The Anycubic Kobra X (entry) and Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro (prosumer) 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. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with automatic calibration. The Kobra X costs $139 more and gets you 4-slot multicolor and 31% more build volume; the Neptune 4 Pro answers with extra engineering materials (ASA).
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: Budget-conscious makers who want a capable bed-slinger with Klipper firmware for customization — without Bambu's closed ecosystem or Prusa's premium pricing.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra X | Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $399 | ★ $260 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 225 × 225 × 265 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 | Jul 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | — | ~450 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 Neptune 4 Pro was released on Jul 15, 2023, 1,216 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 450 days; it is now 766 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 Neptune 4 Pro is 766 days past its ~450-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Neptune 4 Pro lists at $260 and the Kobra X at $399 — $139 apart, so the Kobra X costs 53% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $23 for the Kobra X versus $19 for the Neptune 4 Pro — the Neptune 4 Pro is the better value per litre as well.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Neptune 4 Pro.
Our pick for most buyers is the Kobra X, for 4-slot multicolor and 31% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.0 vs 7.7) and better buy-now timing. Go for the Neptune 4 Pro instead if you want to spend less — it is $139 cheaper ($260 vs $399).
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 Neptune 4 Pro ships with Klipper pre-installed — enabling advanced input shaping, pressure advance, and configuration flexibility without modding.
A 500 mm/s rated speed at a price significantly below Bambu and Prusa alternatives.
Full automatic bed leveling reduces setup time and calibration friction.