, so check the launch calendar before you buy. The A1 is also in a sale window right now (Bambu Black Friday 2026, until Dec 1, 2026).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
Listed at $399 and frequently on sale for $279–299 with ACE Gen 2 included, the Kobra X is one of the most affordable ways to get into multicolor FDM printing.
The same cube-format build volume as the pricier Kobra 4 — practical for most everyday prints.
The second-generation ACE Gen 2 offers improved filament switching reliability over the original ACE Pro, with support for up to 4 colors per print.
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.