The Creality K1C and Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $140 apart. Note that the K1C has been replaced by the K2 and is no longer sold new. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The K1C costs $140 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA-CF on its materials list) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); the Centauri Carbon 2 answers with 39% more build volume.
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality K2.
Best for: Makers who need enclosed CoreXY printing for PA-CF and ASA on a budget — and want a capable alternative to Bambu without the ecosystem lock-in.
Full details →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers — or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $449.
Full details →| Creality K1C | Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $499 | ★ $359 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jan 20, 2024 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Buy |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The K1C has been replaced by the K2 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
The Centauri Carbon 2 was released on Jan 26, 2026, 290 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Centauri Carbon 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 290 days ago, while the K1C has already been replaced by the K2.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri Carbon 2 lists at $359 and the K1C at $499 — $140 apart, so the K1C costs 39% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $41 for the K1C versus $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 — the Centauri Carbon 2 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Buy the Centauri Carbon 2. The K1C has already been replaced by the K2 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the K1C appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Centauri Carbon 2 against the K2.
Compare Creality K2 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The K1C ships with a hardened steel nozzle rated for carbon-fiber filaments — a significant cost advantage over printers that require aftermarket nozzle upgrades.
Few printers under $500 offer genuine enclosure capability. The K1C delivers ABS and ASA-capable chamber temperatures.
Matches the Bambu P2S's 600 mm/s top speed for about $50 less.
The Centauri Carbon 2 marks Elegoo's entry into multicolor FDM printing — bringing the brand's value-focused approach to a segment dominated by Bambu and Anycubic.
The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY — a notable differentiator at this price point.
Elegoo's proprietary CANVAS system provides 4-color filament switching at a competitive all-in price of $449.