Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want CoreXY speed without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
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 →| Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Anycubic Kobra 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU |
| Released | Sep 15, 2023 | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | Ender 3 V4 or V3 KE 2 (Expected mid-2026) | Kobra 3 Pro or Kobra 4 (Expected late 2026) |
The KE brings CoreXY motion to the Ender 3 family — historically a bed-slinger platform — delivering 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 K1C and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.
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.