The Elegoo Centauri 2 (entry) and Prusa Research CORE One+ (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 CoreXY printers with automatic calibration. The CORE One+ costs $700 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA and PC on its materials list) and an open-source design; the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF and 13% more build volume.
First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget buyers who mainly print PLA, PETG and TPU and want fast CoreXY multicolor for as little as possible, without paying for an enclosure they won't use.
Full details →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from CORE One+, MK4S
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri 2 | Prusa Research CORE One+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $999 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 250 × 220 × 270 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ★ ✅ 8 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | 🔧 From CORE One+, MK4S |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jun 24, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~209 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | — | — |
The Centauri 2 was released on Jun 24, 2026, 141 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
The CORE One+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 209 days, so it is 44% of the way through — roughly 118 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Centauri 2 launched 141 days ago and the CORE One+ has roughly 118 days of runway on past cadence. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the CORE One+ at $999 — $700 apart, so the CORE One+ costs 234% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the Centauri 2 versus $67 for the CORE One+ — the Centauri 2 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Centauri 2.
Our pick for most buyers is the CORE One+, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA and PC on its materials list) and an open-source design, plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.2). Go for the Centauri 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $700 cheaper ($299 vs $999).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The Centauri 2 Combo includes the 4-color CANVAS system with RFID filament detection, auto refill and tangle detection. It is one of the cheapest CoreXY multicolor packages from a major brand.
It uses the same 256×256×256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50–100 less.
The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.
The CORE One+ matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the CORE One+ can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
The CORE One+ (Gen 2) can be ordered with Prusa's INDX toolchanger in 4- or 8-tool versions, shipping from 15 October 2026. Each material gets its own nozzle, with about 12 seconds per material change and almost no purge waste. The MMU3 remains compatible as a 5-color add-on.