The Anycubic Kobra X and Creality Ender 3 V4 are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed at the same price. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. For the same money, the Kobra X gives you 55% more build volume and 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 →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want optional multicolor printing in the trusted Ender 3 form factor at an accessible price — and are comfortable with a hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra X | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $399 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 220 × 220 × 235 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| 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 Ender 3 V4 was released on Jan 15, 2026, 301 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 854 days, so it is 35% of the way through — roughly 553 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Kobra X launched 256 days ago and the Ender 3 V4 has roughly 553 days of runway on past cadence. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
Both list at $399, so price alone will not separate them.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $23 for the Kobra X versus $35 for the Ender 3 V4.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Ender 3 V4.
This one is close on paper. At the same price, the Kobra X adds 55% more build volume and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); otherwise they are evenly matched.
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 V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.
The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units — one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.
The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.