The Anycubic Kobra X and Creality Ender 3 V3 KE are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $120 apart. Note that the Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with automatic calibration. The Kobra X costs $120 more and gets you 51% more build volume and 4-slot multicolor.
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 It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want fast Klipper-based printing without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra X | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $399 | ★ $279 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Mar 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | — | ~854 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| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |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The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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alone, the Kobra X is the safer buy right now — it launched only 256 days ago, while the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V3 KE lists at $279 and the Kobra X at $399 — $120 apart, so the Kobra X costs 43% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $23 for the Kobra X versus $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE — so the pricier Kobra X actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the Kobra X. The Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Ender 3 V3 KE appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Kobra X against the Ender 3 V4.
Compare Anycubic Kobra X vs Creality Ender 3 V4 →
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 KE keeps the Ender 3's familiar bed-slinger layout but runs Klipper-based firmware, reaching 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K2 and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.