Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: First-time buyers and hobbyists who want the easiest path to multicolor FDM printing without breaking the bank.
Full details →Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
Best for: Budget makers who want 4-color multicolor printing without committing to the Bambu or Prusa ecosystem — and are comfortable with a less mature software experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini 2 | Anycubic Kobra 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU |
| Released | Nov 1, 2025 | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| Deals advice | Caution | Caution |
| Next model | A1 Mini 3 (Expected Q4 2026) | Kobra 3 Pro or Kobra 4 (Expected late 2026) |
Automatic bed leveling, first-layer calibration, and Bambu's guided workflow mean most users are printing within 15 minutes of unboxing.
The Combo bundle includes AMS Lite for 4-color filament switching — unprecedented at this price tier.
The Mini 2 addresses the original's noise complaints with an improved motion system and better damping.
The Kobra 3 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color filament switching setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.
Anycubic's ACE Pro handles filament feeding, drying, and switching in a single unit — a thoughtful integration for multicolor.
Full automatic bed leveling and offset calibration reduce setup friction.