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: Makers who need a very large print area for props, architectural models, or batch production — and want multicolor without paying professional-tier prices.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini 2 | Anycubic Kobra 3 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 420 × 420 × 500 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 300 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 4 Max (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.
One of the largest build volumes available at a consumer price — ideal for life-size props, large terrain tiles, and batch production.
Few printers offer multicolor at this scale. The ACE Pro system enables filament switching across the full 420×420 bed area.
Delivers large-format multicolor at a fraction of professional large-format printer costs.