The Anycubic Kobra X (entry) and Bambu Lab X1C (professional) 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. Note that the X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new. The X1C costs $800 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list); the Kobra X answers with 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 →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab X2D.
Best for: Professional makers seeking the X1C should now consider the X2D (its direct successor) or P2S (prosumer enclosed). Clearance X1C units offer the LiDAR and AI monitoring features at a reduced price.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra X | Bambu Lab X1C | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $399 | $1,199 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| 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 | Jul 25, 2022 |
| Cycle length | — | ~365 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Caution | Clearance |
| 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The X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the Kobra X is the safer buy right now — it launched only 256 days ago, while the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Kobra X lists at $399 and the X1C at $1,199 — $800 apart, so the X1C costs 201% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $23 for the Kobra X versus $71 for the X1C — the Kobra X is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the Kobra X. The X1C has already been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the X1C appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Kobra X against the X2D.
Compare Anycubic Kobra X vs Bambu Lab X2D →
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 X1C's LiDAR sensor maps bed surface deviation and adjusts in real time — the most reliable first-layer consistency in its class.
The built-in camera with spaghetti detection pauses prints automatically when failures are detected — critical for unattended production runs.
The X1C uses a die-cast metal frame and carbon-fiber-reinforced structure for rigidity at high speeds.